FOR many youngsters, fitting their hobbies in around their studies can prove to be a challenge – but that certainly isn’t the case for one Swindon student.

Sophie Perrin, 20, who is studying for an HND in public services at New College, took to the water in sun-soaked Florida last week to compete in an international jet ski contest.

And after a gruelling competition, she was crowned the 2016 Pro-Am Women’s Ski Limited World Champion.

She also clinched an impressive third place in the Pro Stock Class World Championships, taking on male competitors as well as other women.

Sophie has been entering jet ski competitions for almost a decade – in 2008, while she was a pupil at Kingsdown School at the age of just 14, she went to the US finals and was crowned World Junior Ladies Champion.

She has gone on to clinch six British and four European titles and with her latest win, five world titles too.

Now, thanks to a sponsorship deal with motorsport giants Kawasaki, she is spending the next six months in the United States competing in a series of high profile events.

But sporting success is not Sophie’s only focus, she also knows how important it is to keep on top of her education.

In a bid to keep her up to date with her class-mates, lecturers started setting tasks and assessments for her to complete via email.

Within a matter of weeks this progressed to online tutorials and plans are now in place to have Sophie present during lectures via a conference call style set-up.

Sophie said: “I’ve always wanted to be a paramedic, so no matter how hard it’s been with all of my work, training and studying, I’m very determined and driven to get things done.

“To be given the chance to study alongside my racing is amazing and New College have been so good at keeping me up to date with my work.

“It’s been brilliant face-timing as it gives me the opportunity to discuss anything I might not understand and ask important questions.”

For Sophie’s lecturers, the experience has been somewhat of a first – teaching a student all the way across the Atlantic.

Geoff Lownds, section leader for public services at New College: “Technology is developing rapidly and enabling us to make lessons more interactive and exciting.

“Using technology to ensure Sophie can continue with her course and collaborate with her peers is an interesting and rewarding experience.

“It shows what can be done if we are prepared to be flexible.”

Hot on the heels of her recent success, this weekend Sophie will travel more than 2,000 miles across America to Arizona for another world finals tournament.

Would you like to follow in Sophie’s footsteps and race jet skis in international competitions? Visit www.jsra.co.uk to find out about the UK scene and how you can get started.