I never want to stop trying new things that keep me active, before my accident I was just starting to learn to wakeboard and it was something I thought I would never be able to do again. I had done a couple of water ski sessions with Sportability as tasters and the last one I managed to convince them to let me have a go on a wakeboard. For me it was a dream come true even though the feeling sitting on a wakeboard was really different to standing on one. During this session getting up on the water was brilliant and even though there was a couple of crashes I was certainly hooked and was desperate to do it again. As soon as I got off the water I got the forms to join Heron Lake water ski club and sent them off as soon as possible.

Help from Flexifoil

As part of the Icelandic Challenge we get massive support from Flexifoil and although they don't make wakeboards they do make some brilliant kite-surfing boards. Flexifoil were fantastic in their support and sent me a kite surfing board to use. These boards are a little different, but with some help from the other athletes on the Icelandic Challenge I was able to bolt my water ski frame to it and put foot straps on. Heading down to Heron Lake to try my new board I was a little nervous, I didn't know if I could get it out of the water, I didn't know if I could turn it as I wanted and I didn't know if the seat position was going to be correct. Dropping in to the water for the first time I forgot about all this and was totally committed to running the board. The first couple of attempts to get up and on the water didn't work, I was starting to get worried. But some great advice from the team at Heron the next attempt was perfect, I was wakeboarding for my second time, the seat was perfect and I could turn, nothing could get the smile off me face.

If you don't crash you are not pushing

The end of a perfect day

The day at Heron Lake was great, I learn a lot and can't wait to go down there again. Got a couple of things to change with my foot straps but that's all. Next time out going to be much more aggressive with my turns and crossing the wake. A massive thanks to Flexifoil, the members of the Icelandic Challenge team and all the staff at Heron Lake.