It's taken us a while, but after a heads up from the guys at WatersportsWorld UK about a Hyperlite demo day they were doing there, ExPix finally got to check out Blackpool Wake Park.

Opened in May 2010, Blackpool Wake Park is the first System 2.0 wake park in Lancashire and the North West of England. Set in the tranquil Ream Hills Farm, Weeton, it's a far cry from the 'kiss me quick' image of Blackpool. Renowned for its funfairs, piers and arcades, Blackpool certainly seems to be changing. The area already has a thriving kitesurfing community and now has much needed facilities for wakeboarders.

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After a gruelling schedule which made it impossible for ExPix to visit Blackpool Wake Park in 2010, even though it's only 40 minutes away from our head office, the Hyperlite demo day was a good chance for the ExPix team to see the wake park in action whilst gaining some information for one of our ExPix event reports, meet Gary and Fiona, who run things and catch up with some of the locals and not so local, (thinking here of the family from Scotland who wakeboard at the park whilst visiting relatives in Blackpool) who regularly use the facilities. With the sun beating down it was a perfect day for riders of all ages and abilities to take to the water or for spectators to chill out on the banks of the lake.

Scott Taylor from Watersports World UK could be forgiven for tempting more then a few 

 

riders with his array of 2011 Hyperlite boards and bindings. As a leading manufacturer of wakeboarding equipment, Hyperlite have a lot to offer and the demo day proved the perfect opportunity to try out the different boards and binding combinations. On offer for trial were the Hyperlite System bindings along with the Marek and Kobalt boots and several boards including the Marek, Process as used by Nick Davies, Franchise and Vigilante.

Also around for the day was ex windsurfing champion and now stand up paddle board champion and Starboard team rider, John Hibbard. John brought with him a selection of

Starboard stand up paddle boards to demo which went down a storm and he also had a go at the wakeboarding to.

The guys at Blackpool Wake Park have certainly been creative in making full use of the lake. The System 2.0 is in the centre of the lake surrounded by 4 floating obstacles for the more adventurous rider. As some of you may remember, ExPix have something of a connection with the System 2.0, having transported one from FISE in France, in 2009 for the guys at Wakestock, all in the back of a Toyota Hi Ace van! Since then the System 2.0 have been used in a variety of places where it's not possible or feasible to use a traditional cable system. A winch park is to the far right of the lake and to the left, areas for stand up paddle boarding.

The wake park offers everything from beginner wakeboarding lessons to 1-1 coaching sessions and has excellent facilities including a club house with snack bar, changing rooms with showers and even on site accommodation in the form of a wooden chalet with amazing lakeside views.

2011 looks set to be a busy time for Blackpool Wake Park as they host a series of wakeboarding competitions in association with Tim Woodhead of Industry Wake Parks. Aimed at growing the sport of wakeboarding, the events will offer riders the chance to compete at entry level, see pro wakeboarders in action, together with coaching sessions and unlimited access to the winch park.