Teen takes to water for barefoot ski championships

Olly Moore is representing Team GB in the Europe & Africa Championships in the Netherlands

A 15-year-old barefoot water-skier has said he is "really excited" to be representing Team GB at the Europe & Africa Championships in the Netherlands.

Olly Moore, who is from Goole and trains at the White Cross Water Ski Club in Selby, said it "means so much" to be taking part in the competition that starts on 21 August.

Barefoot skiing - as the name suggests - sees entrants take to the water without the support of skis, travelling at speeds of up to 40mph (64 km/h).

Olly, who juggles training with studying for his GCSEs, will head to Florida in October for the World Championships.

The teenager started barefoot water-skiing during the coronavirus pandemic.

He told the BBC: "We were getting really lazy during Covid so my mum took us to a ski club so we'd start doing something and I saw someone doing the barefoot water-skiing and thought I have to do this as it looks so cool."

There are three disciplines to barefoot water-skiing - tricks, slalom - when the competitor crosses the wake as many times as possible in 15 seconds - and jump, where barefooters jump over a ramp.

Olly insists he just has "regular feet" and that with training, barefoot water-skiing does not hurt

While it might sound like a super-human feat, Olly insists he just has "regular feet" and that with proper training, skiing barefoot does not hurt.

Olly trains at White Cross alongside Robbie Crewe, who will join him at the World Championships in Florida in the autumn.

The club is also home to Buddy Carrington, who represents Team GB in tournament skiing.

This year's International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation Europe & Africa Championships in Maurik will be Olly's second trip to the competition - and this time he is hoping for a spot on the podium.

"I'm really excited," said Olly.

"Once you're up there skiing you can't think about anything, but on the dock I'll feel the nerves.

"It means so much to me to be representing my country and my family, friends and the club have been so supportive, especially my mum."

Luke Galloway from the White Cross club said: "We're very proud of Olly and his achievements and wish him the best of luck at the upcoming European Championships and the World Championships later in the year."

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