JAMIE Bassmann and Andy Shearing are Orange’s two newest NSW champions after bringing home titles from last weekend’s Ski Racing NSW State Championships, at Wyangala Waters State Park.

Bassmann took out the Open Men’s Marathon division, a 12-lap race combining a number of different forms of skiing, while Shearing came up trumps in the Open Men’s Social category, where skiers use a social length rope.

Bassmann, who also claimed a state championship some years ago, was succinct when asked if he was chuffed with the title win.

“Bloody oath mate,” Bassmann enthused.

“I didn’t get a chance to speak to Andy after he won his title, I’d left by then because I didn’t have any races on the Sunday, but I’m sure he was pretty excited too.”

Behind Dragon - being driven by Matthew Smith with Matthew Bargwanna observing - Bassmann clocked 19.42 to claim the Marathon title, almost four minutes of front of Shearing in second.

“I was pretty confident in the Marathon race,” Bassmann said.

“The guys in the boat did a really good job for me too. It’s definitely a team effort in this sport, the driver obviously has control of what I’m doing behind the boat and the observer has to keep a look-out for basically everything.

“They pretty much look after me behind the boat.”

With David McMillan at the wheel of boat Revolution Racing and Brendan Stout observing, Shearing clocked 17 flat to claim the Social title.

Bassmann and Shearing also managed to finish sixth and seventh in the Open Men’s division, clocking 24.17 and 24.58 respectively.

With an abundance of momentum and confidence behind them, both Bassmann and Shearing head to Echuca and Moama for the Southern 80 Race Classic this weekend, hosted by the Moama Water Sports Club on the Murray River.

“Andy’s in the boat in front of us, so we might have a little bit of a battle there,” Bassmann said.

“It’s 50-50 between us I think, but I reckon one of us might get the win.”