Yarrawonga former Junior World Champion Pro Wakeboarder Chloe Mills (pictured with her dad Tim) has overcome several knee injuries to recently take out the 2023 Australian Wakeboard Nationals.
Local former Junior World Champion Pro Wakeboarder Chloe Mills has overcome three bad knee injuries to take out the 2023 Australian Wakeboard Nationals.
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Chloe has been professionally wakeboarding since she was 13 (now 24-years-old), won the Girls Under 16 World Title in Korea and after placing seventh in the pro-women’s event at the WWA Wakeboard World Championships, she finished 2013 with a ranking of sixth in the world.
Chloe said she has been fortunate with what she has achieved over her wakeboarding career, but she is very proud of her most recent nationals.
“The event was held in Mildura from March 29 – April 1. The contest site was moved multiple times due to flooding around Australia but everyone was impressed with Mildura and I love being able to compete on the Murray River there,” Chloe said.
“You have to compete in two 2 state rounds, and state titles to compete at nationals.
“Anyone can join “Wakeboard Victoria”, our contests are spread out over the summer in different locations around Victoria, and are ability based (rookies through to open divisions” meaning any one can compete.
Chloe is enjoying being back on the water and competing in several wakeboarding championships.
“Our state titles and National events are age based, from the under 9 division, to the veterans and Open pro division.
“I am lucky to have won multiple junior and open national titles, but I am proud of this one as I wasn’t 100% if I was competing this season until I made a late decision a couple of weeks before Moomba that I wanted to get back to competing.”
In 2020 Chloe made a comeback to her beloved sport, making the finals in Moomba, placing sixth out of 14 girls.
Last month she took part in the Moomba Masters as well as travelling around Australia for further events with her knees holding up well.
“I had a busy March with three different contests, from making finals at the Moomba Masters in Melbourne, taking a 2nd place at the Action Sports Games in Perth, and then to end the season with a win at the National Titles was exciting,” Chloe said.
“Unfortunately injuries are common in the sport of wakeboarding. I have had three knee surgeries now so just to be out on my board is the goal for me.
“But my body held up well this summer and thankfully I am still able to ride and have fun. I have learnt to listen to my body as I’ve gotten older.”
In the past Chloe has moved to the United States and based herself in Orlando, Florida during Australian winters where she has studied and trained with the best wakeboarders in the business as she participated in the pro-tour competition.
Unfortunately as Covid shut down the world for several years, Chloe had been unable to head back over to the States, but said she is planning to fly over for a short stint this year although she is enjoying being back home in Yarrawonga.
“I was very fortunate to live in America six months of the year before covid hit,” Chloe said.
“I haven’t been back to compete overseas since then but I am looking to head over for a couple of weeks later this winter if everything goes to plan.”
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