Local Sports Star nominee Blake Tickell speeding up the ranks of Australian waterskiers
BLAKE Tickell’s meteoric rise in the waterskiing ranks has made him the top ranked in his age group within a mere 18 months.
Rouse Hill
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BLAKE Tickell’s meteoric rise in the waterskiing ranks has made him the top ranked in his age group within a mere 18 months.
Blake may have got the waterskiing bug from his dad Darren but has shown more talent and skills to have bragging rights over him.
Blake is this week’s nominee for the Local Sports Star Award and comes with a handy record.
The 13-year-old Rouse Hill local won the NSW under-13 boys state title last year and followed it by capturing the Australian crown this year to be the country’s best waterskier in his age group.
The Marian Catholic College (Kenthurst) student’s main goal is to qualify for the world’s junior championships in 2019 and judging by his achievements and planning, it could be within his reach.
Blake competes off a high speed around 90kph which could go as high as 112kph for long races.
His dad is the first to acknowledges Blake’s superior skills on the skis and is proud to be the driver at practice.
“I have doing this for a few years and I am pretty confident in races,” Blake said.
“I try and pace myself and keep calm during competition where Dannty Knappick is my driver.
“I prepare myself by either talking or singing to myself to get the right mindset.
“I am working on my fitness and strength training and work with a personal trainer in Bella Vista.
“One day I like to do the Bridge to Bridge Waterskii Classic (one of the longest races in the southern hemisphere) where speeds can go up to 112kph.
“This does scare my parents though.”
Blake and his Dad said that the work of his trainer Ryan Fraser from Focus Health and Fitness is crucial to his success because he has worked with the champion and customised training program.
The nominations for LSS are now closed.
Achievements: Won: U-13 boys Australian Titles 2017; NSW Ski Race Series U13 Boys 2; U13 Boys Region 5 ski race series
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