Frequently Asked Questions – Help and Tips

Ellingham's season runs from mid-March until the end of October each year.
Open water swimming may start a few weeks later due to water temperatures and light.

Monday - Friday after 1pm - Dusk
Weekends - 9am - Dusk.
Visitors, Members and their guests can book a slot on our online booking system.

Each slot is a 10 minute session "tow" for any discipline (Water Ski, Wakeboard, Wake surf , Ringo etc) behind any of our boats with a qualified driver who will assist with getting you on the water and may give tips/suggestions.

Visitors can book sessions 24 hours in advance.

Monday - Friday 8am - 12:30pm. (Except Bank Holidays).

Our Club Manager Jody runs clinic sessions that can be for absolute beginners who have never seen Water Skiing/Wakeboarding etc to advanced skiers/riders looking to improve technique or land the next big flip!

The sessions are 15 minute "tows" which can be booked in advance so if you are looking for a regular daily/weekly slot or planning a treat for someone later on in the season/school holidays this would be ideal!

If you would like further information about Jody's Clinics then please email - Clinics@Ellinghamwaterski.co.uk

Our online booking system is used for both "Club Time" and "Clinic Time", register at https://ewwc.custombooker.co.uk/

"Clinic Time" will show available slots weeks in advance.

"Club Time" will show available slots 24 hours in advance for visitors.
The slots will be available for the next day from 8:30am each day.

For "Clinic Time" - you book can as many slots for as many people as you like or a block of time on a day/days throughout the season (subject to availability) on the booking system.

If you have a specific requirement then email Clinics@Ellinghamwaterski.co.uk

During "Club Time" - if you are a visitor and have registered in the online booking system then you can book a slot for yourself and 1 other person 24 hours in advance.
Remember that you will pay for all the slots online as one payment and would need to sort payment by friends etc between yourselves should you need to.

Visitors can use our equipment and we have many different sizes and types of wetsuits to borrow at the lake but if you have one yourself please use that if you prefer.

ALL skiers/riders are required to wear a buoyancy aid or impact vest when taking part in a discipline and they can be borrowed from the club if you don't have one yourself, please hang up anything you use on the hangers outside the store to dry.

We also have pairs of ski's, mono ski's and wakeboards for kids to large adults and wake surf boards and wake skate that can all be borrowed but if you have your own equipment and prefer please bring them along.

A towel, perhaps a changing robe if you like, food/drink is always good after all the fun on the water! We do have some snack bars and cans of drink for sale on site and there is a Shell petrol station 5 minutes up the road with a Budgens shop, they even sell Charcoal!

You can use the club BBQ if you bring your own charcoal, firelighters, matches, utensils and food etc but all we ask is to take your rubbish/litter home with you when you leave and when the club closes you will have to leave the site.

Friends and family are always good to cheer you on from the boat and take those all-important videos or photos of you getting up for the first time or landing that first back flip!  Or even running the slalom course and beating your personal best!

It is required that you are on the dock in your wetsuit/buoyancy aid with your equipment 1 set or 10 mins before your set is due to start.

WARNING - The driver will start the timer at the allotted time even if you are not on the dock ready so you will loose time in your set.

To make sure you have your equipment and are ready we recommend you arrive at the lake at least 30 mins before you are due on the dock so you have plenty of time to get changed, grab equipment etc.

Please ask the Driver (if they are not in the boat) or someone else for assistance if  you are unsure where to get changed or get equipment as all our members are friendly and always willing to help.

If you have caught the bug and find yourself booking many slots each week then you might be thinking about becoming a member.

We have a cap on the amount members each season so that they have a good chance of being able to book slots when they want even in the height of summer as the lake gets very busy!

We have a waiting list for anyone interested membership and they will be contacted as soon as a membership slot comes up.

It can be quite a commitment both financially and personally as a member as you would need to book at least 40-41 sets in a season to "break even" on the membership cost for the year rather than just paying for visitor slots throughout the year.

Please note:  If you book more than 6 Slots with us you would need to take up our Bronze Membership with us to register for BWSW insurance if you intend to book in "Club Time" after your 6th slot, this will entitle you to using the club facilities, join social events but you will still only be able to book 24 hours in advance as you are not a full member and you can still be on the waiting list to become a Full member.

More info about BWSW (British Water ski & Wakeboard Organisation) at www.bwsw.org.uk

If you would like to be added to the waiting list for membership then please email -  info@Ellinghamwaterski.co.uk

On hot days we know the beautiful water at Ellingham is enticing and would be the perfect place to cool down!

Unfortunately the setup we have is focused to bring the best experience for anyone wanting to Waterski/Wakeboard/Wakesurf/Wakeskate and ringo's.

The boats are running from dawn till dusk and there isn't anywhere you would be able to bring your own paddleboard or jet-ski to use.

If you want a swim in our designated small training area then you will have to book an activity like water skiing etc as our insurance wouldn't cover you we are afraid... but not a bad trade off getting behind one of our would class boats and feeling the excitement then to calm down in the water after!

Anyone who just turns up to use the training area will be politely encouraged to book and activity or asked to leave the site. Remember we do host the open water swim sessions - https://www.ellinghamwaterski.co.uk/open-water-swimming/

Here are a few links that might give you some more information about the disciplines, they are worth watching if you completely new or just starting out:

Water Skiing -

Wakeboarding -

Wake surfing -