So wakeboarding is the latest sport to join the BUCS programme, but how does wakeboarding actually work?Wakeboarding is one of the many new extreme sports that are rapidly increasing in popularity across the country. Developed from a combination of water skiing, snowboarding and surfing, Wakeboarding involves being pulled either behind a boat or cable on a board allowing riders to attempt a variety of tricks from the simple switches and ollies to back rolls, raleys and s-bends! The better you get the bigger the air…

Wakeboarding stems from surfers in California, who used to be towed on their surfboards behind boats when there were no waves. Almost 30 years down the line it is a fully developed sport with bidirectional boards and bindings with a huge array of flips and spins possible, much like snowboarding.

World tours and sport specific boats are now a part of the sport, and there have been moves to make it more accessible to the masses through the creation of ‘cable sites’. This is where the riders are towed by a cable around a lake, making the sport much more affordable. The sport has its own fashions, terminology and customs, and can be highly energetic.

In August 2008 a national committee, known as Uniwake, was setup to represent all student wakeboarders in the UK. A few months later Uniwake became part of British Water Ski and successfully campaigned for Wakeboarding to be recognised as a BUCS sport. Uniwake now represents students from around the country and puts on regular events for absolute beginners to the top riders in the country culminating in the Student Nationals held in Sheffield. Despite it being in its 6th year since the student wakeboarding idea was conceived, this year will be the first year where riders can gain BUCS points for their University.

Whilst the numbers joining Uniwake are ever increasing, we are keen to get more people involved. Up until now there has been an emphasis on students and clubs coming to us but are we now looking to change this. If your University has a Wakeboard or Waterski club please could you pass on our details for them to get in touch so we can start supporting them and their riders. If your University doesn't have a club we would appreciate it if you could send out the email below to raise the awareness of Uniwake and wakeboarding. Whilst we understand that setting up a club takes time and effort, the Uniwake committee all has past experience of setting up wakeboarding clubs and we are willing to provide assistance for any individuals wanting to get their university involved, with the full support of BWS. With any luck we can then have these students taking part in our development events and possibly have them taking part in the 2009 Student Nationals and if not, definitely the 2010 event when in the same year we are hoping to be hosting the first World University Championships.

If you have any questions at wakeboarding please contactidevelopment@uniwake.com.