Celia Kent, a retired publisher from Islington, North London, has proved that age is just a number by slalom waterskiing to mark her 80th birthday. A special event to mark the occasion took place on Saturday 15th June at Chichester Water Ski Club in West Sussex. (Photos, videos and interviews can be found in the link below).

Celia slalomed on her mono waterski at the club where she is a long-standing member.

She had hoped to take on the full slalom course on Ivy Lake, which involves skiing from side to side behind the boat and swerving around a set of six buoys, but conditions were too windy and rough for that particular challenge. Instead, she slalomed in a more sheltered bay at the lake.

“I love the speed, even though I don’t go very fast,” Celia said after her ski. “It’s just thrilling, especially if you do manage to get through the course, the sense of achievement. It’s hard to explain but it is really thrilling and I’m so lucky that I can still do it.”

Celia stays fit for waterskiing by going to the gym and taking classes two or three times a week as well cycling and keeping her weight down.

She said everyone at the Chichester club was very supportive of her.

“There’s no feeling that you’re an old bat who shouldn’t be down here,” she laughed. “And the sun came out. What more can you want?”

Celia’s coach, Brett Hodgkins, who has several World, European and British titles in both waterskiing and wakeboarding, was full of praise for her skill and attitude, saying she has true grit, dedication and determination.

“Celia transcends time with her agility and her ability to be on a slalom ski, she’s amazing” he said.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Photos and videos, including Celia skiing as well as interview clips of Celia and Brett, can be found in the dropbox link below. Please credit as shown:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/rz918cnu1bhnjocpvqsj4/AAUkmx9FC0dDnESHqBaTpBc?rlkey=6xh69tlnrlg2946itaqscy9rw&dl=0

For more information, please contact Jane Peel, British Water Ski & Wakeboard Head of Communications on 07802 496927 or jane@bwsf.co.uk

British Water Ski & Wakeboard (BWSW) is the sport’s national governing body and a non-profit making membership organisation. All its income is invested in developing and protecting waterskiing and wakeboarding across the UK from the grassroots to our top athletes.

Logo

Images

Tags

More Like This

Celia Celebrates Turning 80 by Slalom Waterskiing

Double Victory for British Water Skiers

GB Oldies Reign in Spain

GB’s Senior Water Skiers Win Big at World Championships

Senior GB Waterskiers Win Big at the Euros

UK’s Biggest Annual Waterski Competition Next Week

GB Former World Waterski Champion is Back on Top

Medals for Young GB Waterskiers at European Championships