Wakeskating
10 UK wakeparks that you absolutely must visit
UK wakeboarding parks are some of the world’s best. We asked three pros to tell us which they rate the most.
Wakeboarding is a super-accessible sport that anyone can get involved in. UK parks offer coaching and kit hire, so all you need to do is book a session and turn up. They use two types of cable system to pull you along: a System 2.0 with a straight line cable (best for beginners), or a full size five corner cable that runs in a continuous circuit.
To seek out the best, we asked wakeboarding legend Matt Crowhurst, and two of the sport's biggest names right now, the Peacock Brothers, Liam and Ryan [above], to pick out their favourite spots.
1. Hannams Wake Hub, Cambridgeshire
Hannams Wake Hub
© Hannams Wake Hub
Stowbridge Farm, Cambridge Road (A10), Stretham, Cambridgeshire
“This is by far the best full cable in the country. With towers at 13m off the water, it gives one of these best pulls for huge cable aerial tricks. It’s up there with any park in the world,” reveals Matt Crowhurst. Liam Peacock agrees: “It’s perfect for water tricks and has some big obstacles.” Hosts of the UK Nationals 2018, Hannams has both a full size corner cable and a straight line.
2. JB Ski, Surrey
Peacock Brothers doing their thing at JB Ski
© Mantis Pro Media
Thorpe Lakes, Thorpe Road, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 8PH
“We learnt to ride at JB Ski and spent most of our childhood here so it feels like home,” says Ryan Peacock. “It has chilled out vibes with great kickers, a good system 2.0 for beginners, and a Rixen trainer for first timers on a kneeboard. Off the water, there’s a decent shop with demo boards, plus a beach area. They also host Transitions Festival, which is always good!"
3. Fox Lake, East Lothian
Scotland's Foxlake is a wakeboarding gem north of the border
© Mantis Pro Media
Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1XF
"The most well thought out, all-encompassing outdoor adventure centre based around wakeboarding and water sports, Fox Lake is really amazing,” says Matt. Located 20-30 minutes east of Edinburgh, you’ve got a 2x Sesitec System 2.0, nine obstacles, an over-water low ropes course, off-road Segway, a woodland zip-line trail, café and pro shop,” and it’s growing year-on-year."
4. Liquid Leisure, Berkshire
A different kind of grind
© Mantis Pro Media
Horton Road, Berkshire, SL3 9HY
“This place stands out as one of the slickest operations in the world, with more of the best and most challenging Unit Parktech features [a premiere feature manufacturer] on the full cable than almost any other park,” says Matt. “It has the best obstacles and big kickers,” adds Ryan. There’s a full size cable park, a boat lake and Europe’s biggest on-water aqua park. And if you wanted another reason to head there, it also hosts the Plastic Playgrounds Championships, one of the biggest wakeboarding comps in the world.
5. Club Wake Park, Northamptonshire
Grendon Lakes, Main road, Grendon, Northamptonshire, NN7 1JW
“Club Wake Park has some cool obstacles for a system 2.0,” says Liam. These include everything from a beginner slider to step up flat bars, plus a quarter pipe and a double-ended spine kicker. “And there’s a great wake community feel here, with everyone helping each other improve.” You’ve also got an aqua park and lakeside café on site.
6. Spot-On Wake Park, Warwickshire
Spot-On Wakepark is open to all levels
© Mantis Pro Media
Wootton Park, Wootton Wawen, Henley-in-Arden B95 6HJ
Spot-On has a crazy setup with pool gaps and a permanent bi-level,” Ryan told us. “There’s a good beginner set-up too, so it’s perfect for all levels. And the staff are really passionate.” Matt agrees: “This place was built from scratch with amazing wakeboarding in mind. It has perfect-shaped lakes for straight line cables and, on the ‘advanced cable,’ has a raised start pool and full blown skateboard-style rails and ramps, plus another raised pool halfway along this cable. There really is no better straight line cable park for pure advanced riding time.
7. Lagoon Water Sports, Hove
Be a typhoon in the lagoon
© Mantis Pro Media
Hove Lagoon, Kingsway, Hove BN3 4LX
Matt massively rates his local parks. While he has a real soft spot for South Coast in Portsmouth ("It has six features on one of the longer straight lines in the UK and decent height on the towers for air tricks – there’s enough variety to keep any level entertained") he suggests a trip to Lagoon Water Sports in Hove for any beginner: "You'll find great coaching. The vibe is always buzzy and it has three different straight line cables for different levels and preferences."
8. Retallack Wake Park, Cornwall
Retallack Resort and Spa, Winnards Perch, St Columb Major, Cornwall, TR9 6DE
Retallack is another of the Peacock brothers’ favourites. “Located near the sea in Cornwall, you can go surfing too, and it has the added bonus of a Flowrider artificial wave, which is super fun!” Ryan told us. “It also has friendly staff, cool obstacles and good food for after your session.”
9. Liverpool Wake Park, Merseyside
You'll Never Wake Alone
© Mantis Pro Media
Liverpool Watersports Centre, 110 Mariners Wharf, Liverpool, L34DG
Matt has big respect for Liverpool Wake Park: “This is the home of Industry Wake Parks, the people behind all Sesitec & Unit Parktech wakepark installations, as well as the guys behind some of the UK’s biggest wakeboard events like Wakestock, Red Bull Harbour Reach, Glass Butter Beach and the Industry Pro Wakeboard Tour. The two different cable set-ups cater for all levels, with an awesome array of varied features.”
10. New Forest, Hampshire
New Forest's Cable Park
© Manis Pro Media
Ringwood Road, Fordingbridge, Hampshire SP6 2EY
A full size park with two cable systems, obstacles and decent kickers, Liam and Ryan love the vibe at New Forest: “There’s a really good community here, with great coaching, a ladies' morning and lots of other stuff going on.” It has a System 2.0, plus a five corner system and obstacles for progression. There’s also a big aqua park and a hot tub for colder days."