Barefoot skier inspires children in Kapiti

World champion barefoot water skier Georgia Groen at Paraparaumu Beach School.

Last week Kapiti Kids Motivation Trust visited five Kapiti schools with barefoot water ski world champion Georgia Groen.

The trust brings sporting and arts personalities into the district to inspire and motivate children in schools.

Roger Booth from the trust talked with Georgia about her sporting journey from growing up with her own practice lake at Forest Lakes, Otaki, to becoming a world champion.

Growing up in a family of water skiers it was inevitable that Georgia would compete in the sport.

With her first world event at 12 and competing in five world championships, Georgia spoke of her journey to becoming a world champion, inspiring the children at Paraparaumu Beach School when Kapiti News visited.

She received a few curly questions from the attentive children such as who is the best in your family — might have been controversial if other members of her family were in the room.

Having grown up with her dad competing, and wanting to copy her older brothers who were also learning to water ski, Georgia and her family had a lake in their backyard that they practiced on.

A few years later Georgia found herself on the world stage.

"When I was first getting into it I took quite a few face slappers.

"I've taken plenty of falls and a fair few scorpions — an impressive way of bailing."

"I've taken plenty of falls and I've learnt how to tuck and role and just deal with it."

When asked by Roger what it was like being a world champion in a sport that not many people know about Georgia's answer inspired the children.

"It depends what you're doing it for.

"I'm not doing water skiing to be famous, I'm not doing it for money. I just love doing what I do.

"I've had so many opportunities through it, I've been all over the world, been to Europe, America, Australia, Asia and I'm only 21 so by just getting involved it's opened up so many doors.

"It's not for bragging rights but because I love it."

After finishing a business degree at the University of Canterbury last year, Georgia is focusing fully on training this year as she gets ready for the World Championships in August.

Earning gold and two silvers at the last world championships Georgia won the overall gold in the open women's competition.

"I need to protect my title and hopefully get a few more."

Her commitment and results have earned her the captaincy of the New Zealand team, following in the footsteps of her cousin Ben Groen who led the team to overall third place at the last world championships.