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Mark Weaver – Australian F2 Class Number One Qualifier – 2009 World Water-Ski Championships Mark was kind enough to provide us with the following testimonial. We will keep this page updated as Mark continues his journey toward representing Australia in Belgium in July 2009. It is truly an honour for Paula and I to be associated with Mark – this challenge, and his success to date, have not come easy to him – he is a truly inspirational Australian and deserving to represent his Country. Mark has had very little financial support to date – he needs approx. $45,000.00 to get his team to Belgium in July 2009. If you know anyone who may be interested in providing Mark with any form of sponsorship please contact us and we will pass on the details. There have been a number of fundraising events organised and we will keep you advised with the details of these events as we would appreciate your support in bringing home an Australian World Water-Skiing Champion.

Testimonial - Mark Weaver I started water-skiing at the age three encouraged by my father Rob Weaver; since that first water-skiing experience he has remained supportive and encouraged me to chase my dream of representing Australia. My first water-skiing race was at the age of seven. When I started competing it was just something that was done as a family outing, it was just good fun and nothing too serious. The more I water-skied the more loved being on the water – it did not matter whether I was competing or just mucking around having fun with my family or with mates! The past couple of years have been without a doubt the toughest time in my life so far, I tried to qualify for the Australian World Team in 2007, I was unsuccessful, which was a huge disappointment as I had worked so hard to qualify.

The sport does not have a high profile in Australia and therefore I needed to build my training routines and competition events around my work – it is expensive to travel to sanctioned events throughout Australia – finding the funds to train and compete makes it very difficult to do without working full-time. In 2007 I also had to deal with the breakdown of my relationship making it an extremely tough year. I have a beautiful four year old little girl who is my world! Finding time to ensure I can have quality time with her makes the challenge of balancing an attempt to qualify for the 2009 Australian World Team even more difficult. With all the challenges in my life I was searching for a reason to become motivated again. I found it in the decision to try again to qualify for the Australian Team to participate at the World Water-Ski Championships in Belgium in July 2009. This decision refocused and motivated me to get my life back on track.

The goal is: Mark Weaver – Australian – ‘2009 World Champion’. To represent Australia at the highest level in my chosen sport would be a dream come true. To qualify for the World Championships I had to complete seven selection races run in different locations around Australia. Points are accumulated for each race depending on your finishing position in the race – top point scorer at the end of the Australian selection races will hold the Australian F2 Number One position at the World Championships. The first goal was to finish number one. Selection races (5 & 6) were held at Wiseman’s Ferry in NSW on the 14th-15th February 2009. My full team attended this event, including John & Paula, we finished 1st in both races and now officially hold the number one F2 position. There is one selection race to go but we cannot be beaten on points. First goal achieved! Why did I achieve this goal in 2009 when I failed in 2007? My success this time round can only be contributed to my great team, and my mental and physical commitment to doing ‘what I needed to do to overcome every challenge throw my way’. Water ski racing is a very demanding sport both mentally & physically. – I have trained harder physically and mentally than I have ever trained before. A huge part of overcoming the mental challenges is to have complete faith in your team – my team have shown great faith in my ability to succeed – this faith is returned in spades – my faith in their professionalism, dedication and commitment has allowed me to concentrate on the job of skiing fast no matter the conditions. My team on the water includes myself, Troy Kennedy (the driver) and Jason Bennett (the observer and my lifeline).

Prior to commencing our attempt at qualifying this was the team. In September 2008 I discovered two amazing people, John & Paula Potts, who own and operate ‘Indulge Your Body Natural Therapies’ in Camira, Queensland. John & Paula are now an integral part of my team. John has now been providing me with sports/remedial massage for the past six months. Initially I visited John to seek his assistance with my sore and aching body after being referred to him by a friend (thanks Macca). I had been receiving massage treatments up to that time but did not feel that I was obtaining the recovery I needed to continually back up my training and competing. After the very first session I had with John I felt great, I had received a remedial/sports massage from someone who took the time to get to know what I needed and spent much of the treatment discovering the impact my sport had on my body! I also described my ambition to qualify for the Australian Team for the World Championships in July 2009.

On my next visit John and Paula approached me and offered to provide me with as much support they could to assist me in achieving my goal. A new and important element of my team was formed. John & Paula introduced me to the ‘Formostar Infrared Body Wrap & G5 Subdermal Therapy’ treatments. The combination of sports/remedial massage, Formostar and G5 has been nothing more than outstanding! I can walk in to see John physically and mentally drained and I always leave feeling back at my peak – these treatments are now an essential part of my routine and have played a major role in my qualification. I can have the heaviest of training days – see John - and be ready to go again the next day feeling fresh. John & Paula offered to attend the Wiseman’s Ferry selection races at their own cost as they knew these races were critical to my qualifying – to have the whole team in Sydney was unbelievable for my confidence. There were two one hour races, back-to-back, one Saturday & one Sunday. I received a pre-race treatment on Friday night (including Formostar), we won our first race by almost a lap over the field, it was hard work and physically very draining (it rained throughout the whole weekend making skiing even more difficult). That afternoon John was on the job again, a full recovery session, massage followed by the Infrared therapy, stretching and hydration. The next morning I was feeling fresh and ready to go again. Sunday morning we had a light massage and more stretching, I was really feeling great. After the second hour of racing (on day two) we had again distanced our rivals again (nearly lapping the field again – Jason and Troy kept my adrenalin in check and we backed off – thank guys) and I was feeling pumped, that was it, we are now the number one Australian F2 qualifier for Belgium. I know without the support and the treatments I have received from John & Paula I would be in a different position than I am now. With their help I can train harder and more often; I can perform on the water stronger and know that I will recover faster; whilst other struggle to back up physically I race the second day as the first.