Georgia Wake Series joins Wakefest 2016

ALBANY — Riders on the pro wakeboard circuit will be a part of Wakefest 2016 here June 25, competing for prize money as Albany’s Wakefest grows up and becomes part of the Georgia Wake Series.

“We’ve had a couple of the top wakeboard riders come to Wakefest in the past, but this is the first time our event will be a part of the (Georgia Wake) circuit,” Wakefest President Adam Gilbert said. “We’ve always had a great time at Wakefest, but this is going to take things to a different level.”

Gilbert, a wakeboard enthusiast who’d long wanted to see some type of event in the area, decided to take things into his own hands in 2009. He brought his concept of a friendly, charitable competition for the growing contingent of area wakeboarders to life with Wakefest.

“It was a chance for local wakeboarders to show everyone what they can do and to do something good for deserving individuals in the community,” Gilbert said. “Since we started this seven years ago, we’ve given $50,000 to our chosen recipients.”

Lee Poupard, a 26-year-old Dawson resident who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was 4 years old, will be the recipient of this year’s Wakefest proceeds. Funding raised will be used by Poupard’s family to help defray the costs of a double lung/liver/pancreas transplant he is currently awaiting.

“Generally, the people we help kind of find us,” Gilbert said. “Once, my wife was in a Mexican restaurant having lunch, and this little kid with Down syndrome kept walking by. Finally, she started talking to my wife, who just fell in love. We found out who the kid was, reached out to her parents and made her a beneficiary.

“That’s one of the cool things about Wakefest. Every bit of money we raise goes to the recipient.”

The contributions are generally significant because of the growing number of sponsors whose donations absorb the costs of putting on the event.

“It’s a growing list,” Gilbert said. “We’ve passed 70 (sponsors), and we’re looking to add more. It’s getting tougher to get all the names on the backs of our (event) T-shirts.”

Registration for this year’s Wakefest starts at 7:30 a.m., and a riders meeting is scheduled an hour later. The event kicks off on Lake Chehaw at 9:30 and continues until around 5:30 p.m. Wakeboarders will compete this year in 10 divisions: Junior Beginner (youths), Beginner (men and women), Veteran (men), Diva (women), Intermediate (men and women), Advanced, Expert and Open.

Awards will be handed out in all categories during Wakefest After Dark, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on the grounds of Chehaw park. In addition to top riders in all categories, an “Epic Fail” award will be handed out to the rider who had the best wipeout of the day.

Following the awards ceremony, area musical artists Cole Taylor and Anne Cline will get the party portion of Wakefest started with performances.

“There is an entry fee to get into Chehaw park for Wakefest, but the park is donating a percentage of the fees they collect to the funds we’ll give our recipient,” Gilbert said.

Other fundraising events are scheduled communitywide in conjunction with Wakefest.

Advance tickets for Wakefest 2016, which are $10, are available at Dawson Road Jewelry and Pawn and at the Maebrey Market. Tickets at the gate the day of the event will be $15.

For information about Wakefest, check out the event’s Facebook page. For information about the Georgia Wake Series, go to www.gawakeseries.com/about/riders-classes online.