TOP WAKEBOARDING EVENT COMES TO NORTH CORK ADVENTURE CENTRE

SOME of Ireland’s top wakeboarders are set to make a splash at the Ballyhass Lakes Activity Centre on Saturday with the return to Ireland’s largest wake park of the Irish and UK ‘Grassroots’ championship.

There will be thrills and the distinct possibility of a few spills, as wakeboarders go head-to-head for bragging rights in front of hundreds of excited spectators.

Last April the centre became the first in Ireland to install two motor driven cable wakeboard runs that can be used by boarders of all ages and levels of experience. Since then a similar facility has opened in Dublin.

Traditionally performed using a purpose built speed boat; wakeboarding is a high adrenaline activity, often compared to snowboarding on water. A rider is towed behind a boat at around 25mph, using the wake created by the craft to perform various air tricks.

Although its has been around for decades, ‘cable board’ wakeboarding has been growing in popularity over recent years as it allows people to take part in the sport without the added expense of buying or hiring a boat.

Each year Grassroots organisers stage ranking events at the two Irish cable wake locations and almost 40 similar centres across the UK, with boarders competing for regional glory. The best of them then go head-to-head for the overall Irish and UK crowns in their particular categories.

Saturday’s event will see 50 boarders from across the 32-counties compete on a 150 metre course between two towers. Each of them will be allowed six runs along the course, during which they will do their best to impress judges with a series of tricks over obstacles including ramps and rails.

Taran Kelly, a member of the management team at Ballyhass Lakes, said this will be the biggest event of its kind in Ireland this year.

“Wakeboarding is a really spectator-friendly sport as it allows people a great view of all the action as it happens. People are really awed by the spectacle of people doing the most amazing tricks and there is always the chance of one of the riders falling which adds an extra touch of excitement to proceedings,” he said.

“There will also be demonstrations by top wakeboarders from the UK who will be judging Saturday’s competition. Best of all admission will be free for spectators,” he said.

To coincide with return of the Grassroots tour to Ballyhass for the second time, the centre will host an open day offering people the chance try their hand at a range of other exciting activities hosted by centre at a knock-down price.

These will include abseiling, archery a round on Ireland’s only floating golf course and the chance to take on the infamous ‘Leap of Death’. This involves being tied to a harness and jumping of a 30ft high platform to grab a trapeze bar suspended in mid-air.

Admission to the open day will be €15 per person or €50 for a family of four. There will also be food stalls and coffee stands on site.

To find out more about the open day visit www.ballyhasslakes.ie.