President prepares for future

Kununurra Water Ski Club is preparing for another big season after last year securing a 21-year lease for the club's grounds and facilities.

Speaking to _The Kimberley Echo _after the weekend's annual general meeting, new president Hamish Ross said there were big plans for the club in 2015.

Ross said as part of securing the new lease, the club had put together a strategic business plan which outlined a number a long-term goals, including the construction of a clubhouse.

"The plan outlines a lot of big projects which we will now start to tackle," he said.

"We really want to get few new sets of lights in the short-term and with our wake winch, we can then do night competitions."

"Wakeboarding has been pretty strong over the past couple of years but we want to bring skiing back into it as well." Ross, who did what he described as an "apprenticeship" under former president Mark Coventry last year, said his predecessor deserved major credit for several years in the top job.

"The past seven years he's either been president or vice-president, so he's made a huge input to the club," he said.

"Last year, we replaced tyres along the bank and tidied up the boat ramp, including fixing the weed barrier to keep cumbungi out.

"We just want to keep improving the club with things like that."

Ross said the club was hoping for a membership boost this year, particularly from interested skiers, now that the semi-permanent slalom course was to be installed.

"We've had approval for the permanent slalom course and that's a pretty big thing to try and bring the waterskiers out," he said.

"It's such a great body of water for water sports and it's a pretty spectacular location. "We are always looking for new members - as well as competition days, we have come-and-try days so we are really looking to appeal to everyone."

One of the club's stars, Kindi Connell, last year won acclaim as one of the nation's best wakeboarders by taking out the Australian title for the women's 19 to 29 age category.

Ross said she had been a great asset for the club through her coaching and even though she would be away from the club this season, her knowledge had already helped improve other boarders.

He said he was keen to get back out on the water in his Malibu ski coat, named The Dirty Daddy, as soon as the lake was refilled.

"It's going to be a really exciting year," he said.