Wake Nation brings water sports thrill to Midwest with new Cincinnati park

Published May 19, 2009 at 12:00 a.m.
The Midwest’s first cable wake-boarding park has opened in Cincinnati. Located in the Fairfield community, Wake Nation had a soft opening onSunday, May 3 at Joyce Park with a Grand Opening Celebration scheduledfor Tuesday, June 2.

WakeNation owner, Peter Kennedy indicates there are only seven other cablewaterparks in the entire nation including Dallas, Kansas City, OklahomaCity and four in Florida.

What makes the cable waterparksspecial is that riders can water ski, wakeboard and wakeskate by beingpulled by an overhead cable-pulley system instead of a typical motorboat.  This experience makes Wake Nation fun and exciting for bothveteran wakeboarders and first-time riders.

Riders at Wake Nation Cincinnati are pulled around the 10-acre lake, constructed by Cincinnati-based Unit Building Services,at 18-20 miles per hour with speeds topping out at 45 miles per hourfor the most experienced riders.  There are challenging jumps,including floating sliders, grind rails, table tops and kickers forthose looking for additional thrills.

The new water sports complex is already proving to be a hit. 

Following the grand opening celebrations on June 2, local radio stationWEBN will broadcast live from the park between 3 and 5pm.  The bigevent will then take place from Thursday, July 30 to Saturday, August 1when the USA Wakeboard Cable Nationals come to town.

The USA Wakeboard Cable National Championshipsfeature the nation’s best wakeboarders and is expected to draw some5,000 spectators. Throughout the summer Kennedy expects to draw anaverage of 300 visitors a day with some coming from as far away asChicago or Knoxville, TN.

Wake Nation offers free parking andadmission to the water sports complex, including access to an outdoor3,000 square-foot observation deck that offers panoramic views of theentire lake area.  Rates are based on a “pay-as-you-play” system. Cable passes can be purchased in one hour, two hour, four hour andall-day passes for $20, $25, $30 and $35, respectively.

The parkis open daily at 10am and closes at dark throughout the summer untilOctober.  Riders are encouraged to bring their own gear, but can alsorent equipment at the park if needed.  Wake Nation Cincinnati islocated at 201 Joe Nuxhall Way in Joyce Park which is roughly 25minutes north of downtown Cincinnati.

Writer: Randy Simes
Source: Peter Kennedy, owner, Wake Nation Cincinnati; Bill Mefford
Images provided


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