Wakeboarding is a relatively new sport in Greece and the Greek islands. Over the last few years, more wakeboarding clubs open and this sport is included in the program of existing water sports clubs. This sport actually requires a combination of water skiing, surfing and snowboarding techniques. Certain rules are certainly taught but it is more of a freestyle sport. The non profit Greek Wakeboard Association (which also promotes kitesurfing) was founded in 1998, along with a similar European association. (
www.gwa.com)
In Greece wakeboarding can be carried out on any beach – organized or not. However, the more suitable places are:
Attica (Anavyssos, Varkiza, Lavrio, Loutsa, Galazia Akti Marathonas); Thessaloniki (Agia Triada, Volvi Lake, Nea Michaniona); Chalkis (Sunny Beach); Paros (Chrysi Akti, Nea Chrysi Akti, Tsoukalia, Santa Maria, Pounta); Naxos (Agios Georgios, Mikri Vigla); Mykonos (Ftelia, Kalafati); Ios (Mylopotas); Rhodes (Trianta, Fanes, Prassonisi, Theologo); Achaias (Drepano, Zacharo); Lefkada (Vasiliki); Karpathos (Ormos tou Diavolou); Irakleion (Ammoudara); Skiathos; Kos; Zakynthos; and Santorini.
The heavily wooded island of Poros is ideal for both waterskiing and water boarding with its long sheltered bay and calm lagoon.
The Passage Ski School and the Poros Marine club have promoted these sports pretty much, and the area attracts participants from all over the world, with professional athletes coming to train at the school, using a special watercourse designed for them on the Peloponnesian side of the lagoon at Drepani, accessible from the mainland by road.For wakeboard enthousiasts they use a Malibu Wakesetter VLX, a boat specially built to tow wakeboarders! The boat has capacity of 11 persons! The wakesetter makes the biggest ridable wake.
The ski equipment they provide comes from D3 skis, KD skis , CONNELLY, Straight Line and Masterline. For more info you can visit
www.passage.grPoros island, Neorion Bay 18020 Greece
Tel: +30 22980 43540
Mob: +30 6977779868
An active wakeboarding club in Greece with many members is Bareside, founded in 2002 and organizing courses and other special events, usually in summer. Its equipment is modern and of high-quality, while the friendly and specialized staff is ready to welcome one more fan of wakeboarding.
www.bareside.comIn Skiathos Island there is the Stefanos Ski School (www.stefanosskischool.com)
End of Papadiamanti Street 37002
Skiathos, Greece
Tel : +30 24270.21487
Mob : +30 6944.194251
Fax:+3024270.21487
E-mail : info@stefanosskischool.com
Close to Athens in Varkiza there is the Sharkski Water club(www.sharkski.gr).
With the International Olympic Committee recently announcing its shortlist of sports vying for inclusion in the 2020 Summer Olympics, SportsPro is asking its readers, which one of the 8 contenders will be added to the program for the 32nd Olympiad?
Wakeboard and waterski needs your individual vote, as it is an online voting pole against 7 other sports to make it to the 2020 Olympic games.
To vote visit: http://www.sportsmedia.com/
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Wakeboarding is a relatively new sport in Greece and the Greek islands. Over the last few years, more wakeboarding clubs open and this sport is included in the program of existing water sports clubs. This sport actually requires a combination of water skiing, surfing and snowboarding techniques. Certain rules are certainly taught but it is more of a freestyle sport. The non profit Greek Wakeboard Association (which also promotes kitesurfing) was founded in 1998, along with a similar European association. (www.gwa.com)
