Reluctant champion takes on Asia's best
It took the bribe of a mobile phone from her parents to get Katie Miller to try waterskiing.
Six years on, the 15-year-old is so addicted to the sport she has a national championship title.
The Sydney youngster is in Perth this week for the 2014 Asia and Oceania Waterski and Wakeboard Championships at Bonney's Park, Baldivis.
The event, in Australia for the first time in eight years, has 120 competitors from 10 Asian and Oceania countries, vying for medals in slalom trick and jump, barefoot, wakeboard and show skiing disciplines.
Miller casually describes her sport as "pretty simple".
"I do tournament waterskiing slalom trick and jump at 55km/h," she said. "Jumping is pretty simple - you either do a single cut or a ¾ cut … the pros are doing double cuts."
That is, crossing the wake.
Miller is one of 24 Australian team members.
Chief organiser Michael Wrenn said Australia was expected to win the competition.
The event is on from tomorrow through to the weekend finals, with a world-class show jumping event on Sunday night.
