NAUTIQUE BOAT OWNERS UNITE ON THE PARKER STRIP FOR THE LARGEST NAUTIQUE SOUTHWEST REGATTA TO DATE

Parker, Arizona (September 16, 2019)– Hosted by Nautique Boat Company and the World Wake Association (The WWA), 2019 Nautique Southwest Regatta proved to be an extraordinary weekend with over 300 attendees and 60 Nautique boats coming together for an owner’s reunion unlike anything else. Nautique team athletes, boat owners and families gathered at the BlueWater Resort and Casino on Friday, September 13th to drop their boats in and soak up the surrounding beauty of Parker, AZ. On Saturday, the 5x Wakesurf and 7x Wakeboard Boat of the Year, the Super Air Nautique G23, pulled event attendees into a full day of family-friendly activities including private demos, educational sessions with the industry’s leading brands, an all-discipline GromFest, and a Poker Run. The memories continued as event attendees pulled out all the stops for the ‘Back to the 80’s’ themed owner’s dinner and carried on the good times while making new friends at the Roswell Rendezvous after party on Saturday night. Sunday rounded out the spectacular weekend as families grabbed final sets with the Nautique Team athletes before trailering up and heading back to their home lakes. 

“Once again the Nautique Southwest Regatta provided Nautique families with a weekend to remember,” said Nautique President Greg Meloon. “Gathering so many Nautiques in one location makes for an incredible time, and we were happy to organize an event where family and friends can use their Nautiques and have opportunity to rider with our professional athlete team. We’re already looking forward to next year!”

Throughout the weekend, owners and families experienced unforgettable private demos dialing in new tricks behind the award-winning Super Air Nautique G23 alongside Nautique’s top athletes like Shaun Murray, Cory Teunissen, and Jodi Grassman. Children up to age thirteen took to the waters of the Parker Strip for GromFest, a fun contest of all disciplines and skill levels. Izabel Balliton made use of the entire Nautique wave on her O’Brien Watersports wakesurfer while throwing out her contagious smile to everyone on the boat. 

The young ripper Hudson Haynie threw down a huge tantrum in his GromFest run, giving the crew at Roswell something to get loud about from the shore of Wakeboard Island. Travis Lavoise displayed a great attitude throughout the entire contest always willing to give a hand with the ropes and those getting in and out of the water, to in turn win the Boat Buddy Award from the weekend. Shredding on his wakeboard like he was one of the pros, Cash Homer was awarded the New Shredder Award alongside Bruce Fotherham who took earned the Little Legend Award. Colin Groelly attempted a huge T/S jump throwing in a little more amplitude then he was ready for to still end the weekend with the Best Crash Award.

The show didn’t stop at GromFest as the ‘Back to the 80’s’ themed owner’s dinner brought in quite the spectacle of a different type of talent to the BlueWater Resort and Casino. Taking home the Best Male Costume award, Lorin Fotheringham made quite the entrance with his newly transformed classic Hyperlite wakeboard in which he rode in to the banquet with the board on his one wheel. Justice Barnes cleaned up with his 80’s rocker gear taking home the Best Boy Costume alongside Lily looking totally cool for the Best Girl Costume win. Angie Christopher came out in her 80’s aerobics outfit to earn the Best Female Costume, matching up with Crystal and Shane Hale in their 80’s Wake gear earning the Best Group Costume. Never showing his hand the entire weekend, Craig Hughes took home the Poker Run Best Hand with a straight flush earning a set of Roswell’s brand new R1 Pro speakers and a Nautique backpack. 

The awards kept on going as the owners were also awarded based on their dynamic fleet of Nautiques that were brought in to Lake Parker, including Shane Hale who brought back his 1977 Ski Nautique that won the Oldest Nautique Award in 2018. The Oldest Nautique Award is an award that can only be won once, with Thomas and Evette Lots grabbing the 2019 win with their beautiful 1997 Sport Nautique. The Lots family are still the original owners of their stunning boat. The Longest Journey Traveled Award went to Jess Larson who traveled all the way from Littleton, Colorado with her Super Air Nautique G21. The G21 owners were racking up the awards this weekend with Johnie Mac closing down on the Best Rig Award for his Ford Raptor and Super Air Nautique G21 combination, taking home a Rockstar wakesurf board, Hyperlite backpack, and SeaDek cooler.

“The Nautique Southwest Regatta proved to be yet another incredible weekend alongside Nautique boat owners and their families, Nautique athletes, and the entire wake community on the beautiful Colorado River,” commented WWA Executive Director Corrie Wilson. “From the weather to the boats to the incredible attendance, we couldn’t have asked for a better experience!”

The Nautique Southwest Regatta represented what wake is all about with the Parker Strip playing perfect host to all of the action, creating an inspiring atmosphere for over 300 attendees to meet new friends and shake familiar hands alongside the top brands in wake. For more information on the Nautique Regattas visit:  www.thewwa.com/nautique-regattas-2019/