The most accomplished veteran barefoot skier in Australia, Cathy Rayner.
Camera IconThe most accomplished veteran barefoot skier in Australia, Cathy Rayner. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

The queen of our waterways

Keren BellosMandurah Coastal Times

GLIDING barefoot across water at 65km/h is the perfect start to a day for 61-year-old Perth grandmother Cathy Rayner.

The most accomplished veteran barefoot skier in Australia, the “tumbling queen” is all smiles while tearing up a lake and getting her fix of the adrenaline-pumping extreme sport during early morning training runs.

“It’s like an addiction; I get withdrawal symptoms if I don’t get out on the water,” she said.

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“I’ve tried retiring twice but I keep coming back.”

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Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Hailing from a family with no passion for water sports, Rayner was a “late starter,” finding her love for the highly technical and exhilarating male-dominated discipline at a WA Barefoot Club come-and-try day 18 years ago.

“I wasn’t going to have a lesson but there was another woman the same age as me and I thought ‘well, I can do this’,” she said.

“I had one go and I was hooked.

“It’s a special kind of thrill that you get and I just couldn’t get it out of my head.

“I spent all winter in the cold water trying to learn the sport.”

It took Rayner months to master standing on the water and she hasn’t looked back since, with a string of achievements including 11 firsts at 14 national championships.

The barefoot athlete, who owes her regal nickname to well-executed 180 and 360-degree tumble turns (rotations), was named the City of Mandurah’s Senior Sports Person of the Year in 2019 and has been inducted into the WA Water Ski Association’s Hall of Fame.

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Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

She is gearing up to compete in wake slalom (crossing the boat wash as many times as possible in two 15-second runs) and trick events (demonstrating as many tricks as possible in two 15-second runs with each scored once) at the state titles next week.

The national competition in Perth and world championships in Florida next year are also on her radar.

Rayner said there was a fine line between safety and injury.

“It takes a fair bit out of you and they say that if you start with 100 per cent in the tank, you need to stop at 60 per cent because that’s when you’re likely to fall and hurt yourself,” she said.

“Being fitter makes it easier but you don’t need to be strong; it comes down to technique.

“If you drop (uncurl) a toe, you’re gone and the water is very hard.”

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Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Her training includes runs at a water ski park three times a week, daily walks, core and stretch exercises, and dry land practice.

Although she has torn a hamstring and shoulder along the way, her only regret is not finding the sport sooner.

“You’re never too young or too old to learn,” Rayner said.

“Everyone in the Barefoot Club here in WA and anywhere in Australia are like family and always willing to help.”

At the time of writing, she was scheduled to be in action during the state titles at Bonney’s Water Ski Park in Baldivis in the morning of March 28, starting from 7.30am.