The Irish Wakeboard Team finished in seventh place in the overall rankings at this year’s championships, which are regarded by many as the equivalent of the Olympic Games for wakeboarders.
The World Championships took place in Milan and some 250 athletes, representing 36 countries, competed at the prestigious event. Ireland fielded a team of eight riders.
David O’Caoimh (17), fresh from his Wakestock UK Open Men win the previous week, rode extremely well and took the silver medal in the Junior Men division, and both Sian Hurst (Open Ladies) and Jonny Crawford (Masters Men) made it through to the semi-finals. Our younger talent performed extremely well with Lindsay Whelan (Girls 10-14) qualifying through to the finals to take 5th place whilst Aisling Deegan (Girls) made it through to the semi-finals. For both Lindsay and Aisling this was their first major international competition.
O’Caoimh has been wakeboarding for seven years having taken up waterskiing at the tender age of five. He is the current Open Men Irish national champion and his main training spot is on Lough Sillan in Cavan, though he regularly spends long periods training overseas in both South Africa and Florida with top coaches.
This was a tremendous performance by the Irish team who are up against athletes from countries with warmer climates where riders can train all year round. The results bode well for the European/African Championships which will be held in South Africa later this year.
Photo: Lindsay Whelan throwing down a super smooth set!!!
[...] Outsider Magazine – Irish Team deliver at Worlds Our younger talent performed extremely well with Lindsay Whelan (Girls qualifying through to the finals to take 5th place whilst Aisling Deegan (Girls) made it through to the semi-finals. [...]