Twelve-year-old Piper Earl, who hails from Moranbah, has made a splash on the international barefoot waterskiing stage, bringing home two silver medals and a team gold from the Oceania Championships in Otaki, New Zealand.
“This was both my first skiing at an international competition and my first time wearing green and gold for Australia,” said Piper.
“It was great to come away with two silver medals and my Australian team, The Wombats, won overall so I also got to bring home a gold medal as well.”
Competing in barefoot trick and slalom events at Lake Inspiration, Piper’s results are the latest in a long journey that started early.
“I have been waterskiing since I was 18 months old. I did my first barefoot competition at 8 years old. My dad, Doug, was an Australian barefoot representative who also grew up skiing.”
Training isn’t for the faint-hearted. Between school and weekend river sessions, her schedule is full and starts early.
“During the week, I have a gym program that I follow from Next Stars Sports Academy. We head off to the Pioneer River straight after school Friday so I can ski numerous sets over the weekends.
“We ski all day over the weekend. The first set is usually around 5:30am and we finish around 6:30pm unless the water’s still good. Then we’re back on the road early Monday to get to school.”
She credits her family and local sponsors for making it all possible.
“Mum and Dad are definitely my biggest supporters as well as my extended family. I was lucky enough to have HD Mining Group purchase my wetsuit for OCs as well as SureLift Crane Hire, Isaac Regional Council, Moranbah Community Workers Club and Coalfields Spine Care Chiropractic to help me get to Otaki.”
Looking ahead, Piper has her sights set firmly on Nationals in May and the 2026 Junior Worlds.
“This is my final year as a sub junior (U14) so I step up to Juniors (U17) in 2026 and hope to be named on the Australian team for 2026 Junior Worlds in Florida. It’s my last shot in Sub junior so I want to make it count.
“Tricks wise, I am working towards surface turns and want to crack 2000 points. I am so close. I PB’d my slalom in NZ to 8.3 and feel I’ve got more in me. I want to hit the 9s at Nationals. 10s would be even better and I’m so close at training.”
She encourages others to give the sport a go, but not without a warning.
“If a Come and Try day is on, give it a go. You’ve got to be able to take the hits as the crashes sure hurt and wake you up quick smart, especially the 5:30am stacks.”
Piper looks up to several key people who help keep her focused.
“I look up to my dad and Luke Van Den Heuvel as my coaches. They push me to be the best skier I can be.
“As a female barefooter, New Zealand’s Georgia Mathis is a great role model who took the time to talk barefooting with me while I was over there. She is so strong and dedicated and tricked over 6000 at OCs. I’d love to be as good as her.”
