The INT League and World Wakeboard Association (WWA) are coming together to make historic progress in the water sports community. Rick Stocks, president of the INT League and Shannon Starling, president of WWA have been in negotiations since September. Both organizations are prolific leaders in the water sports community with a common vision for global water sports. They have been working with other industry leaders, event promoters, and sponsors to put together a plan that will benefit riders, skiers, dealers and the water sports industry.
WWA/INT aspires to grow participation and consistency in towed water sports by actively promoting, organizing, and supporting, fun competitive events by welcoming all ages and ability levels.
“INT and WWA share a common mission and responsibility to grow water sports,” says Starling. WWA and INT have partnered to increase efficiency, cost benefits for participants, and to unify all aspects of water sports.
INT and WWA are leaders in event promotion and sanctioning. WWA/INT have a national infrastructure to provide event formats and water sports marketing. WWA will continue to focus on sanctioning pro and amateur wake sport events domestically and globally. The INT League will continue to host an amateur league of waterski, wakeboard, wakeskate and kneeboard events for competitors of all ages and ability levels. Each program will maintain their own formats while working together to enhance event management and consistency.
Starling and Stocks have constructed a five year plan to become fully integrated. Both organizations will maintain their autonomy and personality with a redistribution of responsibilities, utilizing each other’s strengths. The long term goal is to provide more event organization opportunities for all water sport disciplines. “INT and WWA are setting the groundwork for the future of our sport,” says Stocks.
For the first time in history, WWA/INT will be able to represent the water sports industry as one entity to composite market water sports to non-endemic sponsors. This partnership will consolidate costs; collectively WWA/INT can be more efficient with funding by saving on growing insurance costs and other common expenses.
For industry, the partnership will double the membership base for marketing. INT and WWA events will remain independent in sponsorship; however will combine several marketing efforts.
The benefit for dealers is that their reach will double. Dealers will be able to participate with both INT and WWA event organizers without date conflicts. Promo boat owners will not face conflicting event dates in their area, and will be able to manage their promo schedule more effectively.
This change will generate numerous benefits for participants. To start, the partnership will mean less confusion for consumers. WWA and INT will share membership; with one membership card riders can compete in both INT League and WWA sanctioned events. Shared insurance and membership gives riders an opportunity to ride in more contests and pay less in membership fees. Future plans include nationally consistent scoring and judging formats, and creating a clear and smooth progression from amateur competition to pro competition. WWA/INT will expand efforts to encourage riders and skiers to compete and be involved in more events.
The INT League is supported by their valued sponsors Malibu Boats, MasterCraft, Skiers Choice, Nautique, Tige Boats, Connelly, CWB, O’Brien, HO Sports, Hyperlite, Radar, Ronix, Acme Propellers, Indmar Marine Engines, Pro Tec Helmets, EZ-Slalom, and Studio 8 Productions.
WWA is supported by their founders Supra, Malibu, Hyperlite, Nautique, MasterCraft, Wakeboarding Magazine, Gator Boards, and Indmar Marine Engines.
For more information please visit our websites www.thewwa.com and www.intleague.com.
