Adrenaline junkies across Manchester can now experience the thrills and spills of urban wakeboarding without needing to go any further than Salford Quays.
The Salford Wake Park at Salford Watersports Centre allows users to combine waterskiing, surfing and snowboarding as they skim across the water on specially designed boards.
Expert and beginner riders are all welcome at the unique urban experience, with highly qualified instructors on hand for anyone wishing to take lessons.
Mark Chew, Head of Sport and Leisure at Salford Community Leisure, said: “This is a fantastic development for Salford.
“Salford Wake Park is unique as is the first cable wake park of its kind to be built in the Manchester area.
“Not only will it be a great asset for the people of Salford and Manchester, but it will also attract many wakeboarders and adventure sport enthusiasts to visit the area on a regular basis from across the North West region.”
The centre utilises the revolutionary Sesitec System 2.0 cable-tow system, developed by Industry Wake Parks, which removes the need for a towing boat.
The cable’s speed can be adjusted for varying ability levels, while advanced riders can show off their skills on kickers, rails and manual pads.
The centre opens as the sport of wakeboarding looks to raise its profile ahead of a bid to be included in the 2020 Olympic Games.
And Rachel Tallon, Head of Development for British Water Ski and Wakeboard believes the Quays can now become an iconic venue for British urban wakeboarding.
“It offers a fantastic location, which will really be able to showcase the sport of cable wakeboarding,” she said.
“The easily accessible location will also open up the sport to city-dwellers and people from the surrounding area who previously didn’t have an opportunity to take part.”
Picture courtesy of Riley Bathurst via Creative Commons, with thanks.
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