Collegiate Wakeboard National Championships to be Held in Alabama

USA Wakeboard, a sport discipline organization of USA Water Ski, has announced that the 2016 Collegiate Wakeboard National Championships will be held Sept. 15-17 in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, Ala. Sixteen teams, including the defending champion University of Florida, are expected to compete in the 16th annual event, where individual titles and the coveted team title will be up for grabs.

Collegiate teams across the country have competed at five regional tournaments over the past two semesters to get a chance to go to the Nationals. In addition to Florida, other teams qualified to compete at the Nationals include Arizona State, Louisiana State, Michigan State, Mississippi, Oklahoma State, Tennessee and Utah.

Each team consists of four male riders, two female riders and one wakeskater. The Nationals will include quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, with the top-four riders earning a spot in the pro division to compete for a cash prize.

Admission for spectators is free of charge, with viewing available from the beach adjacent to the Flora-Bama Lounge and Oyster Bar or the balcony of the Flora-Bama Ole River Bar. A live webcast also will be available.

At the 2015 Collegiate Wakeboard Nationals in Benton, La., the Gators won their first national wakeboard title since winning back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009. Florida tallied 645 points in winning over runner-up and 2014 champion, Arizona State (485 points), and third-place Oklahoma State (353 points).

About USA Water Ski: USA Water Ski was formed in 1939 as a non-profit organization promoting water skiing in the United States. USA Water Ski is affiliated with the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (world governing body) and is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and Pan-American Sports Organization as the national governing body of organized water skiing and wakeboarding in the United States.