It’s the wave of the future. From swimming, triathlon, wakeboarding, surfing, rowing, water skiing and more, the surging popularity of water sports is great news for destinations throughout the U.S. And seaside venues aren’t the only beneficiaries, since even landlocked locales are taking advantage of opportunities in lakes, rivers and other bodies of water. The locations highlighted here are prepared to ensure smooth sailing for event organizers.
Central Massachusetts
Central Massachusetts offers several excellent water sports venues, among them Lake Quinsigamond, known for rowing and sailing events, and the Blackstone River that is ideal for kayaking and canoeing. Additionally, Indian Lake is popular for recreational water sports activities. These venues are equipped with amenities such as locker rooms, spectator viewing stands, concession stands and parking facilities.
Key events held in this locale have included the USRowing Masters National Championships, collegiate rowing regattas, high school crew competitions and local amateur kayaking and canoeing competitions.
“Our key water sports events attract hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators, contributing positively to the local economy by boosting tourism and local business activities,” says Sam Ashraf, director of marketing, Discover Central Massachusetts. “Smaller events also bring substantial local and regional participation, boosting local businesses. While we have strong local participation, many of our larger events draw participants from across the country, contributing to our reputation as a premier destination for water sports.”
The area hosts more than 25 water sports events annually and wants to expand its event offerings.
“We are looking to enhance our youth engagement programs and develop partnerships with national water sports organizations to bring more high-profile events to the region,” says Ashraf. “Additionally, we aim to improve our facilities to support a broader range of water sports activities.”
Conway, Arkansas
Mid-July marked the opening of the Conway Community Center which boasts an eight-lane, indoor competition-sized pool with spectator seating. Among the facility’s amenities are locker rooms, viewing stands and concessions, as well as an outdoor leisure pool with water slides, volleyball courts and pickleball courts.
“This is the first city-owned swimming facility in Conway, so we are anticipating that we will host regional and statewide swim meets, but are still planning for the coming swim seasons,” says Rachel Shaw, executive director of Visit Conway. “This will be our first year to host water sports events in this facility.” She points out that Conway is open to hosting swimming events for all ages and ability levels.
In regard to fishing and boating, Lake Conway, a manmade lake that is owned by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and is the largest lake ever created by a conservation agency, is currently midway through a five-year renovation program.
Improvements will include infrastructure modernization, habitat enhancements and access improvements. “Once the lake project is completed, we will get back to hosting fishing and kayaking events in open water,” says Shaw.
Erie, Pennsylvania
Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie are two of Erie’s premier locations for water sports. Presque Isle Bay covers approximately five square miles and offers direct access to Lake Erie.
With its calm, protected waters that offer ideal conditions for fishing and a variety of recreational activities, Presque Isle Bay was ranked among the Northeast’s Top 15 Best Bass Lakes of 2024 by Bassmaster. The bayfront features more than 500 hotel rooms, along with popular restaurants and waterfront attractions. This setting allows participants to enjoy top-tier competition on the water while also experiencing the vibrant atmosphere and local flavor of the region.
Erie has become a regular stop for many regional fishing tournaments. The Keystone Bass Buddies Circuit has returned to Erie for more than 30 years, with anglers eagerly anticipating the event each year.
Other regional events hosted in Erie include Kayak Anglers, PA BASS Nation, King of BASS and BASS Federation. The Erie Sports Commission works closely with tournament directors to maintain strong relationships and ensure continued growth and success for each event.
Erie has also welcomed larger-scale events such as the Major League Fishing B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup and the Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Northeast Regional Championship. These high-profile events have further established Erie’s reputation as a top fishing destination nationwide.
“The Erie Sports Commission is continually seeking new events to bring to the beautiful shores of Erie, Pennsylvania,” says Sydney Dietz, events and marketing manager, Erie Sports Commission. “The direct access to Lake Erie and the protected shores of Presque Isle Bay make Erie an attractive destination for all water sports. While bass fishing is a major draw, we are always exploring opportunities to introduce diverse and exciting events to our community.”
North of Boston, Massachusetts
With 90 miles of coastal harbors and beaches, plus multiple rivers, lakes and ponds, Essex County is able to host numerous collegiate, high school, amateur and youth water sports events.
Rowing/paddling, sailing and fishing competitions abound and there are plans to expand the number and types of events hosted in the future.
“We’re hoping to strengthen our growth initiatives through a more assertive campaign to promote the region as a premier destination for water-related sports,” says Nancy Gardella, executive director, North of Boston CVB.
This year, boating and fishing events held in North of Boston included the Marblehead Yacht Club & Corinthian Yacht Club Regatta Week, The Helly Hansen Sailing World Series, the Gloucester Schooner Festival and the Bluefin Blowout fishing tournament.
Among other competitions were the New England Surfski Races (part of the 2025 New England Regional Surfski Series), and Essex Rowing Club Regattas which included various USRowing competitions. The Essex River Race, which has a capacity of 180 boats and 250 paddlers, is slated for May 2026.
“The North of Boston region has perfect play-and-stay locations for adults as well as families,” Gardella remarks. “In a relatively compact geographic region, we offer an abundance of attractions, American history and heritage, rich natural beauty, farm- and ocean-to-table cuisine, a vibrant arts and culture scene and year-round fun.”
Sarasota, Florida
This Gulf Coast city offers a diverse range of premier water sports venues and natural bodies of water, making it a sought-after destination for aquatic events and training. Together these venues provide turnkey support for a wide range of water sports, all within a scenic, coastal setting that’s built to host and impress.
The Selby Aquatic Center features a 50-meter Olympic-sized pool and is the home of the nationally recognized Sarasota Sharks swim club, which trains athletes from youth to elite levels and hosts competitions year-round.
Nearby, the Arlington Park & Aquatic Complex has a 50-meter lap pool and a 25-yard instructional pool. For open water sports, Nathan Benderson Park provides a 400-acre lake that is purpose-built for rowing, canoe/kayak, and open water swimming, supported by top-tier infrastructure and amenities.
Sarasota’s Gulf Coast beaches also serve as valuable assets for water sports events. Locations such as Siesta Key and Lido Key have successfully hosted a range of beach and water-based competitions. For example, the USA Swimming Open Water National & Junior National Championships in both 2024 and 2025 attracted hundreds of top-tier athletes and spectators.
In addition, Sarasota has established itself as a premier rowing destination through its ongoing hosting of the USRowing Youth National Championships at Nathan Benderson Park for the past five years, each year welcoming more than 4,000 athletes and 5,000 spectators.
Sarasota has also hosted the USRowing Youth Beach Sprints at South Lido Key Beach, supporting the growth of a new Olympic discipline ahead of the 2028 Games.
“Sarasota County typically hosts 15 or more water sports events annually,” says Nate Sweetman, sports marketing manager, Visit Sarasota County. “With world-class venues like Nathan Benderson Park, the Selby Aquatic Center and stunning Gulf Coast beaches, the destination is well-positioned to support continued growth. There is a strong commitment to expanding the event portfolio, both by attracting new competitions and enhancing existing ones, ensuring Sarasota remains a premier hub for water sports year-round.”
Shores & Islands, Ohio
Lake Erie and the Sandusky Aquatic Center are this locale’s two key venues for water sports events. Lake Erie offers a variety of amenities depending on where an event is held. For instance, the Sandusky Sailing Club has a clubhouse that offers concessions, locker rooms and restrooms. Meanwhile, the Sandusky Aquatic Center provides a six-lane competition pool, accessible spectator seating and updated athletic locker rooms.
Key water sports events hosted by Shores & Islands Ohio included an IRONMAN 70.3 race held this past July, with the swimming portion of the course taking place in Lake Erie. That event brought in more than 1,400 athletes and 3,000-plus spectators, resulting in an economic impact surpassing $3 million.
In 2024, the Optimist National Junior Championships in sailing attracted 500 athletes over seven days, 1,400 spectators, and had an economic impact exceeding $2.5 million. Other types of water sports competitions held here have ranged from pro fishing tournaments and ice fishing to dragon boat racing.
“We hold 10 to 15 events per year and would love to add more events and more variety to our existing events,” says Tiffany Frisch, director of group accounts, Shores & Islands Ohio. “We would like to grow on-the-water racing with boats and sailing and such.”
Snohomish, Washington
Sailing, triathlon, rowing and wakeboarding are all popular water sports activities here, and competitions are held on Lake Stevens and at Lake Tye Park.
Lake Stevens is the largest lake in Snohomish County. North Cove Park, located in downtown Snohomish, is well known for hosting the Lake Stevens Spring Sprint Regatta rowing competition in April, which in 2025 drew 25 rowing clubs, 1,126 attendees and had an economic impact of $83,136. The Lake Stevens Triathlon is held in September each year and in 2024, it brought in 700 athletes and spectators and had an economic impact of $74,270.
Meanwhile, Lake Tye Park is a 42-acre lake in Monroe, Washington, and has hosted Mastercraft Pro Wakeboard Tours and Nautique WWA Wakeboard Nationals & U.S. Wakesurf Nationals over the years. In fact, in 2024, the Nautique WWA Wakeboard Nationals & U.S. Wakesurf Nationals drew 400 athletes from across the U.S.
Each year in August, the lake also hosts the Lake Tye Triathlon which consists of a sprint and Olympic distance race. In 2024, the one-day event attracted 800 athletes and spectators and had an economic impact of $133,259.
“Lake Stevens has two water sports events per year, and there is a water ski event that is held each year in July during the Aquafest festival,” says Tammy Dunn, executive director, Snohomish County Sports Commission. “Lake Tye Park hosts the annual Lake Tye triathlon in August. Although the wakeboarding and wakesurfing events do not happen each year, the Sports Commission team works to bring a regional or national wakeboarding event to Lake Tye Park.” SDM
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