When Ian Arthur founded Scotland's first water ski club at Slamannan near Falkirk in the 1950s he probably never dreamed that one of his family could go on to become one of the best in the world.
 
But his 20-year-old granddaughter, Nicole Arthur, is well on her way to proving she is one of water skiing's elite performers. This summer, she has won the British Open and British and European Under-21-Championships, as well as just recently becoming the Slalom World Champion!  But she is still aiming higher...
 
"My Dad (John) was also a keen water skier and I started when I was eight," said Nicole during a break from training at the British water ski centre at Thorpe Park in England.
 
"Now my aim is to climb up the world rankings. At the moment, I'm No.11 and I'm hoping I can go right to the top."
 
Having completed an accountancy and finance degree at Stirling University, Nicole is now ploughing all her energy into her sport. She did suffer a setback with a serious back injury in Greece last year - but is now close to full fitness and this year has been a huge step forward.
 
"I have got some bulging discs that are a result of the injury and I still suffer some pain," continued Nicole, who receives Lottery Funding and financial help from the British Water Ski Federation.
 
"But the Central Scottish Institute of Sport have been great in providing assistance in strength and conditioning and I have been skiing really well in recent weeks."
 
All sponsorship money is well used. She trains regularly overseas, most recently in Madrid, and admits it would be very tough to make the grade if she stayed in Scotland.
 
"Water skiing is such a great sport, but you have to be completely motivated," she said. "I love it - but it's so cold in Scotland. But, for me, it also makes it seem so much easier when you compete and train abroad."
 
Over the next few weeks, the World Open and European Championships are the main targets - while a huge goal is the World Under-21 Championships in Chile in January.
 
In preparation for Santiago, she intends to spend a great deal of time in the USA - and that is where she would love to establish a permanent base to move her ambitions forward.
 
"America is the main focal point for world water skiing and if I can make my mark at the worlds and Europeans then the sponsorship should start coming through and I would love to go there and compete full-time," she stated.
 
"As it is, I'm intending going over there in October and November to get some warm weather training and take in some competitions before the world Under-21s.

EB

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