A teenage waterskier from Norfolk has travelled to Chile to take part in the sport's world championships.

Noah Pollard is one of the six-strong GB Team taking part in the World Under 17 Waterski Championships at Lago Los Morros, near Santiago, this week.

The team, aged from 15 to 17, have been training hard at Orlando, in Florida, to prepare for the three-day competition which begins on Thursday.

Eastern Daily Press: Noah Pollard skiing at the age of 13Noah Pollard skiing at the age of 13 (Image: Mark Dickinson)

Noah's mother Kelly Atkins said: "He started when he was seven, he's always had a natural talent even from a young age.

"He's really coachable, he listens to what his coach says and takes it on board. He enjoys it as well."

Miss Atkins, 45, who runs the Premier Waterski School at Pentney Lakes, near King's Lynn, won a silver medal in the European Over 35s Waterski Championships and a bronze at the World Over 35s Championships last year.

Eastern Daily Press: Noah Pollard, who will be taking part in the World Waterski ChampionshipsNoah Pollard, who will be taking part in the World Waterski Championships (Image: BWSW)

She has also won the Women's Open National Championships.

She said she will be watching Noah's progress in Chile online as he takes on 100 other skiers from 22 countries.

She added her son, who lives in King's Lynn and is in the sixth form at Thetford Grammar School, hopes to gain a scholarship to allow him to carry on his waterskiing at a university in America and forge a career in the sport. 

Noah's team-mates are Dani Halford, 16, from Worcestershire; Lilli Deste, 17, from Buckinghamshire; Harrison Crossland, 16, from Gloucestershire; Tom Parkin, 17, from Yorkshire and Stella Gamski, 16, from Surrey. 

Eastern Daily Press: Noah Pollard from King's Lynn has traveled to Chile to take part in the World Waterski ChampionshipsNoah Pollard from King's Lynn has traveled to Chile to take part in the World Waterski Championships (Image: James Elliott)

GB youth coach Charlotte Wharton said: "For some of these skiers, it is their first World Championships and, despite the nerves, I know they are excited. I have seen how hard they have been training and we are all excited to watch them compete this week.

“We have a few days' practice before the event begins and Team GB are ready.“

The championships will see medals awarded in three separate disciplines.

They include jumping, which involves skiing over a ramp and taking off at speeds of up to 70mph, with points awarded for the distance achieved.

Competitors must also show their skills at slalom and performing tricks like somersaults and holding onto the ski rope with their toes.