Max Duckworth | Sport

I am a 17-year-old boy & have been competing on the New Zealand Water Ski Racing circuit for nine years. In the 2013/2014 season I set Myself a goal to become a world champ at 2017 World Water Ski Racing titles in the USA. When I set this major goal, I knew there would be steps I would have to take, races I would have to win and sacrifices I would have to make. I first competed at the world titles in 2015 in Wellington where I gained a 6th place, but that worlds were an opportunity to see how good I needed to be to win an event like the world titles. In the season leading up to the 2017 world titles I gained 4 national titles 4 months before I would compete on the world stage. In May I headed to Australia to compete in the New Zealand under 19 team to face Australia. In this event I won my class.
In July, I went to Seattle USA to compete at the world titles where I came out with a 3rd overall, which although not what I wanted I was still extremely pleased with the result that I gained.
For the world titles, I was on the water training at least once a week every week from December 2016 till end of July 2017, I was also doing off water training such as running, gym work and mountain biking every day. I am a very determined and hard minded person and that when I set a goal for myself I give it 100% so that there can be no excuses with the result. Gaining a third has only made me more determined to one day in the future become a World Water Ski Racing Champion.