Impact at the Lake Minnetonka Wakesurf Open

Last weekend, JSAW had the opportunity to be part of the Lake Minnetonka Wakesurf Open—a major event that draws around 8,000 people and runs alongside the Spirit of the Lakes Festival. With roughly 50 athletes competing, it’s one of the biggest wake events in Minnesota. This year, the presence and impact of JSAW’s Wake Program felt stronger than ever.

Over the two-day event, we had seven or eight riders who’ve been involved with JSAW over the years compete. Four of those riders made our booth their home base for the day

—welcoming people, sharing about JSAW, and helping connect others to wake camps and small groups. These same four riders all ended up on the podium for their events. That’s not just athletic success—it’s leadership and discipleship in action.

One of the highlights of the weekend came as a surprise. Two of the riders asked if we could do a Bible study right there at the event. We made a quick announcement on the mic, and the event announcer helped us spread the word. Within minutes, we had a group gathered around our tent. We opened Scripture, asked some questions, and spent about 30 minutes discussing God’s Word—right in the middle of a huge public event.

Throughout the day, people kept coming up to our tent to share their stories—parents, past riders, and even one guy who used to rollerblade at JSAW’s skatepark back in 2004. They were all deeply grateful for the impact JSAW made in their lives. It was a beautiful reminder that our mission is not just about the kids riding today—it’s about long-term transformation that sticks.

We handed out a bunch of water bottles, stickers, brochures, and wake camp flyers—having countless conversations with people curious about what we do. It was clear that the consistency and growth of our Wake Program and small groups over years have made a big difference. Compared to our last time at this event, our tent went from a quiet setup to a lively, welcoming hub of conversation, connection, and community.

We even had the chance to connect with a surfboard company set up next to us. Right away, I noticed they had Isaiah 6:8 printed on their shirts. They turned out to be the board builders behind the adaptive gear for Wake for Warriors. Amazing people, with a shared passion for both wake sports and faith.

God is doing something powerful through JSAW in the wake community. The energy, the support, the stories—it’s all evidence of real impact. We’re not just running programs; we’re building a movement of riders who know Jesus and make Him known.

If you want to help fuel that movement, we’d love your support. Your giving makes weekends like this possible.

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