British Water Ski & Wakeboard

Water ski and wakeboard are exciting sports where a person is towed by a boat or a cable system. British Water Ski & Wakeboard (BWSW) are the national governing body of the sport and are responsible for issuing qualifications.

BWSW covers a number of different disciplines; the majority of participants are within tournament and wakeboarding. The different disciplines are as follows:

• Tournament – traditional water skiing comprising of slalom, trick and jump. This is done behind a boat but can also be on a cable tow although this is limited. There is a strong competition structure for this discipline.
• Wakeboard – similar to snowboarding in look and terminology. This can be done behind a boat but is very prevalent on the cable tow systems.
• Kneeboard – Excellent at introducing new participants, this is the way most people start at a cable tow.
• Ski Racing – Small discipline, in the UK this is a coastal activity. Ski Racing is the fastest form of water skiing there is. You race against other skiers that can be right by your side at up to 200kph.
• Barefoot – Small discipline. Compete in slalom, trick and jump.
• Disabled – Competition skiing is in the same events as Tournament Slalom, Trick and Jump. BWSW work with British Disabled Water Ski Association to support the inclusion of disabled participants.