Minnesota Wakeboard Classic

This past weekend, JSAW brought competitive wakeboarding back to Minnesota with the Minnesota Wakeboard Classic at Long Lake Regional Park. The first wakeboard competition the state has seen in over 10 years saw 27 riders come out to rip, and roughly 100 people came out as spectators, volunteers, and competitors, with plenty more beachgoers at the busy park stopping to watch the action unfold on the water.

For a lot of riders here, this was a first: a real competition, in their own backyard, after a decade of having nowhere close to home to compete. That gap has been felt in the Minnesota wake community for a long time, and getting to help close it, even for a day, was a gift.

With four divisions, we saw new competitors (many of whom were in wake camp or Bible studies with us this summer) and seasoned vets come together on the water to put together their best tricks. All divisions had a great turnout and gave everyone an opportunity to show off their skills.

Of course, a day like this doesn't happen without a lot of hands behind it. 10 volunteers worked the event from start to finish, keeping the riding order straight, shuttling riders on jetskis, driving the boat, judging, MCing the event, hauling gear, setting up/tearing down. Without volunteers and sponsors, events like this wouldn’t happen.

But the heart of the Minnesota Wakeboard Classic wasn't just the competition, it was the chance to serve this community. Wakeboarding in Minnesota has been without a real event for over a decade, and being able to give riders a stage, and beachgoers a reason to stop and watch, was exactly the kind of opportunity we get excited about.

This is just the start. We're already looking ahead to what a bigger, better Minnesota Wakeboard Classic could look like next year. If you rode, volunteered, watched from the beach, or are just hearing about it now, thank you for being part of keeping this sport alive and well in Minnesota.

Stay tuned for upcoming volunteer opportunities, and next year's Classic. If you'd like to help us keep putting on events like this, please consider a donation. We can't wait to see you back on the water, and don’t forget to check out @jsawministries on Instagram for results!