Sport England has backed British Water Ski under its new “Grow - Sustain – Excel” initiatives for the development of sport in England in the build up to the Olympics in 2012 and beyond. Part of this backing is a programme which integrates a strategy for schools and community groups with the British Water Ski’s successful talent development programmes and this very much involves the Wakeboard discipline.

As part of the government’s Physical Education and Sports Strategy for Young People (PESSYP) programme British Water Ski will be running its School & Community Club Links programme which puts in place funding and infrastructure for school and community clubs to offer children the opportunity to become involved in wakeboard at accredited clubs and cables in England, utilising the sport’s Cutting Edge development structure which is in turn supported by the sport’s leading athletes. Cotswold School Sports Partnership have already seen the possibilities of the programme to encourage children in to the sport and, through the Sport Unlimited initiative, the first scheme is already up and running at WMSki in Cirencester.

To inspire the children on the PESSYP programme and to further the success of wakeboarding, British Water Ski are also backing one of the world’s most promising riders, Nick Davies, with a training and competition programme as part of their Excel talent development plan. Nick’s programme will integrate training and events in the UK and abroad in the build up to both the European and World Championships on both the boat and cable.

John Wood, British Water Ski Performance Director said, “it is fantastic to have the funding in place for Nick to join the Excel programme and to be able to assist him in the next stage of his path to being the number one wakeboarder in the World, he has unbelievable talent. To link this to PESSYP gives us a completely integrated approach to furthering water skiing and wakeboarding, getting more children on to the water from where we can offer them the opportunity to improve, whatever their level. Nick fully supports our Cutting Edge programme and will be at sites this summer to motivate school children on to the water through the PESSYP programme.”