The Cobden youngster is among the best junior barefoot water-skiers in Australia and is hoping for a top-three finish at the national championships in Mulwala.

The under 14 sub-junior boys representative has been progressing so well he gained special permission to take on jumps, which is not normally allowed for his age group. 

"A couple of friends and I got the scores to be able to do it," he said.

The Cobden Technical School Year 9 student gets a great thrill out of jumping 10 metres.

"It's fun, it's really fun," he said.

Thomas, 14, started barefoot water-skiing about six years ago and admits it took some getting used to. 

"It felt weird when I first started but now that I've been doing it for about six years it just feels normal," he said.

"It feels like sitting in a chair because you're in the same position."

Thomas is coached by his dad Peter and his uncle Brett who will also compete at the national championships. 

Peter will be looking to retain his title in the senior men's (over 35s) while Brett takes on the men's one division.

The trio trains at Boggy Creek about once or twice a week.

Peter said Thomas was undertaking conventional jumps in competitions but was also learning how to do a superman jump. 

"He's been training to do inverted jumping which is where you do a superman through the air when you come off a jump," Peter said. 

"You get a lot further distance when you do inverted jumping."

Thomas also receives coaching from 10-time Australian barefoot champion Peter O'Neill when his visits Mulwala.

"I've learnt a lot with him," he said.

Thomas' goal for the future is to compete in the barefoot waterski world titles in a couple of years.

They are in Sydney next year.

The 57th National Barefoot Water-skiing Championships start on Monday at the Max Kirwan Ski Park in Mulwala.

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