Having a Ball: 2022 Echuca Moama Sportstar Awards junior winner Fletcher Ball. Photos: Steve Huntley
Photo by
Steve Huntley
Barefoot skiing talent Fletcher Ball confirmed his status as one of the region’s finest up-and-coming sportsmen by being crowned the first back-to-back winner of the Echuca-Moama junior Sportstar award since 2005.
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Ball, a winner of the 2020-21 junior Sportstar, was once again in the headlines for his exploits on the water, this time for a record-breaking feat and a swathe of overall wins on the big stage.
A two-time Australian Junior Champion and four-time Victorian State Champion, Ball’s December Sportstar nomination came as a result of claiming the Oceania Junior Boys Barefoot Water-ski trick record at Max Kirwan Lakes, Mulwala.
Ball registered an initial score of 7830 points in the tricks discipline, beating renowned skier Keenan Derry’s mark of 7250.
Although that score was scaled back to 7400 after review, it was still far and away the new record, but that wasn’t all for Ball in 2022.
Congratulations: Brett Thomson, Col Pearse and Fletcher Ball.
Photo by
Steve Huntley
The 17-year-old was a runaway overall junior winner at the Barefoot 2022 Oceania Championships, claiming 3000 points across all three skiing disciplines in a blistering display back in November.
At the 60th National Barefoot Championships in March, it was a similarly dominant effort, scoring 2880 to take out his second national title.
Ball admitted he was surprised by the recognition but said it was exciting to see how far he had come in the sport.
“I wasn’t expecting it but I’m pretty happy with where I’m at,” he said.
“I couldn’t have done it without Sandsy (Brett Sands) or Pete O’Neill from Yarrawonga, I appreciate those guys so much.
“Brad Shearer, who runs Coolabah Turf, he’s out and about getting me behind the boat, he’s always getting me out on the water after work.
“It makes me realise how far they’ve got me.”
On top of an exciting 2022 season, Ball finally had his opportunity to compete for Australia at the World Barefoot Championships in Mulwala in February after missing out in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ball claimed the junior world slalom championship in his debut appearance, finishing second overall.
Champion: Fletcher Ball competing at the World Barefoot Championships in Mulwala. Photo: Cindy Power
He also competed in the open men’s slalom final but said the highlight was connecting with the worldwide barefoot skiing community.
“I met heaps of new people,” Ball said.
“The Americans and the New Zealanders I had met at the Australian Open, but it was great to see them again.
“I met a few people from Belgium, Canada and stuff like that.
“I’m still catching up on sleep.”
Ball said he was taking a brief step back before beginning preparation for the nationals later this year.
“I haven’t done heaps since worlds, I’ve just been back to work,” he said.
“I’ll get back on to it pretty soon, this weekend I have a competition but we’ll see how we go.
“After that, I’ll be able to start training again and get back into ripping for nationals.”
