Excitement is building among Dundee’s adventure sports enthusiasts as final testing begins at the city’s soon-to-open wakeboarding centre at City Quay.
Foxlake Adventures, founders of Scotland’s first cable wakeboarding park in Dunbar, East Lothian, are just weeks away from opening in the City of Discovery.
The manufacturers of the cables have had riders out testing them to ensure they are fully safe before opening to the public, with passers-by being treated to a glimpse of what will soon become a daily sight.
Construction started in late May and opening was initially scheduled in July. However, a delay in construction meant this was pushed back by a month.
Though the sports facility will miss most of the peak summer season, the operators plan to open all year round as the warmer saltwater provides a slightly more appealing experience than freshwater alternatives.
It will be only the third of its kind in Scotland.
James Barbour, director of Foxlake Adventures, said the finishing touches would be made to the site in the next few weeks.
https://www.facebook.com/wave102/videos/1603969756318651/?hc_ref=ARTw6eHCefdLQC6RejJjJAiUzaP2Z0gtQee171pM9pdto2WdYzFwSS4SJvqv4vYeE7Q
He said: “We are really excited to be testing the water and concluding our site-specific training this week and aim to be officially launching our latest exciting venture in the coming weeks.”
Traditionally a sport in which participants are pulled along open water while attached by rope to a boat, a cable version is increasing in popularity across the world.
It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snowboarding, and surfing techniques.
The City Quay centre will offer wakeboarding lessons, group experiences and several ancillary outdoor activities.
The plan had encountered some objections, most notably by the adjacent Apex Hotel, which had concerns about “Quayside views”, noise pollution and parking.
However, the plan had the full backing of Dundee City Council.
