RELATED
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
IT'S been a splashing few weeks for Epsom barefoot water skiing aces Chelsea and Chloe Hall, and it's about to get even better.
The 14-year-old twins will head to Perth next week for the 55th annual Australian Barefoot Championships.
From there they will travel to China on April 28 to represent Australia at a tri-nation show ski challenge featuring the host nation, United States and Australia.
Their selection in the national team follows impressive performances at the show ski nationals in Mulwala in late March.
For an encore, the girls placed second (Chelsea) and third (Chloe) at the state barefoot titles.
A shoulder injury sustained at the state titles will keep Chloe sidelined during the nationals.
"She doesn't want anything stopping her from going to China," her sister Chelsea said.
"She's prioritising the show ski a bit more at the moment.
"That's fair enough, you don't get a paid trip to China every day."
Chelsea, who won the sub-junior national title last year in New South Wales, with a first placing in tricks and second in slalom, has moved up to the junior ranks this year.
Chloe was second last year, boosted by a top place in slalom.
Chelsea said the step-up t the under-18 division would be a real challenge.
"It will definitely be tougher competition," she said.
"Luckily they are trying to push all my events forward, because I have to leave the nationals early."
The trip to China will be the bubbly sisters second overseas this year.
In February they represented Australia in the IWWF Asian and Oceanian Water Ski and Wakeboard Championships in show skiing.
It was a demonstration performance only.
Their nine days in China will include two competition days and one training day, with the rest dedicated to sight-seeing.
The Halls go to school at Bendigo South East College, where they are part of the Athlete Development Program.
Chelsea said the program had been integral to their sporting development.
"It really helps with our water skiing and motivates us," she said.
"Chloe and I are always ski fit, but it helps us with other fitness and evens things out with core (fitness) and strength.
"It all helps when we are on the water."
The twins were introduced to the sport by their parents Kelly and Darren, who were both water skiers.
Father Darren featured in a ski show as part of the opening ceremony for the 1988 Seoul Olympics.