Foxton wakeboard park a hit
A new wakeboard park in Horowhenua is proving a dream for adventure-seekers and firsttimers to water sports.
Foxton’s latest water sports attraction opened with a splash on Saturday, with people from Horowhenua and Wellington testing it out.
Off the Loop co-owner Dean Stella said there were two stations that ran off a motorised cable, which pulled people along the water.
It was a good chance for everyone to enjoy the sport, rather than requiring a boat, which is what many people traditionally did along the Manawatu¯ River, Stella said.
Stella, and co-owners, Glen Butcher and Angela Cook, enjoy kite surfing and wakeboarding so much they decided their home town of Foxton was the best place to build it.
Stella and Cook already owned the land, and saw an opportunity for a spot of wet farmland to transform into something the public could enjoy, Stella said.
It was the third wakeboard park in the country and the closest to Wellington, he said. There is one in Waipukurau and one in Taupō .
Butcher said there was a high demand for a wakeboard park in the district and opening weekend was packed.
‘‘It was so busy. Everyone had a good time.’’
There was also a trampoline and bounce boards available for people to use while they waited for their turn in the water, Butcher said.
The wakeboard stations, which took two years to complete, are 185 metres and 145m long.
There are obstacles along the longer line and the shorter one is suitable for beginners.
Butcher said anyone over 10 years old could have a go, and if they were younger but could prove they could do it, he wouldn’t rule them out.
Wellington resident Trevor Robinson was in town visiting family and decided to stop by. He said the wakeboard park was a great activity when there wasn’t enough wind for kite surfing. ‘‘It’s just an awesome day out.’’ For people learning to kite surf or wakeboard, it was a good way to build up skills, Robinson said.
There has been moves to build a wakeboard park at Aotea Lagoon in Porirua, but after seven years developer Paul Marlow is still to submit consent applications with Porirua City Council.