Wales.com

Wales’ first permanent cable powered wakeboarding park opens this summer in Swansea’s SA1 development and is set to become a key attraction for water sports enthusiasts.

Wakeboarding - a variant of water skiing - is one of the fastest growing extreme water sports, with parks under development all over the world.

Work starts this week on GoWake - the new park which will open in time for the summer tourism season and operate from the 28 acre Prince of Wales Dock at the heart of the city’s SA1 development.

It has been supported by the Welsh Assembly Government through the Single Investment Fund and by Associated British Ports.

Described as a combination of waterskiing, snowboarding and surfing, wakeboard riders are traditionally towed behind purpose built motorboats, using the wake to create the lift needed to carry out a range of airborne manoeuvres and jumps.

Cable powered systems are a greener alternative and ideally suited for enclosed water. They are not weather dependent, can be operated all year round and suitable for everyone from beginners to advanced wake boarders. The cable system at GoWake is designed specifically for wake sports and capable of speeds of up to 25mph, depending on the experience of the rider.

The portable, straight-line cable system is powered by a frequency regulated electric drive motor and riders are pulled by cable across the surface of the water and back to the starting point – a distance of approximately 175metres. It is ideally suited for beginners enabling instructors to provide one to one tuition.

GoWake is a collaboration between two established water sports operators in Wales – Gower Kiteriders, run by Matt Barker-Smith in Swansea Bay and Big Blue Experience, based in Pembrokeshire.

The wake park will be a key new attraction for the region and a significant addition to the wide range of water sports already available in Swansea Bay which includes, kayaking, surfing, kite surfing, stand up paddle boarding, yachting and jet skiing.