About Us
The Waterski Academy is the brain child of Nick McGarry, a former British Team Member, the former Director of Excellence of BWSW, an International Senior Judge and a long standing BWSW Senior Coach. It is a Voluntary, Social Enterprise with Community Interest Company status. Its aims are to improve and develop people’s Physical, Intellectual, Emotional and Social wellbeing via the wonderful outdoor pursuit that is Water Skiing. It also achieves this by encouraging people to be part of the organisation and its daily activities on a voluntary basis.
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We are a family orientated voluntary club, that can be enjoyed by all because todays visitor is hopefully tomorrows member! We promote the sport and provide a facility which is safe and accessible to all. We have created a centre of excellence but also encourage community participation. We have brought affordable water skiing back to Cowm Reservoir but operate to professional commercial standards.
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As well as its Members and casual users the centre is once again attracting organised groups, schools and colleges, youth groups and charitable organisations.
We train and teach current and future British Team Members, disabled and able bodied, toddlers and grandparents and everybody in between. We are fully accessible, inclusive and open to all. We run a subsidised “Schools Program” with all our local Schools, introducing kids to The BWSW “Cutting Edge” Program and are getting the “more mature” amongst us active again via their partially funded “On the Edge” program.
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As a club we have benefitted greatly from our BWSW affiliation and value the information and resources we have access to. It has always been central to our ethos to support the Governing Body and any profit we make is ploughed back into sport. Last year we support the Tournament 200 club (funding British Team Travel), Invested in “Splash Eye” (competition software) for The North West Region and raised money for The British U17 teams trip to The Worlds in Chile.
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We have become a valuable learning resource for the sport and run regular training courses in First Aid, Safe Guarding, BWSW Coaching and Driving Qualifications, and this year will be adding Emergency Procedures and Health and Safety training, specific to our sport, to the roster.
To build a successful waterski facility you need good people to create an encouraging atmosphere and good facilities but you also need good equipment. That is why from day one we have worked very closely with the Malibu Boat Company to ensure that there are always reliable, well maintained, top quality boats on the water. We have built up a stock of equipment to be proud of, drysuits, wetsuits, impact jackets and shorts, Bluetooth helmets, booms, towers, every ski/board or training aid imaginable, we have invested in it and the usage is included in the cost of the lesson.
We operate a booking system and are available dawn until dusk 7 days a week all year round from our beautiful stone built Victorian reservoir keepers house. We can offer over-night accommodation on site and have also secured favourable rates for our visitors at the local BnB’s. Located in a picturesque Pennine Valley we are right in the middle of some stunning scenery.
Rossendale Council is about to launch, via Visit Lancashire, “The Adrenaline Valley” campaign and we are one of their accredited attractions. Rossendale truly is a hidden gem of a Holiday Location. Apart from The Waterski Academy, there is Ski Rossendale, Lee Quarry Mountain Bike Centre, Cowm Quarry Motocross, Quad bikes, Enduro and 4×4 off road tracks and loads more to do. We literally have miles and miles of cycle tracks and hill walks with of course plenty of Country Pubs.
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Just 40 minutes from Manchester Airport and 25 minutes from the City Centre with all its attractions we offer guest rates to all BWSW members and look forward to your visit soon.
Mission Statement
ETHOS
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To support, nurture and encourage Physical and Mental well being
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Provide a Happy, Healthy, Inclusive, environment that can be enjoyed by all.
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Provide facilities that are Safe, Accessible and Affordable.
VISION
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To Grow our Community Interest Company.
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Support and promote Water Skiing.
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To create “Professional Standard Water Ski Facilities” that are a valuable resource to their local community.
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Provide pre-employment learning opportunities to young people.
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Provide employment and training to local people.
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To encourage local community participation.
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To provide Facilities that add to the attraction of their local areas adding Tourism money to the Local Economy.
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To re-open or prevent from closing Water Ski Facilities under threat by providing a better business model and management expertise.
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AIMS & OBJECTIVES
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Our aim is to ensure economical viable and stable organisations bringing affordable water skiing to all.
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Encouraging regular users (members), casual users (tourists/pay and play) and organised groups (schools, colleges, charities etc.) to part take in or to support the participation in water ski activities.
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We will endeavour to work closely with Lake Owners, Local Authorities, British Water Ski and Wakeboard (BWSW), British Disabled Water Ski and Wakeboard (BDWSW) and Sports Coach UK to fulfil our objectives.
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To train and develop Participants, Competitors, Coaches, Officials and Boat Drivers.
OPERATIONS
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We are affiliated to BWSW, a “Gold Standard” Governing Body.
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We are fully insured via industry specialist insurers.
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We adopt and adhere to all BWSW’s codes of conduct, standards and policies.
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We have site specific safe working practises and emergency procedures.
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All our activities and operations are fully risk assessed, shared and recorded.
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All activities are under the supervision of qualified and competent people.
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All Drivers and Coaches are BWSW qualified/licensed.
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We maintain reliable boats and equipment by working closely with their Importers, Dealers and Manufacturers.
The Area
If you are planning to visit us and would like to take in the excitement of the area. Please check out the Rossendale leisure trust at www.rltrust.co.uk
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Be sure to check out Ski Rossendale at www. thehilluk.com
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For accomodation please contact us for recommendations