On the crest of a wave

By Russell Bennett
MOST 10-year-old boys love going to the movies, playing video games, eating junk food and playing sport on the weekend.
Include Narre Warren South’s Blaze Branson in that – except the sport he’s involved in sees him winning Australian national titles by speeding more than 130 kilometres per hour across rivers throughout the country.
Like his name suggests, the Timbarra Grade 5 student lit up the Australian Speed and Marathon Ski Racing Championship in South Australia last month, winning the under-10 national title.
“I get very worried when he is out there racing as he is only 10 and anything can happen,” Blaze’s mother Kristine said.
“It’s always in the back of my mind (Blaze hurting himself) but I know with my husband Daniel in the driver’s seat and his observer Nat Batchelor watching him closely, he is in safe hands.”
Unbelievably, at 10-years-of-age, Blaze is already a veteran water skier.
He was just two-years-old when he first strapped on a set of skis and seven when he started racing competitively.
He loves racing hard and fast, and the trophies that come along with winning, but the multiple title-holder said he just loves having fun and “going away with my mum, dad and my sister Kasey all the time”.
Though Blaze says it does hurt when he crashes, he is too caught up in the fun he has competing to worry about it.
“I go to all different places to compete but my favourite race is the Southern 80 water ski race held in Echuca on the Murray River,” he said.
Blaze has competed throughout Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia in picturesque settings including Lake Boga, Corio Bay, Lake Cooper and at Barmera – where he won his Australian title.
And yes, he is the envy of his school mates.
“My friends love what I do and I have met a lot of great people in ski racing, and a lot from around the world,” Blaze said.
“I want to keep going when I’m older because I would love to win a world title.”
Brimming with pride, Kristine said: “I always tell him he is a winner in my eyes, sitting on the deck of the boat out to that start line”.