Record-breaking brothers

Jack Christie, and his younger brother Bailey, continue to take the waterskiing world by storm.

By Russell Bennett

Pakenham young guns Jack and Bailey Christie just continue to tear the sport of waterskiing to shreds.
They headed to the Junior World Championships in Chile over the Christmas and New Year period, with 16-year-old Jack competing for his country and younger brother Bailey gaining valuable knowledge looking on.
These boys have taken sibling rivalry to a whole new stratosphere.
Every time Jack breaks a state or national record, he’s just setting a mark for Bailey to try and better in the years to come.
But they’re also each other’s biggest supporters – constantly offering advice and encouragement riverside.
When the Christies returned from the Junior Worlds, Jack was openly disappointed with his performance.
But he just used that as motivation – breaking the Under 17 Australian slalom record in Mulwala at the end of January, and breaking and tying it again over the following couple of weeks.
If a junior skiier breaks a record it’s usually done in the top year of their age group, but Jack still has the rest of this year and next year to come in the Under 17s.
He was also particularly close to the Under 21 state record – which is his next goal … despite the fact he’s still only 16.
He’s currently the world’s second ranked Under 17 slalom skiier, and wants to top the rankings in his age group.
“I’ve got to make it harder for Bailey!” he said with a grin.
Bailey is chasing Jack’s Under 14 record and will continue to – relentlessly.
But he’ll always continue to get nervous for his big brother just before an event. He can’t help it.
Both of them dominated the Victorian State titles last week – Jack won gold in the Under 17s slalom, trick, jump, and overall.
Bailey did the exact same thing in the Under 14s.
They’re both competing in Moomba this week. Jack will be skiing in both the seniors – and the juniors – in which he’ll be aiming to defend his title.
Last year he was already believed to be the youngest competitor to take part in all three events at the prestigious competition on the Yarra River.
Jack and Bailey would like to thank local business Voyage Fitness for helping them with their physical conditioning.
The boys’ school, Beaconhills College, has also been particularly supportive of them, as has Lakeside restaurant Shanikas – which hosted a fundraising dinner for them last year.