Sport

Ball starts titles week in fine form

By Matthew Kappos

Apr 15, 2026

Fletcher Ball won the Oz Open invitational prelude event at Cohuna ahead of the national championships. Photos: Kym Bond

The Australian National Barefoot Waterski Championships are under way at Cohuna and Echuca’s Fletcher Ball has entered the tournament in good touch.

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Ball took out the Oz Open invitational prelude event on Sunday afternoon grabbing a $1500 cash prize after edging out the competition across two trick and slalom passes and two jump passes.

NSW skier Elaina McClung took out the women’s event.

The focus for Ball and other local skiers, Brett Sands and organiser Brad Shearer, is now on the main event, the national championships themselves, which began competition on Tuesday.

Top performers could find themselves on the national team and heading to the world championships in Florida.

Ball is expected to do well after taking out the prelude and winning previous national crowns, while Sands is a perennial achiever in the sport, including winning the title at Cohuna in 1996.

Action continues all week, with finals held at the Cohuna Ski Run course on Cohuna Island Rd on Friday and Saturday.