There is something to be said about the calm feeling one gets waking up early in the morning and watching the sun rise over a lake with glassy water knowing that in short time, that glass will be their water playground.
In 2020, our playgrounds have shifted outdoors for a whole lot of new people. But for the people of Tennessee and a whole bunch of wakeboarding professionals, they already knew where the goods were.
Wakefest is a grassroots wakeboarding tournament for professional and amateur riders at Center Hill Lake in Tennessee. The Volunteer State is a hidden gem for lake life, watersports and community.
Action Sports Today caught up with Red Bull athletes, Parks Bonifay, Guenther Oka and Meagan Ethell to discuss Wakefest 2020 and see how they’re making the most of their socially safe summer out on the water.
AST: What makes Wakefest so special?
Parks: Wakefest is made up of house boats, wakeboard boats and people who love Tennessee lake life in the summer. It’s the most fun event I go to every year.
Guenther: Wakefest is like the Super Bowl of wakeboarding. The amount of people that show up to watch us is incredible. But what’s even better is that the spectators aren’t on the shore. They’re are out in their boats on the water. It’s like riding in a boat arena.
Meagan: The people that go to Wakefest are what make it so amazing! The level of enthusiasm everyone has there really makes it special and so different from every other event.
AST: What is the culture for wake out there? Why is community so important?
Parks: The state of Tennessee is an outdoorsy kind of state and this event reflects that. You can see it in the people who live it. They love wakeboarding, always have. Two of the biggest boat companies are from Knoxville so the Tennessee wakeboard heritage goes back many years and is just as alive today.
Guenther: Tennessee is a place where life on the lake is engrained in their culture. So for us to come from all over the world and share our view of wakeboarding with them goes hand-in-hand. It’s awesome to be supported by people who share the same stoke for time on the water.
Meagan: The culture for wake in Tennessee is pretty big! So many people love spending their time on the water there. Community is so important because it brings a sense of belonging and support. To see how big our watersports community is in Tennessee is what gets me so excited to go out and do events there!
AST: What is pass the handle and what does it mean to you to grow the sport?
Parks: Pass the Handle is something that was started to help grow the sport to people who have never wakeboarded before. My mom had a ski school when I was younger, so I learned from a young age that teaching people was fun and a way to grow the sport from the ground up.
Guenther: Pass the Handle day is the initiative that helps bring first timers into the sport of wakeboarding each year! It’s all about spreading the stoke and knowledge of wakeboarding to newcomers and getting them hooked on the sport! It’s such a great thing because you never know if the kid you teach, could end up being the next big pro!
Meagan: Pass the Handle is a yearly global event in the water sports industry where the people involved help get new people out on the water for the first time. Whether that’s wakeboarding behind boat, a cable park, or wake surfing, it’s a great initiative to spread our sport to new people. It means a lot to me to grow the sport because the more people we can get out on the water, the more our sport will strive and grow! It’s also such a gratifying feeling to teach someone how to wakeboard and to see how excited they are!
AST: Wakeboarding not only promotes a healthy lifestyle, but it brings a safe social atmosphere. What would you say to anyone who is thinking about getting into the sport this summer in particular?
Parks: Wakeboarding has a camaraderie that not many sports have. When you’re on the boat with your friends around the water, you have to be safe and have each other‘s back while having a good time! Everyone looks out for each other. Very important while doing as many bellyflops as you can!
Guenther: Wakeboarding has the ability to you give you complete freedom of expression and a guaranteed good time. It’s a great way to get together with a small group of friends and family and go enjoy time with each other. There’s no better feeling than going out and riding with the homies.
Meagan: I would say that you should 100% go for it! You get to have fun with your friends, spend time outside, and learn something new! You’ll be surprised with how fast you fall in love with being on the water and how much fun you’ll have.
So get out there, find some friends with a boat, grab the sunscreen and go play on the water. Tag @redbull and show them your skills. While you are at it, give them a follow and check out what these three riders are up to all the time.
