Pro Women’s champion Meagan Ethell competes during the WWA Wakeboard National Championships on Lake Tye in Monroe in 2018. (Photo courtesy WWA)

Pro Women’s champion Meagan Ethell competes during the WWA Wakeboard National Championships on Lake Tye in Monroe in 2018. (Photo courtesy WWA)

Wakeboarding nationals return to Lake Tye in Monroe

The World Wake Association’s premier event in the country for amateurs concludes Saturday.

MONROE — The World Wake Association’s first national championships on Lake Tye went so well that the organization decided to come right back.

The 2019 Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships are returning to the Monroe lake for a second straight year. Some of the world’s best wakeboarders took to the water beginning Wednesday, with the event concluding with the professional division finals Saturday.

More than 125 competitors in 23 different divisions are expected to take part. For the amateur divisions the event serves as the national championships, meaning they’re only open to competitors from the U.S. For the professional divisions the event is the fourth of six stops in the WWA Wakeboard World Series and therefore is open to international competitors — riders from as far away as Australia, Japan and Italy are among those in the field.

Last year was the first time the WWA Wakeboard National Championships took place in Washington in the 30-year history of the WWA. It didn’t take long for nationals to come back.

“Last year’s event went great,” WWA executive director Corrie Wilson said. “The conditions were great, we had great weather. With wakeboarding you want flat, calm water. With Lake Tye being both a private lake and a deep lake, it means the boats can make big wakes for the riders to do big tricks on, so it’s a perfect venue. The riders were happy, and if the riders are happy we’re happy.

“The city of Monroe and the Snohomish County Sports Commission have been so great to work with,” Wilson added. “On top of that, the conditions for wakeboarding on Lake Tye are about as good as it gets. When we’re looking for a place to go, we look for the support of the local entities, a great site for wakeboarding and a really cool destination for the riders to come to. Here it all comes together and makes sense.”

The big names are on hand for the professional divisions.

In the Pro Men division, current WWA men’s world points leader Harley Clifford of Australia is looking to defend his title. Fellow Australian Cory Teunissen, who’s right behind Clifford in the points standings, is hoping to knock Clifford off the top spot of the podium.

In the Pro Women division, Meagan Ethell of Channahon, Illinois, is back to defend her title. She’ll be challenged by Australia’s Zahra Kell, who sits right behind Ethell in second in the WWA women’s points standings.

Competition got underway at 9 a.m. Wednesday. The Pro Men and Pro Women finals take place at 1:05 p.m. Saturday.

Admission is free to the public.

Talk to us

More in Sports

Jackson High School is awarded the 2023 WIAA class 4A softball championship trophy in Richland, Wash., on Sat., May 27. (TJ Mullinax/for The Herald)
Jackson wins state title over GP after game called by weather

The Timberwolves win 5-1 to hoist their third state softball trophy since 2018 after a game that ended in unusual fashion.

Golf no art.
Scores after Round 2 of 92nd Snohomish County Amateur

Daniel Kim carries a three-shot lead into the final round on Monday at Everett Golf and County Club.

Lake Stevens’ Grant Buckmiller takes a peek at the clock as he runs to the title in the 4A boys 200 meter dash during the WIAA State Track and Field Championships on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
State track: Lake Stevens sprinter Buckmiller blazes to multiple titles

Also, Kamiak’s Kalia Estes and Jaedyn Chase claim championships and more on local title winners and state placers.

X
State tournaments roundup for Saturday, May 27

State tournaments roundup for Saturday, May 27: SOFTBALL 4A State Tournament At… Continue reading

A Snohomish player slides safe into third during the 3A softball championship game between Snohomish and Peninsula at the Lacey-Thurston County Regional Athletic Complex in Olympia, Washington on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Snohomish lost, 4-1. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Snohomish falls in 3A softball title game, takes 2nd place

The Panthers make a run to the state championship tilt, but lose to top-seeded Peninsula 4-1.

Golf no art.
Scores from Round 1 of the 92nd Snohomish County Amateur

Koen Solis and Daniel Kim each shoot 67 and are tied for a three-shot lead after the opening round at Legion Memorial.

Kamiak’s Jaquan Means reacts to winning heat 3 of the boys 110 meter hurdle finals at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Washington on Friday, May 26, 2023.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)
State track roundup: Kamiak’s Means wins 4A 110m hurdles title

Wesco runners finish with the top three times in the event, plus a roundup of the rest of the local action from Day 2.

Edmonds-Woodway boys soccer overpowered by No. 1 Lincoln

The Warriors fall in the 3A state semifinals 6-1 and will face No. 7 Lakeside in the third-place game at 10 a.m. Saturday.

State softball.
4A state softball roundup: Jackson, GP reach semifinals

Both teams survive quarterfinal nail-biters to keep state-title hopes alive; Kamiak remains alive in consolation bracket.

Most Read