Woman marks 80th birthday with waterski slalom
Conditions were too rough for the full course but Celia Kent still managed to take to the water on her monoboard
- Published
A woman from north London has marked her 80th birthday in a "thrilling" manner by slalom waterskiing.
Celia Kent, from Islington, had hoped to take on the full course at her club in West Sussex, but strong winds forced her to stick to a more sheltered bay on Ivy Lake.
She said she loved the sport because of its speed - although she said she "doesn't go very fast".
鈥淚t鈥檚 just thrilling, especially if you do manage to get through the course, the sense of achievement."
She says she "doesn't go very fast" but finds it "thrilling"
She said everyone at the Chichester club was supportive: 鈥淭here鈥檚 no feeling that you鈥檙e an old bat who shouldn鈥檛 be down here."
Ms Kent's coach, Brett Hodgkins - who has World, European and British titles in waterskiing and wakeboarding - said his octogenarian protegee "transcends time with her agility and her ability to be on a slalom ski, she鈥檚 amazing鈥.
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