Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The city has been selected as one of three destinations to host a Malibu Boat WWA Regional Championship this summer.
The World Wake Association events will take place June 21-23 at West Rock Wake Park at Levings Park, 1420 S. Pierpont Ave., and on the Rock River between the Auburn Street and Whitman Street bridges. The two other host cities selected are Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Winter Haven, Florida.
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The event is organized by the WWA and hosted by the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau in partnership with Malibu Boats. The competition will include seven disciplines: wakeboard, wakeskate, skim, surf, foil, features and traditional wake park.
“Our selection as a host city for the 2024 Malibu Boats WWA Central Regional Championships is a testament to our city, the hard work and dedication of our team at RACVB, and Dan Jarrett and West Rock Wake Park’s dedication to promoting and growing this sport,” John Groh, president and CEO of the visitors bureau, said in a news release. “We are thrilled to bring the excitement of wakesports at this level to Rockford for the first time, showcasing our city as a premier destination for outdoor recreation.”
The visitors bureau expects the event to bring in more than 400 competitors and generate about $500,000 in economic activity.
“The news of the WWA and Go Rockford teaming up to bring a regional boat and cable event here is incredible for wakeboarding and for our city,” Dan Jarrett, owner of West Rock Wake Park, said in a news release. “It is my hope that many current and future Rockford athletes will fall in love with a sport they never imagined because of exposure to events like this, and maybe one day they’ll compete here for a title.”
Spectators can attend the event for free.
The competition, which includes riders of all ages and skill levels seeking to qualify for nationals, will be judged by Malibu Boats pro wakesports team.
For more info on the series, go HERE.