Meet UNE Sports Academy member, Max Christie

Meet Max Christie, a St Albert’s College resident and UNE Sports Academy member. Currently studying a Bachelor of Agriculture and Business, Max juggles his academic and sporting responsibilities in the world of Water Skiing.

Having been selected for the Australian University team in water skiing at the University World Champs in New Zealand, Max shared his experience managing the student-athlete lifestyle ahead of the competition in late February.

Read on to discover how he juggles study and training whilst pursuing his water-skiing goals.

What are you currently studying at UNE, and where are you from?

I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Agriculture and a Bachelor of Business. I’m from Bellata, NSW.

What is your main sport, how long have you been involved, and what initially attracted you to it?

Water skiing. I have been competing since 2018, however started social waterskiing around 4 years old. Initially, I was attracted to just being around the water, however, since competing there is an inexplicable feeling of freely gliding across the water.

Could you describe your typical training routine? What does a typical day or week of training look like for you?

Training at university is limited to cardio and gym sessions. Usually, I try to go to the gym to work on strength five times a week, especially working on back, core and upper body strength. The other two days of the week I focus on a cardio-only training session. When visiting home, 60km Southwest of Moree NSW, I try to get as many sets on the water as possible in the Spring and Summer months to work on technique and scores on the water

What are some specific skills or techniques you focus on during your training sessions?

Repetition of the “perfect” turn and pull through the wakes behind the boat. Gate work, timing and distance from the boat to enter the course.

How do you balance your academic responsibilities with your athletic commitments?

I train during breaks in between classes that are two or more hours long throughout the day. Usually, late morning or early afternoon which fortunately are the least busy times in the gym. Then the afternoons and nights after classes have finished, I allow myself to focus solely on academics.

Do you have any major competitions coming up in 2025?

Competitions I am aiming to compete in, in 2025:

• Australian Masters
• Australian National Championships
• IWWF University Waterski World Championships

What has been your most memorable competition so far, and why?

My first Nationals in 2018. My first year taking competitive waterskiing seriously and I was able to represent the state of QLD and compete against some of Australia’s best.

Can you share a particularly challenging moment you faced during a competition and how you overcame it?

Spending time on the water compared to my competition. In the Winter months the past two years I have travelled to America to get time on the water and do off-season training. If I can afford it, I am hoping to keep this going and travel to America to train in our Winter every year between trimesters.

How do you prepare yourself mentally and physically before a competition?

Physically:

A strict training schedule of strength & conditioning as well as cardio to make sure I am as fit as possible to maximise time on the water before tiring.

Mentally:

Before each training set choose three objectives to work on throughout the session. Before competition I try to not overthink how I am going to ski. Until about 30 mins before my turn I focus on techniques to nail down on to maximise my score. As well as this I remember positive feelings felt in previous training sessions that will help me ski my best.

How important is teamwork in your sport? Can you share an example of a time when teamwork played a crucial role in achieving success?

Although skiing is an individual sport in the moment, at competitions like Nationals and international competitions you ski as a part of a team, whether that be for your state or country. For each nationals, the main shield/trophy is for the highest point-scoring state. My first nationals in 2018, QLD (who I ski for), won this shield as a result of everyone skiing their best as well as the team support and training efforts.

Who are some of your biggest supporters or mentors in your athletic journey, and how have they helped you?

My family who mostly drive and coach me when training at home, as well as support me when I don’t ski as I would’ve hoped. April and Chris Coble Eller, who I have trained with in America have excelled my skiing the past two years through top-end coaching and driving in some of the best conditions in the world.

How do you handle setbacks or disappointments in your sport, and what strategies do you use to bounce back?

I try to remember how cut-throat the sport is and that everyone has been in the same position that I have. After I have packed up my gear on my own to think about what I did wrong, I surround myself with people and talk about topics other than skiing to not get buried down in my own thoughts about a disappointing result.

In what ways has participating in this sport influenced your personal development?

Due to the sport occasionally being incredibly frustrating, it has definitely forced me to learn self-control and being patient with results and knowing that I will eventually find a breakthrough to overcome a struggle.

What are your long-term goals as a student-athlete, both in your sport and academically?

Long-term goals are to be selected in an Australian team and compete for my country. Also, keeping the highest grades I can whilst increasing training hours on and off the water until I can find the peak balance.

How do you plan to continue your involvement in your sport after uni?

I am planning to take another gap year after uni to travel overseas and ski in different countries, conditions and gain knowledge from experienced coaches with different coaching techniques. As well as this, when working at home, to spend more time on the water in between working hours. Then in the future to find a job with possible training facilities relatively close to my new job.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experiences as a student-athlete or any advice you would give to aspiring athletes?

Utilise all of the university’s resources, they help a lot more than you think when getting back to your specified sport’s training. Seek help from academic staff if you have clashes or trouble completing tasks due to your sporting commitments.

On behalf of the UNE Community, we wish Max good luck as he sets out to compete at the IWWF University World Waterski Championships in New Zealand. Max will compete at Orakei Basin in Auckland in all three waterskiing events: slalom, trick and jump. Good luck Max!

If you’re a fellow student-athlete looking for support at UNE, look no further than the UNE Sports Academy. From personalised training programs to study support programs, the Sports Academy can ensure you thrive both in and out of competition. Applications for the 2025 squad are now open.