2025 GIRLS WAKE OUTING

Being a girl in the action sports community can be lonely. You feel like you’re the only girl who’s interested in doing what you’re doing, you roll with a crew of guys that may not fully see or understand the challenges as a girl in this arena, and you long for a community that gets what you’re going through. That’s the heart behind the 2025 Girls Wake Outing. With this 3-day event, we, Jamie Ko Wilson and Hannah K Freeman, wanted to bring girls together to foster community, build friendships, progress abilities in wakeboarding and wake surfing, and talk about faith. Water sports in general has a high entry point of participation and access is often limited. Someone needs to have a boat, equipment, and a place to ride…it often requires an invitation and that’s what we decided to do. With no cost to the riders, we invited them to spend three days on the water by volunteering our time and resources, with the blessing of JSAW.

On July 28, Jamie opened up her lake home, family, boat, heart, and time for this event,

stewarding well the blessings that her and her family have received from God. Girls of all ages (11-35) from all over the Twin Cities area came together to share fellowship and time on the water. Hardly any of the girls previously knew each other, which made these days all the sweeter. Girls learned how to wakeboard and wake surf for the first time and seasoned riders got to hone their skills and be an inspiration for girls new to the sport. We started each day with prayer, “woo!”-ed and squealed encouragement to all the riders throughout the day, began new friendships, and ended each day with a devotional and Bible study. Pro waterskier Whitney McClintock-Rini sent the girls a powerful message about NOT obeying the lies of Satan, we listened to an online devotion from Sadie Robertson Huff about developing our identity in Christ, and pro wakeboarder Mary Morgan Howell also personally challenged us in surrendering the things we tightly hold on to to God. We ended the three days with a joyful lunch and fellowship from Jimmy John’s and Cold Stone Creamery, made possible by JSAW, but also some loving neighbors.

Throughout the three days, we heard time and time again how encouraged the girls were by the event. The girls thought it was so cool to have an all-girls crew out on the boat. We got to see friendships being made and faith being strengthened. One father commented how inspiring it’s been to see his daughter’s faith and focus progress this summer through JSAW’s camps and events. Girls were commenting, “BEST WEEK!!,” “Some of the best days of my summer,” “Incredibly encouraging experience!!,” and “So fun!!” It became increasingly clear that this event was an answer to many prayers and a testament to God’s faithfulness and provision in our lives.

Here’s to more all-girls’ events like this!

We hope your support continues so we can expand the all-girls’ events in 2026.

- Jamie and Hannah