Action Watersports in Lydd has beaten off stiff competition across the South of England to take the coveted Gold Award in the category of “Best Experience and Event of the Year” at the 20/21 Beautiful South Awards for Excellence, run by Tourism South East. The awards took place online on March 4.
The accolade is given to the business as it marks its 20th anniversary and after a huge expansion of its offerings, despite the difficult trading conditions due to Covid-19. Two years ago the company, run by co-founders Di and Simon Raine, introduced an aqua park on its lake in Lydd which added to the array of water-based activity it already offered – from individual water-skiing and wakeboarding, jet skiing, stand-up paddle boarding, open water swimming to family fun favourites including the banana boat and ringo rides.
In 2020, despite the business challenges relating to the impact of the pandemic, over 8,000 customers enjoyed the vast array of water-based activities the company offers and this represents a 70% increase in customer numbers from the previous year.
Action Watersports has something to offer customers as young as six (accompanied by an adult) and welcomes individuals, families and groups down to its 22-acre site in Lydd.
Di Raine commented: “Our ethos at Action Watersports is the same today as it was when we started the business two decades ago, to give everyone and anyone the opportunity to experience the fun of being out on the water, irrespective of their levels of skill or fitness.
Adventuring on the water
“Our recent expansion to include the aqua park demonstrates this, as we wanted to give the young and ‘young at heart’ the chance to get outdoors and enjoy an adventure on the water. We feel passionately about the physical and mental wellbeing that watersports can offer, and this has never been more needed by the nation than now, after everything people have had to cope with in the last year.”
Simon Raine, who has been coaching water-skiing for over 30 years and still competes in the British barefoot water-skiing team, puts the recent win down to the dedication of the almost 30 strong team.
“This award really belongs to the whole team at Action Watersports because they are responsible for the experience that’s created for our customers. From the welcome, coaching, briefing, service and safety they offer, it’s always done with energy, commitment, positivity and a smile – that’s why we believe our customers come back time after time. We all can’t wait to open again and welcome back both old friends and new customers to experience the fun and exhilaration of everything that’s on offer on the lake.”
Action Watersports plans to open up for business again on April 1 through to late October, seven days a week. Bookings and enquiries can be made online, by phone on 01797 321 885 or by email dianne@actionwatersports.co.uk.
Source and photo : Action Watersports