Charlotte Butler has come a long way since trying out wakeboarding at a school holiday camp at Cables Wake Park in Penrith.
Last week, the local teenager was crowned World Champion at the WWA Wake Park World Championships on the Gold Coast.
Charlotte secured the title after impressing the judges in the <17 Girls Elite Park division. With athletes representing over 30 countries competing in 37 divisions ranging from amateur to professional, Charlotte said she was thrilled to come away with the top prize.
“This is the third time I’ve competed at the World Championships, but the first time I’ve taken it home,” she told the Weekender.
“There were so many competitors at the World Championships. People from Thailand, Singapore, USA, Europe. There was also a lot of people that came to watch as well, which made for a really cool atmosphere.”
Having competed at the World Championships in London and Thailand in previous years, the 16-year-old knew what to expect when she hit the Gold Coast Wake Park course for the four-day competition.
“Those last two years helped me be prepared for the pressure and I just knew what I had to do,” Charlotte said.
“I was lucky that the team at Cables would open the lake for me to train and the coaching I received was a major help. Knowing I had that support made it so much easer.”
But things didn’t all go to plan for the Year 11 student. In the lead up to the World Championships, Charlotte broke her ankle playing touch football, while during last week’s meet, she failed on her first attempt.
“Wakeboarding is like gymnastics, so you’re ranked on your composition, difficulty and execution, and the judges give you a score out of 100,” Charlotte said.
“My first attempt I didn’t nail… I fell pretty early on, so it was all down to that last ride.
“Luckily, it’s not an average of both scores, it’s your best run.
“I was hoping to make the podium, but to win it all was very special.”
Charlotte took up the action-packed sport as a 12-year-old when she visited Cables Wake Park during the school holidays.
Now, she’s giving back to wakeboarding by teaching the next wave of kids coming through.
“I started at a beginner holiday camp at Cables, and I remember it being really helpful. I learned so much at the camp, so I stuck with it,” Charlotte said.
“Now, I’m teaching others at holiday camps, and I really enjoy it. Not only is it fun, but you get a lot out of helping people grow.”
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.