Published: Wednesday, 29th June 2016
King’s Lynn’s waterfront will once again be the place to watch world-class water-ski racing as Hunstanton Ski Club hosts the second Hanseatic Ski Race on the River Great Ouse.
Last year’s event brought Formula 1, 2 and 3 water-ski racing to the river for the first time, and it returns this year on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 July. Eight races will take place over the two days, with competitors coming from far and wide to take part. Organisers are hoping that this event will come to rival the famous Diamond Race which takes place in the Hanseatic town of Antwerp in Belgium.
There will also be fun family activities happening on the quayside across both days. These will include food stalls, sweet stalls and ice cream, an outside BBQ and bar, face-painting, and more. Costumed characters will also be on hand to join in the fun.
The races will start at 9:30am on Saturday, and 10am on Sunday. Full details of the schedule are published at www.kingslynnskirace.co.uk
Jason Russell, Commodore of Hunstanton Ski Club and chairman of the Hanseatic Ski Race, said: “Anyone who saw, or heard, last year’s event will want to come back and witness this breath-taking spectacle again. High-tech racing boats will speed across the water at close to 100mph, demonstrating the competitors’ speed and stamina. It’s rare to be able to see a race from such a great vantage point, as most races take place at sea. This race is going from strength-to-strength – it’ll be loud, exciting, and most of all, unforgettable.”
The event is supported by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, Marriott’s Warehouse, Listers of King's Lynn, Brown & Co, Hunters Land Rover, Carter Haulage, B.C. Wiles, Rollins Electrical, BWSW and 158 Performance.
Cllr Elizabeth Nockolds, borough council cabinet member for Culture, Heritage and Health, said: “Last year’s event was a great success, and we’re really pleased to be supporting it again. King’s Lynn’s historic quarter is the perfect place to watch these exciting races from, and enjoy a fun day out. Visitors from around the world will be coming to see this race, and we’re proud of what our wonderful town has to offer them”.
Andrew Hornigold, from Marriott’s Warehouse, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Hanseatic Ski Race again this year. We’re getting involved to help build on the success of this great sporting event, and we urge everyone else to do the same. The waterfront is a special place, and the event is really unusual – the combination of the two is unmissable”.
For more information about events in King’s Lynn visit our events page