Remembering Australian water skiing ‘doyen’ Ian Faulkner (1942-2024)
Image: USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Foundation
By Jack Burden
Ian Faulkner, a beloved figure in the water skiing community, has passed away at the age of 82. One of water skiing’s greatest historians, the Melburnian dedicated his life to the sport and helped shape both Australian and world water skiing.
Inducted into the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) Hall of Fame in 1999, Faulkner was a lifelong devotee of water skiing. He attended every World Championship from 1969 to 1981 as either the Australian team manager or coach, served as Australian Tournament Director from 1973 to 1982, and laid the foundation for the development of tournament water skiing in Australia with the creation of the Australian Water Ski Association Master Plan in 1979.
A name synonymous with the Moomba Masters, Faulkner was a regular competitor starting at the second edition in 1962 and quickly transitioned into progressive leadership roles. He served on the Moomba Masters organizing committee for over three decades, including as Chairman from 1972 to 1995—arguably the period of the event’s greatest success and popularity.
A visionary who was never afraid to share his opinions, Faulkner made a splash in 1971 when a letter outlining his idea for an international series of cash prize tournaments was published in The Water Skier magazine. Incredibly prescient, the first major cash prize tournament would be hosted in the US the following year, and the framework he pioneered, alongside Jaap Suyderhoud, would be adopted by the U.S. Pro Tour, IWWF World Cup, Elite Ranking List, and most recently the Waterski Pro Tour.
Internationally, Faulkner also served on the World Water Ski Union (now IWWF) Technical Committee for 15 years during a period of significant development in the sport’s technology and rules.
In his later years, Faulkner dedicated his efforts to preserving the history of the sport, publishing two volumes on the History of the Moomba Masters and another book on the History of Waterski Jumping. Faulkner was prolific on Facebook, sharing photos and stories from past Moomba Masters and World Championships.
A walking encyclopedia on water skiing, I had the pleasure to work with Faulkner earlier this year to help preserve some of his extensive research on the Moomba Masters. Together we added four decades of results to a Wikipedia page on the history of the event.
A warm, witty, and incredibly generous man, he shared some incredible stories from the early days of the longest-running professional water ski tournament. His first role on the Moomba organizing committee was to invite international skiers, including arranging airline tickets, accommodation, and training—all done through handwritten letters. Eventually, he secured a phone budget to make long-distance calls.
Although he retired from the organizing committee in the 1990s after, in his own words, “my use-by date was up,” a series of emergencies led the Victorian Water Ski Association to convince Faulkner to come out of retirement one last time to take charge of the 2002 Moomba Masters.
Ian Faulkner’s passing is a profound loss to the water skiing community. His contributions and legacy will continue to inspire us all. Our deepest condolences go out to Ian’s family and friends during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Ian. Your spirit and dedication will forever be remembered in the world of water skiing.
