Thirteen years later and Nick Davies is the UK’s number one wakeboarder and considered one of the world’s finest. Inbetween chasing the sun in exotic locations, winning tournaments around the world (and getting paid well to do so), Davies, 25, returns to his home cable park, Liquid Leisure in Datchet – and even names it as his favourite place to ride.

“I travel globally through the whole season going place to place worldwide,” he said.

“But I love it here at Liquid Leisure, it’s my home park – I’ve got all my mates here so it’s easier. The obstacles on the lake are unique and there is plenty to have fun on. It’s also a great place to socialise”

The Horton Road venue, like Davies himself, is preparing for Plastic Playground which will see some of the best riders in the world descend on the Berkshire village to battle it out for a $15,000 prize on Sunday.

Davies said: “It’s the first time they [Liquid Leisure] done this.

“They are making it a huge event so it should be pretty cool. They are getting the top riders from all over the world. There’s a bunch of us that I compete with who do the world tour all around the place every weekend so in that sense it’s just another competition – except this one seems like it’s going to be way bigger.

“It’s going to be special for me too as it’s local. I’m here pretty much every day I’m back in the UK so it should be good.

“I’ve got all my mates and all my supporters down here with me which will make it even better.”

The competition is an obstacle-only event with riders taking two runs with the best score being counted.

In addition to the main event, the Horton Road centre will host its first ever King of Vert competition.

This will take place on the two-tower cable with the new UNIT quarter pipe and will include both the 14 invited riders from the Plastic Playground event and six wildcards from the King of Vert qualifier.

Riders will aim to impress the judges and scoop the $5,000 up for grabs.

The competition is a quarter-pipe, best trick event, and the first round will be a 20 man head-to-head with half of the contestants being knocked out and the rest progressing through to the final.

Davies said: “Wakeboarding is a fun sport, I’m lucky to have it as my job. I also get to travel the world doing something I love to do – there’s a great atmosphere everywhere I go and there is a great group of riders all different ages and abilities who all ride together. If you are around in the area come down it should be a good event and we want to get as many people down as possible.

A day pass costs £10, spectators’ VIP pass £40 and entry for children under 10 is £5. For more information, visit www.plasticplayground.co.uk

SAM MURRAY