Wakeboarding starlets hail Foxlake’s support in career

Orla Winn, Charlotte Docherty and Eve Smith-Lang all began their wakeboarding adventure at the attraction, near West Barns.

They honed their wakeboarding skills after taking part in the Active Schools programme, an initiative between East Lothian Council and sportscotland, to offer young people opportunities to adopt active, healthy lifestyles.

Foxlake Adventures has been involved in the programme since it opened in 2012 and welcomed nearly 1,000 children from schools all over East Lothian.

Winn, Docherty and Smith-Lang also joined the Foxlake Development Team and FoxCubs, created to encourage more youngsters to try wakeboarding and help them to improve their skills and confidence, and are now part of Team GB Wakeboarding Squad.

At the recent WWA Wake Park World Championships, Winn, of Haddington, came first in the Traditional Under-18s Junior Woman Category.

The 16-year-old also took second in the Features Under-18s Junior Woman Category.

Docherty, of Dunbar, finished third in the 10-13 year-old Features Category.

Smith-Lang, also of Dunbar, who became part of Team GB Wakeboarding Squad aged 13, has represented the team on three occasions and is six times British National Champion and current Women’s National Champion.

At the World Championships, the 17-year-old came fourth in the Pro Women Traditional Competition in Windsor, riding against many of the world’s top champions, including Anna Nikstad from the US and Julia Rick from Germany.

All three girls are gearing up for the next competition, the British Nationals at New Forest Wakepark and the IWWF World Championships in Thailand this month.

Eve Smith-Lang has praised Foxlake Adventures for the role in her wakeboarding career

Each of the three teenagers also thanked Foxlake for the key role it played in their development in the sport.

Winn, who attends Knox Academy, said: “Being part of Team GB now, doors are definitely starting to open for me and I’m excited to see where they take me.

“Huge thanks to everyone who has and continues to support me, including my coaches, sponsors and everyone at the various wakeparks I ride at, including Foxlake Adventures.

“Their ongoing support is really appreciated.”

Docherty, 14, was delighted to come third at the event, having only taken up the sport four years ago.

She said: “I’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone who has sponsored and supported me, including Foxlake, my family, friends and the wake community who have helped me to get this far.”

Finally, Smith-Lang said that trying wakeboarding had changed her life.

She said: “Through Foxlake’s ongoing support, so many brilliant opportunities have opened up for me.

“I’ve won six national titles and honoured to represent Great Britain at European, World and other international events; I’ve travelled across Europe, America, South America and Asia and am now sponsored by the biggest names in the industry.

“I am beyond grateful for the life that it has given me and the community I am part of, and really excited to see what the future holds not just for the three of us but for all the other kids who want to try something new and learn to wakeboard.”

James Barbour, director at Foxlake Adventures, said the team were “really proud” of the trio,

“It’s amazing that the girls came through the Active Schools programme and our own Foxlake Adventures development team and have continued to build on their skills over the years and win such impressive accolades,” he said.