Come and try water skiing

The Latrobe Valley Water Ski Club will re-launch its junior tournament water ski development squad following a 12-year hiatus.

First formed in 2005, the squad ran for two years before disbanding after a sponsor withdrew its support.

Now with its own boat, improved facilities and support of local government, the club is looking to recruit 12 girls and boys from Gippsland between the ages of 8-14 years as it looks to reform the squad.

The recruitment drive will begin with a come and try day on Sunday, January 13 at the club in Halls Bay Lake Narracan, accessed via Yallourn North. Take bathers, a towel and some lunch.

A submission and application form will be available from the club’s website from May, with a trial ski to follow. The development squad will begin training in November 2019.

At the beginning of the program, participants be provided with equipment and coaching to develop from beginner to the potentially becoming an elite athlete.

The club hopes the initiative creates a junior Gippsland tournament squad to take to the national championships in 2020-21.

The sport of tournament skiing is the most physiological sport at maximizing the natural structure and strength of the human body.

The club will witness the skills and performance levels of national competition when it hosts the state titles in February, while international athletes will descend on the club for the Oceania championships in March.

Applicants do not need to have any experience of water skiing.