A Staffordshire water skiier is letting his feet do the talking at a major event this week.

Gregg Meehan, aged 24, of Redlock Field, Lichfield, is part of Great Britain barefoot water skiing team competing at the EAME Barefoot Water Ski Championships this week at the West Midlands Water Ski Centre off the A51 at Cliff, near Tamworth.

The PE teacher at Belgrave High School, Tamworth, has come out of retirement to help fellow local boy and former world champion, David Small, originally from Burntwood, in their quest for team gold.

He will be fending off competitors from eight countries, while the team’s performances will help selectors choose who will represent the British squad heading to New Zealand for the world championships in January.

Mr Meehan said: “After an intense training in America we are all hoping to hold on to the gold medals, especially as we are on home soil this year.

“Barefoot water skiing is faster and it’s an extreme sport so it’s more of a thrill than normal water skiing.

“It’s an adrenalin boost because you’re going at 45mph and if you hit the water you bounce and it’s like hitting a concrete floor. It’s fun.

“In Great Britain we have two of the best barefoot skiiers in the world in David Small and Emily Goldie. They could possibly win the world championship because they can ski at that sort of standard.

“Everyone is welcome to come down and watch the competition.”

The event is being held throughout the week with the finals on Friday.

There are three events – tricks: where the skier has two passes of 15 seconds to complete as many different tricks as possible, the slalom: where the skier has two passes of 15 seconds to cross the wake as many times are possible and the jump where the skier travels over a small, jump ramp.

They have three jumps and the longest counts. Professionals can jump as far as 90 ft.