Surf Cat

A brand new waterpark is set to open next weekend  – and it takes less than an hour to drive there from Stoke-on-Trent.

Spring Lakes Watersports centre is launching just down the A50 in Long Eaton near Nottingham.

It will open to the public on Saturday, August 17.

Over the past seven months, and with more than £500,000 of investment, the site of the flooded gravel pits has been transformed into a family-fun destination.

Among the attractions include a huge aqua park made up of inflatable slides, trampolines and climbing walls. There is also wakeboarding, paddleboards and pedalos.

Out of the water, families can enjoy a manmade beach with real sand, nature walks and a bouncy castle.

The news come as Wildshore Delamere – described as an adrenaline-charged water-based adventure hub – has launched on the outskirts of Delamere Forest near Northwich.

The Long Easton project is the brainchild of Katie and Richard Hill,  aged 40, of Mansfield.

The couple spoke to NottinghamshireLive  and said they believe it will be one of the top UK wakeboarding centres.

The wakeboard enthusiasts bought the 133-acre former Trent Meadow site three years ago with hopes of building a haven for watersports and nature-lovers.

They hope the park will draw visitors from across Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and be a centre of excellence, training future generations of enthusiasts.

The park has also already created 22 jobs, including three wakeboard coaches and 12 lifeguards.

Katie Hill said: “We have been full on, working around the clock and everything is ready for an action-packed grand opening at 10am on August 17.”

The couple had to take a quick break from the action for the birth of their second child, Jasmine, on June 27 but are now preparing for the big day.

As part of the launch, crowds will see high-speed tricks and stunts from four top wakeboarders, including the UK three-times World Champion Nick Davies and a 14-year-old sports prodigy billed as ‘the future of wakeboarding’.

Eve Smith-Lang, a 2019 National Champion currently ranked World No.1 for her age, said she aims to inspire Spring Lakes youngsters to take up the sport.

Other visiting stars of the spray are brothers Jack and Alfie Constable, who are considered some of UK’s most creative and thrilling riders.

On the day, children and adults can hire Spring Lakes wetsuits and try wakeboarding with discounted lessons from British Water Skiing and Wakeboarding Federation-accredited coaches.

For more of a relaxing day, there is the Spring Lakes Beach with 150 tonnes of beach-quality recycled sand.

On dry land fun includes a bouncy castle for younger children, face-painting and nature walks. Refreshments will also be on sale.

The grand opening takes place on Saturday August 17, from 10am until 3pm.

Price for one hours at the water park is £20 with wetsuit hire included. The wearing of buoyancy aids is compulsory.

Discounted wakeboarding lessons can be booked on the day from £20 for children and £30 for adults.

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