Team Stinga Racing Profile

Name: Greg Houston

DOB: 5 August 1956

Crew Position: Owner / Driver

Personal: Married / 3 children

Greg Houston has forged an iron clad reputation across the world of water ski racing as being one of the fiercest competitors of all time, and one who takes no prisoners.

Greg is as committed to family as he is racing and has successfully blended the two together. The passion for ski racing throughout the Houston family is clear and admired by all in the sport across the world.

Being owner and driver of TSR, it is clear that Greg does things his way - the professional way. It is his professional attitude which has secured TSR as being the most successful water ski racing crew of all time.

Water Ski Racing requires many ingredients and Greg Houston makes sure his team has all the required components to succeed in every event possible. The formula followed by Team Stinga Racing is the brainchild of Greg Houston, and has made TSR the success it is today.

Like all successful sportsmen, Greg started at an entry level with his very first race boat, a 19 foot Connelly powered by an 8 litre inboard engine called Stinga. Unlike his professional life, there was no apprenticeship to follow, so Greg developed his own by learning the basics in the 19 foot Stinga. By dedicating himself to gaining a clear understanding what the required components were to be the best, the TSR formula was born.

Knowing he had time on his hands, Greg developed his formula slowly, and, where possible, mirroring from the best. Where the answers were not available he found his own. Greg steadily developed his strategy and refined his formula, knowing that his time would come.

In Greg’s early days of ski racing it was clear to those around him that he had the most important component  already built on board – determination. With careful and strategic planning, the other components would be developed. It was the perfect apprenticeship.

The point in time soon came when the 19 foot Connelly was no longer competitive enough and in true Greg Houston style the decision was easy to upgrade to a 21 foot Connelly, with more power in the smooth events, and more stability in the rough conditions. And in recent times the addition of Stinga F1 and Stinga F2 to enable TSR to tackle any conditions, anywhere, anytime.

Greg’s attitude makes the most of what he has. While on occasion he has been tempted to change some components TSR, he stayed true to his commitments, and continues to work extremely hard on making improvements where necessary. While it may seem from the outside that TSR has everything, Greg is determined to always work on his and the crew weaknesses. 

The determination that Greg possesses has seen him win: 

Four world championships,

Six outright Sydney Bridge to Bridge titles (+ the current record)

Grafton Bridge to Bridge

Gold Coast Classic

Southern 80

Mildura 100,

Dozens of NSW and Australian titles

Multiple NSW series titles.