North Yorkshire Water Park near Scarborough invests £1m in new facilities including first wakeboarding line in county
An aqua park based on a lake near Scarborough is investing in new facilities ahead of an expected boom in staycations this summer.
North Yorkshire Water Park at Wykeham Lake, already offers kayaking, paddle boarding and other outdoor activities.
It is adding a 250-m wakeboarding line - the first in North Yorkshire - a new reception building, and a cafe by the lake.
First invented in the 1980s, wakeboarding combines surfing, water skiing, and snowboarding, with the rider standing on a short board, towed behind a boat or on a line.
Extra features including a kicker or ramp will be installed in the water, allowing people to improve their skills under the guidance of experienced instructors.
Children will also be able to do a "ringo ride" on an inflatable using the system.
Operations manager James Whitehead said: "The system we are putting in is a System 2 from Industry Wake, a two tower straight line cable system.
"The cable has some benefits in that it has a more upwards pull and it's an easier system to learn on - you can probably do a few more mid air tricks on a cable.
"It'll also have features in the water, like rails and kickers, so people can progress from being a beginner to more advanced.
“We will be looking at doing competitions. Our vision is to be a centre of excellence for watersports in future."
The new facilities are due to be completed in May.
The water park is owned by Dawnay Estates, which is made up of two landholdings about 35 miles apart: Wykeham near Scarborough and Danby near Whitby.
Chief Executive of Dawnay Estates David Steel said: “Ultimately, this new development is a huge opportunity for us to cement our new and improved offering and contribute to the leisure and tourist offer in North Yorkshire.”