BRITS ABROAD… Megzy Barker

Welcome to the BRITS ABROAD series where we’re bringing you news of what the British wake chicks are doing off in far-off lands this winter. It’s not an exercise in gloating (promise) but a chance for us to get that fire burning in your bellies ready for the new season. Whilst not strictly ‘abroad’, we thought the long migration south for this extroverted youngster was worth telling you about. Despite her flamboyant pink Mohican helmet, loud and aggressive riding style, a string of top podium spots in 2011, down south, Megzy Barker is relatively unknown.

In a bid to kick start her 2012 boat season “on a real boat”, as she describes, the 18yr began her journey from Leeds to the LDB Wakeschool for a week’s intensive boat riding back in March. As well as bringing her passport (!!) Megzy brought her refreshing enthusiasm to women’s’ boat riding. Megzy has a wonderful contagious excitement that surrounds her, a zest that is very apparent out on the water. There’s no doubt that this is what makes her such an entertaining character both on and off the water. She described her home for the week as “dream wakeboard land – Surrey… where all the southerners speak proppa”. The south was a good host exposing Megzy to flat calm waters and lots of sunshine as she brushed off the winter cobwebs. “Sun cream packed, passport in bag CHECK… but still managed to come away with a BURNT face.”

The 2011 Junior Ladies National Champion, ranked top ten at the IWWF World championships in Milan in 2011. Heading to the Surrey wakeboard school, she held high hopes for her trip vowing to “shred harder, go further, aim higher, and get noticed in a bid to compete to a higher standard”. Despite being her very first days of boat riding of 2012, she certainly did get noticed landing old tricks and picking up new ones.

“I was trying out more inverts and spins pushing my riding to a different level… Thing is, this was only the first 4 days of my riding 2012… Wait until it really starts! This has giving me so much confidence and got me excited for the year” Megzy Barker

So impressed was LDB with her riding and sudden progression during the week, that she earned herself a place as an LDB Wakeschool Team Rider! In the space of four days, Megzy learnt no less than 3 new inverts and numerous spins. “It’s a real pleasure coaching someone who’s so enthusiastic and always excited to be out on the water. I’m looking forward to seeing Megzy’s riding progress over the year.”

Not only is this amusing character set to shake things up on the boat scene, but her 2011 ‘form’ would suggest she’s a bit of an all-rounder; she won best trick at Wakestock Mystic wall ride, the Big Air comp at Ryan & Tony Birch memorial, and was a bit handy on the cable at Ropes and Wires as winning team member of ‘Tuff E Nuff’ nearly landing a heel 7 first attempt!

With few other girls to ride with back home, she’s been described as ‘riding like a boy’ and she admits that’s not necessarily a bad thing, she’s keen to ride with more girls to help push her free riding and meet more wakeboarders, “It’s been great spending time on the boat chilling out meeting new people who are just as enthusiastic and nailing new tricks.”

Such was the good impression us ‘Southerners’ made on this bright spark, that within weeks, she had packed up and migrated south for the whole Summer. She’s already cleaned up at the first AOD stop and we look forward to bringing you news of this young lady’s good fortunes this 2012 season. We suspect you’ll all know who Megzy Barker is very soon.

“thanks to Maven Marine and Lee Debuse for kick starting my season… These guys are the ones that may make dreams come true… ha that’s cheesey.”
Megzy is sponsored by Maven Marine, Rubix Kangaroo, Billy Clough plumbing, AND OF COURSE LDB Wakeschool!

Friday 11 May 2012 | Permalink