CARP – Ottawa’s first ever wakeboard competition will be held in Carp this coming Saturday (July 20).

Carp’s Evolution Wake Park, a 600-foot cable system built on a man-made lake at 3119 Carp Rd., will host the event featuring the area’s top wake boarders competing with jumps and tricks for top prizes in the first stop of the 2019 Ontario Wake Park Series.

“We are super excited to be hosting the first stop of the 2019 Ontario Wake Park series,” Evolution Wake Park released in a statement last week. “Everyone is welcome, whether you’re coming to compete, cheer on the riders or just coming for the good vibes, the day will be full of fun and entertainment.”

The event is for all skill levels and all ages with five different divisions.

West Carleton Online caught up with Evolution Wake Park owner, teacher and wakeboarder Jordan Sien along with his partner Heaven Leigh Ragogna way back when there was still a ton of snow on the ground at the end of March. He gave us a wintery tour of the facility that also operates as a place to practice and as a youth camp during the summer.

“We have a 600-foot cable system that pulls wake boarders along the water,” Sien told West Carleton Online on March 31. “The lake is quite large. It used to be a quarry.”

Sien taught wakeboarding on the Rideau River for six years, as well as competed in the sport before opening Evolution Wake Park.

“I feel wakeboarding is going in this direction,” Ragogna said. “Using a cable system makes it much more affordable. You don’t need a boat.”

It’s an electricity-powered cable system that’s both “environmentally friendly and space friendly.”

“The cable is a little easier to pick up and do,” Sien said. “It’s a lot safer too, there’s no other boats on the lake.”

Although located in the midst of the largest light manufacturing industrial park in the city in the Carp Road corridor, you won’t even notice.

“It’s a beautiful space here in the summer,” Sien said. “When you look around, you don’t see anything but trees and water.”

And the odd muskrat.

Competitors will wakeboard along the route beneath the cable system that will have a number of obstacles including jumps and rails to do tricks off of and be judged on.

Competitors can sign up for $50 per division and must register before 11 a.m. on the day of. Competitors are also able to camp on site for a small additional cost. Attendance is free for those who want to see some of the best local wakeboarding talent perform.

Because it is a pully system, fans can get pretty close to the action as the shore is only a few metres from the course.

Competition gets underway at 10 a.m. on Saturday and the event is sponsored by Rockstar Energy, Obrien Watersports, Clubhouse, Hurst Marina, Stream Water, OnDeck and Sandbox Helmets.

To register for the event or contact the organizers, click here.