HAWKESBURY wakeboarders Zahra Kell and Nic Rapa did themselves proud at the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation world championships, helping Australia win the team gold medal thanks to superb individual performances.
The world championships was held in Beunos Aires, Argentina, from March 19-24.
Rapa and Kell were part of the Australian team, and the pair both grabbed individual medals, as well as the team gold medal.
Kell won the junior women’s category, and claimed the gold medal, with a score of 69.67.
She said told the Gazette was thrilled with her performance at the championships.
“It was so awesome to be standing on the top of the podium with a few of my very good friends. You couldn't wipe the smile off my face for hours,” she said.
“I was also so stoked to land my whole run.”
Kell said the Australian team was made up of a lot of great people.
“Our team is awesome. We had some of the best riders out of Australia, who are also my very good friends. Everyone rode great,” Kell said.
“It's not often we get to ride as a team so was really exciting when everyone was cheering for you and supporting each other.
“There was a lot of ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi ois’ going on all week.”
Kell added that the great friendships between most of the Australian team helped them achieve better results.
Nic Rapa won a bronze in the open men’s category. Fellow Australian Cory Teunissen won that class with a score of 94.22. Rapa’s score was 90.00 and he narrowly missed out on a silver medal.
Rapa told the Gazette that he was pumped about his achievements at the championships.
“Felt great. Rode solid in the final and I was happy to land on the podium representing my country,” he said.
Rapa said it was an honour to compete with the Australian team, and loved spending time with the athletes in the team.
“It was an awesome feeling, one that is like no other. This is the Olympics for wakeboarding,” he said.
Rapa said he had also become the first person to complete a complicated move during an IWWF competition, which he was proud of.
“I was the first person to land a double flip in an IWWF contest and also first to land two different double flips in an IWWF contest later on that week,” he added.
The Australian team beat the defending champions Italy by five points to win the team gold medal at the championships.
