New video live now! A power hour at Liquid Leisure sessioning the new park layout, (It had been a year since I had last been there!), and I even got a follow cam! Enjoy!

Watch here: Liquid Leisure Laps

It happened.

After 23 years of wakeboarding.

I got a place on the British Team.

Literally a dream come true to represent my country in the sport that I love.

What a moment!!

So what did this entail? Planning to leave the family for 10 whole days was not easy. It was the longest I had ever left them, and the first time I had left the country without them. There were plans, remote working hours and spreadsheets that resembled a military operation.

I caught the Eurostar to Paris and made my way to Le Kable with an hour to spare before my first cable session. This was needed, new cable AND my very first time on a clockwise cable. It was so weird at first but at the moment, I can’t remember what its like to ride a ‘normal’ cable!

The time came when I was given my Team GB jacket… this was definitely a very special moment!

We had a time for more sessions on the water and we were also given our official event bibs which we would then wear every time we rode going forward. Team training sessions followed where the teams were given allocated slots on the water. This was pretty nerve wracking as each team would watch what the other teams were doing in preparation for their comp runs.

The competition started and qualifiers were under way. My turn in the Masters Women was up. I was pretty nervous but I kept the self talk to what I planned. I put down my first run which was complete. And then my second run was definitely the best competition run that I had ever done! I qualified 3rd!

The next three days were filled with cheering for the other team mates and watching the qualifiers and also the heartbreaking LCQs, quarter finals and exciting semi finals. The team put down some epic runs and the overall riding standards were so HIGH!

On the evening on the fourth day, I had my finals. The day was intense. I’d been doing good up until then. I was pretty emotional, I had to keep taking myself away from everyone. I saw others with their families and I missed mine. I had to dig pretty deep to keep it all together and remember why I was there and how I had trained and prepared for this moment. I mentally went where I had to go to get it done. This was new for me, and I’m stoked to say the prep worked.

Finals started and I put down a first run that I was happy with! It even put me in 2nd place for a bit! I had the chance to up it on my second run but fell on the last feature, and pretty hard too on my hip bone, and finished in 3rd.

The goal was to get on the GB Team. A podium finish was a dream vision.

Coming away with a Bronze Medal was honestly the cherry on top.

And I had the best first experience with the Team, so welcoming, friendly and supportive. They made the trip a truly epic experience! Thank you to Team GB!

Worlds Vlog: Watch Here!

2023 has been an insane year.

It’s been filled with trips, wakeboarding, surfing, wakesurfing and plenty of cold water. I’ve been working on a few things this year, and one of them was the Wake Park World Championships, and Plastic Playground, both held at liquid Leisure. Some might think it’s just wakeboarding, some might think I was mad to enter such big competitions at the age of 39, but for me, it was a crazy goal and it absolutely terrified me.

I made the decision to enter these comps back in October 2022 only discussing it with my husband, who gave me his full support, as we knew that it meant my brain would be thinking about it and I would need to put in some hours at Liquid, (which is not the easiest juggling work and a family). Big thanks to Xtreme Wake and Box End Park for all the encouragement, riding and all round good vibes that saw me through!

The time came for the Worlds, I entered both the Park and Urban categories in the over 30’s. I was nervous beyond words, sweats, shakes, you name it. And the competition runs for a week, and I rode on two of the days.

But I did it, I rode in the Wake Park World Championships which was the main goal, but then I came away with 2nd place in both the Park and the Urban! It was such an incredible feeling!

And then onto Plastic Playground, which is a completely different animal. Even more international riders flew in for this one and the park was changed up to create mind blowing hacks with the features. This was so scary to ride in but again, my goal was to just ride in the comp. And then I came away with 2nd in the Masters again! Three international podiums in two weeks!

These competitions were by far the scariest I’ve ever entered, but I went in with just the expectation to ride; and getting podiums was a real cherry on top.

@taken_by_tilly

There has been loads more; surf trips to Portugal, Cornwall and North Devon filled with sun, waves and ocean dips.

Cold water dips and daily cold showers.

Pushing myself with health and fitness with new goals and never ticking them off as I keep moving readjusting them, always chasing the next goal or achievement.

And of course, the year has been filled with family and friends which is priceless.

So 2023, you have been one hell of a year and I can say that I have thoroughly enjoyed it!

2024, I am coming for you 🙂