Water skier seriously hurt in Bridge to Bridge race

A waterskier has been seriously injured after crashing face-first at high speed during an event in northern NSW.

The injured competitor was travelling up to 120km/h when he appeared to catch his ski at the Bridge to Bridge race in Grafton this afternoon.

The man lay motionless in the water as fellow competitors and race officials came to his aid.

He was administered CPR on an official boat before he was transferred to a waiting ambulance on the river bank.

He was rushed to Grafton Base Hospital in a serious condition.

He is being stabilised there and it is expected he will be transferred by helicopter to a larger hospital in Queensland.

The annual Bridge to Bridge ski classic sees speedboats race from Grafton Bridge to Harwood Bridge on the Clarence River, while towing two skiers.