Barefoot waterskiing: Hugo Schaw gets taste for top-level sport

Hugo Schaw shows family members and supporters his bronze medal at the Hawke's Bay Airport on Monday night. Photo/Paul Taylor

It may not have been the medal Hugo Schaw targeted but his elation was still warranted.

The Central Hawke's Bay barefoot waterskier returned home from the world barefoot waterskiing championships in Melbourne on Monday with a bronze medal.

It was a bronze won by his junior under-17 team which finished three points behind the second-placed United States team. Hosts Australia won gold.

Schaw, 16, travelled across the Tasman with the aim of a medal in his specialist jump event. The Lindisfarne College Year 12 student finished fourth in the 21-strong field 140 points behind the bronze medallist. But the team finish was strong.

"Our junior team placing was better than the previous Kiwi junior team placings. Our open and senior teams also won silver medals," Schaw said.

His fourth placing in the jump was a commendable finish considering he boasts just three years experience in the sport. Schaw, who is coached by Otaki's Robbert Groen, also recorded eighth placings in his tricks and slalom events.

"I've had a taste of world championship competition and now I want more. Hopefully I'll make the Wisconsin worlds in 2016 ... I'll be an open grade competitor then," Schaw said.

Part of a well-known Central Hawke's Bay sporting family, (his brothers Angus and Scott are both Hawke's Bay senior men's cricket representatives) Schaw again acknowledged his trampolining and gymnastics skills as a key to his success.

As a trampolinist Schaw was coached by Waipawa's multiple national title-winning coach Wayne Marsh and when he was 12, Schaw collected a second placing at North Island championship level.

His next competition will be on April 5, the first to be hosted by Takapau's Backpaddock Lakes.