Champ back at Bridgewater

GUN water skier Jason Sleep marks a return to the Loddon River at Bridgewater for this weekend’s Australian Masters.

It’s the first of a series of major events for Sleep across 2023 which include the Victorian championships at Bridgewater in March, and national titles in April in Perth.

Sleep’s outstanding performances at the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation Oceania Championships in December earned another nomination for Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year award.

He struck gold in the disabled division for slalom, tricks and overall at Mulwala.

The water-skiing champion is a multiple finalist in Sports Star of the Year.

“Being a monthly winner a couple of times is a great honour,” Sleep said. “Being an athlete and travelling all over the place is costly and time consuming.

“I spend a lot of time away from family and friends doing what I love. It’s nice to know the community is behind you and supporting in every way.

“The feeling is so awesome and is a reward for effort which I will cherish the rest of my life.”

There were many highlights across the past year.

At nationals, Sleep broke his trick world record and equalled his Australian slalom record.

Another was the Oceania titles where he broke the world tricks record and set an Oceania slalom and trick record.

Sleep was also named the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation’s male athlete of the year for the disabled class.

“This is our highest award in water skiing and I’ve been lucky to win in 2018, ’21 and ’22,” he said.

A major goal for Sleep will be the world championships in September with the water-skier bound for Sacramento in the United States.

He will also be on the water in New Zealand to chase more Oceania titles early in 2024.

The Basil Ashman Hall of Fame based at Red Energy Stadium in West Bendigo includes central Victorian water-skiing champions Kaye Faulkner and Glenn Thurlow who were crowned Sports Star of the Year.

Sleep’s “can do” attitude has helped so many, including Will Kelly, a Sports Star of the Year winner.