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Wakeboarding season wraps up

The wakeboarding season wrapped up successfully with the provincial competitions held in Alix Aug. 29.

The wakeboarding season wrapped up successfully with the provincial competitions held in Alix Aug. 29.

Approximately 44 different participants from within Central Alberta competed in the three different competitions — wakeboard, hydrofoil and wakeskate.

Competitors from Sylvan Lake in wakeboard included Sol Wynnyk, fifth in beginner; Jonas Granberg, first; and Roy Spicer, fifth in men. Levi Wynnyk placed first in wakeboard outlaw and in wakeskate.

The competitions went as planned, said event organizer and Water Ski and Wakeboard Alberta board member Jeremy Howsam. He said there weren’t any issues and everything ran smoothly.

“It was great, the weather was pretty good, it was a little windy but nothing too crazy,” he said. “We had a great boat from our sponsor, everybody that showed up helped out quite a bit and we had a ton of volunteers throughout the day.”

To wind up the event, everyone enjoyed a barbecue put on by Sylvan Lake and many prizes were given out.

The provincials have been held at the Alix Lake for the past 12 years, and this year boat traffic was low, providing calm water for the competitors.

“Alix is a much smaller lake and we don’t have to deal with wind or waves,” Howsam said. “Had we been on Sylvan Lake last weekend we probably would have gotten blown over.”

He said the season has gone very well with holding competitions at five different stops and within a couple of months.

In accomplishing everything that was planned this season, Howsam said it will make next season a lot easier, with more opportunities to grow the sport even bigger.

There is even the possibility of adding another stop for competitions next season.

“It’s slow baby steps, but we accomplished everything we set out to,” Howsam said. “It was a successful tour this year and we’re looking forward to next year.”

To celebrate a successful season, a big awards banquet is planned for the first weekend in November in Calgary for the whole association and all members are invited to attend.

Howsam said this season’s competitions were well supported with a good following of people, which is appreciated.

“It meant a lot to us to have everybody come out that did come out because they are supporting us as much as they can,” Howsam said. “Now we get to sit back and start planning the following year.”