A team of 11 barefoot waterskiers is to compete for Team GB next week – including two members of a Selby club.
The squad of nine male and two female athletes, aged between 15 and 61, are heading to the Netherlands for the Europe & Africa Championships.
Among them is Olly Moore, aged 15, from Goole. A pupil at Goole Academy and a multiple gold medallist at the 2024 British Barefoot Nationals, Olly trains at the White Cross Ski Club in Selby.
Another member of the squad, Robbie Crewe, 34, also trains at the White Cross Ski Club. From Wakefield, Robbie is a former British Champion and was in the silver medal-winning British team at the 2023 Europeans.
The GB barefooters will compete across a range of age categories – Junior, Open and Senior – at the Championships which will take place at Maurik from Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 August.
Barefoot waterskiing at competitive level is not for the faint-hearted. As the name suggests, the competitors do not use skis but only their bare feet on the water.
They are towed by a boat which generally travels faster than for other waterski disciplines, reaching speeds of up to 45mph.
Like regular waterskiing, barefooters compete in these three events:
- slalom (crossing the boat’s wakes from one side to the other repeatedly)
- tricks
- and jump.
In jump, all that matters is the distance achieved off the ramp and a successful landing.
Medals are awarded in each individual event. There are also overall medals – which combine the competitor’s scores in the three events – and team medals.
Good luck to Team GB!
