World Water Ski Racing
With Robbie Llewellyn

Super Race Québec - Montréal

After the participation of Dean Anesee from Australia in 1986 and Kenny Vaughan from USA in 1986 and 1987, we had to wait until 1991 to get back more International skiers, with Marty Wells and Lori Dunsmore from USA After the World's in Australia, they decided to come at our race and they enjoyed it. Thanks to them. 1992 was our year with the participation of 10 International skiers. Among them, John Sloan and Darren Quirk from Australia, with the complete world team Debbie Norblad, Lori Dunsmore, Cheryl Ruston, Shelby Guardalabene and indication from Marty Wells and Kirk Book. Finally, Lori and Marty could not participate because of injuries.

It all started back in 1963 when the first race occurred with a rally from Montreal to Trois-Rivières in 3 hours and 19 minutes, 125 km.

In 1966, it was the establishment of a Canadian Record Montreal-Quebec back and forth, 360 miles, in 13 hours with a 30 minutes stop in Quebec to refuel gas, not energy. This is what skiers are doing today in Trois-Rivières. This 360 miles record belonged to Louis Simard and Maurice Bouffard. In 1968, the same skiers establish a Canadian record of 13 hours and 8 minutes non-stop for 347 miles on Regatta Lake, at Man and his World (Expo67) in Montréal. The same year, they planed a race, Montreal to Quebec, but they were unable to get a sponsor.

This record is still a Canadian Record, but the 1966's one has been broken in 1993 on the 15th of august, with an incredible performance of Bruno Ducharme. He did Montréal-Québec , the get into the race and won it, an amazing achievement of 5 hours 28 minutes and 54 seconds, for the 520 kilometres / 360 miles. Way up the river 1:23:57 and 1:14:09 Total 2:38:06 Way down the river: 1:17:02 and 1:33:44 Total 2:50:48 For a grand total of 5 :28 :54

But let's get back to the beginning of this historic. After this 1968 record, we had to wait until 1982 to see another race. It was a 125 kilometres between Boucherville (suburbs of Montreal) to Trois-Rivières. Freddie Gauthier has won this race in 1 hour and 49 minutes. In 1983, it was the same race on reverse side. Mario Regimballe did it in 1 hour 51 minutes and for the first time, a woman, Francyne Vandal, did it in 2 hours and 12 minutes.

In 1984, the Quebec-Montreal race was born with a time of 3 hours 11 minutes 45 seconds for Yves Cormier (Men) and 5 hours 16 minutes 49 seconds for Jacynthe Taillon and Josée Bourbonnais (Women). That record stood until 1991, when Lori Dunsmore (USA) broke it with an incredible time of 2 hours 49 minutes 38 seconds.

In 1985, we had a new record with Ralph Hartmann in 3 hours 01 minutes 25 seconds. That record stood until 1989 when Alain Ducharme broke it in 2 hours 39 minutes 37 seconds, 9 seconds in front of his brother Bruno Ducharme. That record stood till 1992 when the late Kirk Book broke it with an amazing time of 2 hours 31 minutes 59 seconds. Kirk won the World Water Ski Racing Championships in 1993 in France The closest race was in 1986 when Mario Regimballe finished in 3h 16m 35s, 2 seconds ahead of Bruno Ducharme.

Alain Ducharme won four times in a row from 1988 to 1991. In 1992 he set up a record of 1 hour 7 minutes 39 seconds, 3 seconds in front of Kirk Book in the first leg of the race. Kirk Book, Lori Dunsmore and Debbie Norblad set up records in 1991 and 1992.

"Those are statistic and champions."

Now, let's talk about the race, the river and the challenge.

It will start in the Old Port of Quebec, at 7:00 o'clock in the morning of the 28th of August. You get ready to pass the gates of the Bassin Louise and get on the river and at the same time, have a good scenic view of city. The starting time is at 8:00 o'clock am. You see the Quebec Bridge in front of you and 10 minutes later, you are under it, on your way to Trois-Rivières on a nice part of the river most of the time 2 miles wide. 1 hour later, you will begin to see the Laviolette Bridge in Trois-Rivières. You have to remember it because you will have to stop 30 minutes for refuelling.

Watch your time: 5 minutes, 3 minutes, 30 seconds: Let's go with another start. 3 minutes later, you are under the bridge with 1h 15m at least of ski. This is where you will notice that the shore gets wider and wider. In front, you won't see the land anymore. You are entering Lake St-Pierre, a big lake 10 miles wide and 32 miles long. Believe me, it's long and long. You speak to yourself, you say you'll never do this again, you think of your lover, you sing, you think of your old sins and finally, you realise that it's quite fun to feel so free on water. But don't forget, if you meet the waves of the ships; be careful because those waves can be really hazardous. Now entering the Sorel zone and a lot of islands. You always stay in the ships channel 2 hours of skiing. Now you see a church on the left side and a big electric pylon in front of you. This is where you quit the main channel to go left and salute the 300th anniversary of Varennes and 10 minutes later the 325th anniversary of Boucherville, my own town and where the race used to finish in 1984 and 1985. It is a nice part since that you know now that in a couple of minutes, at speed up to 80 and 85 miles per hour, you will pass over the bridge Tunnel Lafontaine and see Montreal, this wonderful city. Great! We approach the end. We see the Jacques-Cartier Bridge in front the containers of the Port on your right and an island on your left. You get back on the main channel. By that time, around 11:30 am, there will be more boats on the river. You have to be careful; it is a no fall zone.

Allow on the left, you see the islands of Expo 67 where we finished our race in 1986-87-88. You go under the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, right in front of the Old Port of Montreal where we finish since 1989. After a last circle of 4 km in front of the Old Port, it is the end of an era and the beginning of your reign, with happiness.

This is the time where you are ready to celebrate your success!

On our side, we will be proud of you, proud of your participation in the longest water ski race in the world, LE SUPER MARATHON. The run this year will change from 260 kilometres to 140 kilometres, instead of doing Québec-Montréal, it will be Montréal-Sorel-Montréal. The start and the finish will be at the same place.

By Louis Simard,
President of Quebec Water Ski Federation