this week to finalise their preparations for the World Championships which begin in Roquebrune Sur Argenson on the French Riviera next Monday.

Richardson and Butterfield, who attended the same event two years ago in Singapore, will be competing in the slalom and trick categories.

However, with most nations entering teams of six with individual specialists in slalom, trick and jump events, the two Bermudians are well aware of their limitations.

Before leaving yesterday Butterfield pointed out that as head chef at the Fisherman's Reef restaurant she had had little time for training in the last five weeks.

However, Richardson, who was Bermuda's first water-skiing representative at the Pan American Games in March this year, has spent the last month in Austria training intensively while at the same time coaching juniors.

Butterfield recently travelled to North Carolina to attend ski school and will stop off in England this week to get in some last minute training en route to France.

The Worlds run from September 11 to September 17.