Thigh High Surf Series Closes Out Year One with Epic Celebration

ORLANDO – Year one of the Thigh High Surf Series closed out this past Sunday, Sept. 22, at Lake Ronix in Christmas, Fla. This was the first time amateur surfers got to step foot on the elusive Ronix property and take the water on one of the site’s private lakes.

The local wakesurf community hung out on the lake’s white sandy beaches, catching the epic swells and reconnecting with friends. An obstacle course set-up from Union Aquaparks offered non-stop fun for kids and adults, while live music from Wood Panel Basement set the vibe. All event attendees were treated to complimentary airbrushed tees, courtesy of Nautiques of Orlando and Roswell Marine, and five-star barbecue from the crew at Ride Dry. Drive Dry.

“Thigh High Surf provides something for everyone – even non-water sports enthusiasts,” said Francisco Cabezas, a Nautique boat owner and long-time grassroots wake-event competitor. “My wife and kid were entertained all day. Hands down, this was just plain fun.”

Presented by Nautiques of Orlando and four-time X-Games gold medalist and wakeboard legend Danny Harf, the grassroots wakesurf contest series is a first for Central Florida and caters to all ages & surfing abilities. The series seeks everyone from beginners to unknown surf prodigies, with seven divisions available: kid’s novice (10 + under), male + female novice (all ages), male + female intermediate (all ages), male + female advanced (all ages), men’s + women’s masters (ages 35+), women’s outlaw (all ages)and men’s outlaw (all ages).

Across the three stops, the contest saw more than 70 athletes, ranging in ages from 2-years-old to 58, surfing behind the latest Nautique G23 with Harf at the helm. The athlete roster increased with each stop, culminating with just over 50 surfers last weekend. Even the president of Nautique Boats stopped by to hang loose.

“As a premium boat dealer, customer service is always a top focus and events like the Thigh High Surf Series are a large component of it,” said Nautiques of Orlando General Manager and Owner Jeff Husby. “The series was a first wakesurf contest experience for more than 50 local surfers. That’s what this event is all about – bringing the community together and helping grow the sport.”

Overall series winners include:

• Kid’s Novice (10 + under): Chelsea Caywood (Lake Sawyer – Florida)
• Male + Female Novice (All Ages): Ashton Giglio (Lake Conway – Florida)
• Male + Female Intermediate (All Ages): Ryan Gay (Lake Roper – Florida)
• Male + Female Advanced (All Ages): Robby Allen (Lake Butler – Florida)
• Men’s + Women’s Masters (Ages 35+): Francisco Cabezas (Port St. Lucie – Florida)
• Women’s Outlaw (All Ages): Ashley Inloes (Lake Tibet – Florida)
• Men’s Outlaw (All Ages): Beaux Wildman (Lake Winona – Indiana)

Complete lists of competition standings can be found at https://www.thighhighsurf.com/athlete-info.

John Akerman—2018 World Wakesurf Champion, Nautique athlete and Thigh High Surf Series guest judge—said, “I barely recognized any names on the athlete list. I’ve been competing in wakesurf competitions for more than five years, so this signifies that the sport is growing. I love that the series is bringing together the local wakesurf scene and giving them a stepping stone for bigger and more prestigious competitions like the upcoming inaugural Nautique Master’s Wakesurf tournament.”

Series sponsors and supporting partners include: Nautiques of Orlando, Nautique, Ronix, Performance Ski & Surf, Aktion Parks, Orlando Watersports Complex, Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA), Wake Responsibly, Ride Dry. Drive Dry., SeaDek Marine Products, Next Level, Roswell Marine, Red Bull North America, the World Wake Association (WWA), Mid-Coast Customs, PCM Marine Engines and the Original Sign Factory.

For more information, visit thighhighsurf.com.

ABOUT NAUTIQUES OF ORLANDO

Central Florida’s premier dealer of Regal, Nautique, Supreme and Moomba Boats. Nautiques of Orlando has been named one of the Top 100 Dealers in North America for the past eight consecutive years by Boating Industry. Located at 2226 Paseo Ave. in Orlando, the dealership has a large inventory of used and preowned boats from a wide variety of manufacturers. The premium hometown dealership is one of the industry’s most educated and trained professional teams – boasting a hometown advantage with Nautique’s corporate headquarters right in their backyard. For more information, visit www.orlandoboats.com.