On Friday, May 4th, 2007 at 3:30pm, the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department notified us that the first SFWA event to be held at Lake Okeeheelee Park from 10:00am until 6:00pm is cancelled.
Apparently, our permit for the event (which has been in place for over two months) and scheduled riding activities were in conflict with a SkiClub event at the Park. The Park has five lakes, two of which are designated wakeboarding only. The SkiClub of Palm Beach County is having an event that will use the other three lakes and has prevented our access into the other two lakes (which again, they are not even using). The SkiClub had the opportunity to allow us to use the lakes regardless of the misstaken permits but choose not to.
Everyone, this is exactly the reason that we have decided to form the South Florida Wakeboarding Association. Wakeboarding in South Florida has been run out by groups like this who are not friendly towards the wakeboarding community. This turn of events should be upsetting to everyone who wakeboards and wakeskates. Our sport is under attack in South Florida and we have a long road to go to accomplish our goals, that message is crystal clear as I type this today. It is disheartening and extremely disappointing that this could happen.
The SFWA is currently pursuing our options in this matter but for now it appears we have no choice but to cancel the event and regroup.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to those of you who planned to attend the event. It will be rescheduled at a different location in the upcoming days.
We welcome your input.
Jimmy Beno – SFWA President
Continued
After having time to think about the events that transpired this past weekend regarding the cancelation of the first SFWA gathering I still am speechless. I think the community of wake riders feels the same judging by the number of hits on this website over the last day (over 300 in 12 hours). All the comments are welcomed and much appreciated. I think the “sleeping dog” of wake riders has awaken so to speak. Everything happens for a reason and this weekend may yet have some positive come out of it. If we can open a dialogue on this matter and effect change then one day we will look back at this as a positive.We will have other events, we are already planning for a July event and a tournament in November. These will not be stopped. However as I read the comments section of the web posting discussing the cancelation, one comment really stuck out to me-a comment by a gentleman named Dave, he wrote “Look at USA Waterski statistics and although still the largest member group…”. It got me thinking if we are going to effect change then we need to organize. Right now this organization is a strong 40+ people after three and half weeks of being “live”, let’s be one voice and be heard as we move forward. I am asking everyone who commented and looked at this page to step up and join the organization. The membership benefits are great but more importantly as our numbers grow so does our unified voice.
24 comments
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May 5, 2007 at 12:42 am
Martyn
Wow this is truly a disappointment, I was stoked for fun day with the kids and all you guys. It is hard to find a group or association that supports local wakeboarding as a sport. The SkiClub embraces there fellow members but looks down on the people that wakeboard, always trying to push us out of “their” water. It just doesn’t seem fair, we are all there to accomplish the same thing, have fun on the water. This action by the SkiClub just shows how they frown on our sport, but I know that SFW will do everything they can to equalize the use of the lake and bring us all together.
May 5, 2007 at 12:45 am
Matt
Unbelievable! They have done it again and again. What is up with our County Government allowing this! We support what you guys are doing.
May 5, 2007 at 12:58 am
Tony
Five of us were coming down, oh well, you know … welcome to the world of skiers, they are so known for this.
May 5, 2007 at 1:01 am
Johnny B
Dang!! Someone needs to tell these people they don’t own the lake. Someone needs to talk to the Parks Department about this.
May 5, 2007 at 1:05 am
Astrid
It is a shame to find out the event got canceled, my friends and I were really looking forward to seeing the Pros riding! I think its awesome that for the first time someone is giving importance wakeboarding deserves, and I cant believe people forget that we all have rights and we all have the same passion, but instead chose to play kids games, being selfish, and inconsiderate. We just want to have fun, share with friends & family. We all have ambition and Passion for whichever sport we choose to practice, this time the ski club went way to far. My friends and I want to let you guys know, we support you!
May 5, 2007 at 1:41 am
Michele
We are so sorry! This really does bring us together though, we’ve had many phone calls and everyone wants, more than ever, to organize as wakeboarders. I believe Palm Beach County will need to listen, once they see how popular the sport has become and how many families are involved.
May 5, 2007 at 1:45 am
John
I’m sorry to hear that your event got canceled. I would like to point out what I do know about this. First the permit was not to use the lake but only to use the picnic area. Permits for this type of event require insurance and guidelines to protect the users and the county. The boats that are used also need to be stated in the permit so that they are covered by the insurance. Everyone has to sign the county’s hold harmless legal document. And most important is that Okeeheelee is not to be use for commercial gain. I know that several notes here are pointing the finger at the Ski Club but the club does not have a problem with running two events on the same weekend with permits for each. This has been done many times in the past. Unfortunately, the rules were not followed and the permit was never even applied for the lake use. The reason for the last minute notice is because it was only brought to the county’s attention after the email notice went out this morning. Had the association worked with the county earlier, this may have had a chance. I can’t speak for the county but the commercial activity as advertised may not ever get approval. If you really want to get involved with the county and the lakes at Okeeheelee then I suggest working close with the county and doing things that also benefit the county. Take a look around the site and form a work party to fix things up. The parks department needs everyone to contribute to make this the best organized site in the country. Please don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just trying to explain to those that aren’t close to the issue so this won’t happen again.
May 5, 2007 at 2:01 am
Michele
John, this was not a commercial event, we have the boat registered, we have the insurance we have the permit for almost 2 months now, we did everything we were required to do. Nothing was ever going to be sold, and there is no place we ever stated that, we have no idea where you got this idea. We were going to hang out with some pro wakeskaters, share equipment and have fun in the water … oh and eat hotdogs. Thats it! We talked with the Ski Club 2 days ago and they said it was fine for us to use the back lake as long as we put our boats in the water before 8am so as not to disrupt their event. We look forward to meeting with you, I’m assuming you work for Palm Beach County Parks Department. We would like to find a way prevent this from ever happening again, as well as a way for us to use this beautiful County lake. Our family has been paying taxes in Palm Beach County for 30 years.
May 5, 2007 at 2:32 am
Richard
This comes to no suprise! Seems as though the wakeboarders are being pushed out. They call the North lake the Wakeboard/Jump lake, yet they now put in another ski course. I dont get this? This is a good way to push people away from the parks if some club has all the control. It would be great if there would be cleanups not just in this lake, but all the lakes in the county, becuase people do ride in other places. How often are they cleaning, cause I guarentee there are way more wakeboard/wakeskaters in the area than skiers so the cleanup would be awsome. I know my kids love that lake and were really looking foward to this. Fun for the family.
May 5, 2007 at 2:34 am
Scott
This is really no suprise to me. The ski club has always looked down on wakeboarding and the riders. They want Okeeheelee to be a water ski environment only. They wonder why there sport is deminishing by the day. The dont want there sport to grow or any other water sport for that matter. They think they own it. I think they just have nothing else in their life but to complain about us trying to promote watersports. We just want to have fun on the water with our friends and family and expose the sport to as much people as possible so others can see the joy of skiing, wakeboarding whatever it may be. There are many skiers who are super cool people, but there are those select few in the ski club who think they own the whole park and all the lakes. They are trying to eliminate wakeboarding completly from the park. The are descriminating against anyone who is not a skier and it is not right. We just want the same opprotunities they get. But they want the whole lake to themselves so they can be miserable by themselves. But they will see soon enough that we are not going anywhere. We are here to stay and influence the sport in the most positive manner possible, and not discriminate against any waterskier, jumper, tricker, or wakeboarder. We want to have everyone treated equal, and not hated on by those select few who complain and think they own and run the park because they are part of some club. But will prevail and not lower ourselves to there level. We will get our rights honestly, and fairly. So look out for some changes in the near future.
May 5, 2007 at 2:45 am
Morgan
John, thanks for the comment and we do look forward to working with you guys for a long time here at the lake. Anytime you want a pull you are always welcome to come out with us. ;)
I just want to point out that we have Insurance through the WWA (World Wakeboard Association) for the entire day and all the people that wanted to ride. The boats that were being used are also permited to use the lake and were insured.
It really seems that the County dropped the ball and only caught this error 2 1/2 months late!
Lots to be said, but i will end it here for now.
May 5, 2007 at 2:50 am
jimmy
John,
Thanks for your comments they are appreciated. Please allow me to clear up some of your statements. The County acted accordingly in this situation. They issued a permit for the pavillion almost two months ago. At no time, was there ever any thought that commericial activities would take place, in fact it was made clear to us by the County that this was prohibited or we would need another permit. This is why their were no commercial activities planned. Everything was absolutely free, from the hot dogs to the chance to meet and spend time with the pros, it was basically a big picnic with riding going on. We also informed the County of exactly what our plans were during the day. Our failure was entitling the event a “demo day” it gave the impression (it was never advertised that vendors would be selling something as you suggested it only stated they were sponsoring it) that vendors would be selling something when in reality it was quite the opposite, it was all free (this was stated on all the flyers and web announcements). It was just a chance for wake riders to get together.
The rub is that our activity took place on the same day as a skiclub event which apparently shuts down the whole ski course. We were never informed there was an event there on this weekend, again, not really the County’s responsibility, it would have been nice for them to mention it but I am sure they had no obligation to do so. However, once made aware of the event and the fact that it might impact the skiclub event, we contacted the skiclub to try and work something out, we were given assurances on Thursday it was ok to proceed and that we could indeed share the lakes (just as you suggested) only to have the skiclub “change their mind” and pull their committment away at the last minute.
The problem I think that most people are trying to verbalize is that the reality of this is, that we are both (SFWA and the Skiclub) trying to accomplish the same thing-get people excited about our water related sport. Here is an opportunity where the skiclub could have granted us access in two lakes that will be completely empty come this Sunday (and in fact did so initially). This was an opportunity passed upon by the skiclub and it leaves a poor taste in people’s mouth. Did the skiclub have any obligation to allow us to use the lakes? Absolutely not. Could the skiclub have allowed use of the back to lakes (especially if they have done so in the past as you point out) when the lakes weren’t in use (lakes dedicated to wakeboarding) and they had already committed to do so? I think the answer is yes they could of and therein lies the frustration that people have with this situation.
Again, I thank you for your comments and I am not “shooting the messanger” but I think it is important to see the whole picture. The SFWA wants to work to improve the park, wants to do “our part” and wants to work with the skiclub but situations like these, were there is a chance to work together that is past on, make that initial first step difficult.
May 5, 2007 at 3:00 am
Morgan
Jimmy you said it … perfect!
May 5, 2007 at 3:06 am
Michael Granger
How is it legal for any club to dictate or enforce rules within a county government Parks facility? Take a look at their requirements for membership, seems pretty exclusive for government property.
May 5, 2007 at 3:16 am
Phil
Man I just heard about this I’m sorry guys, I was so ready to go. I hope you’ll try again, this would have been an awesome time.
May 5, 2007 at 11:05 am
Marlene
Looks like a big mess up. I think people would a be lot more sympathetic if the club that runs the lake had a better reputation. They have been a barrier to community involvement with the lake. We’ve been harassed by them many times for ridiculous things. They’ve brought this on themselves and the county should be held responsible to make this lake more open to all people, Wakeboarders and Water Skiers alike.
May 5, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Rich
I just got back from Okeeleehee and there were three boats in the water, just sitting there, and we couldn’t put our boat in. Five lakes to me means, 2 for them, 2 for us, and 1 for the other guy. 5 empty lakes that only skiers can use?? This wont last long…
May 5, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Mehgan
I completely agree with Marlene’s post. Also it isn’t fair for the select skiers to withhold our right to be on the water. Okeeleehee is much safer then Lake Ida for example where the jet skiers will just about run you over. It is about time people came together to take action against this sort of situation and prevent it from happening again. It is ridiculous that they could do this sort of thing, but sadly enough it comes as no surprise that they did.
May 5, 2007 at 5:53 pm
dave
Another ski club bunch of bull as far as I am concerned. And John; common guy, give folks a chance to participate and I am sure that they would be more than glad to help with the Parks. By the way, I am certain that all involved are paying taxes that go to support these public facilities. Why dont you call it like it is and see the ski club for what it is; a bunch of stuck in the past 3 eventers not looking to grow the sport, but protect there little domain. I am not even a wake boarder but a hydrofoiler and we have been through the same bull with the club. Look at USA Waterski statistics and although still the largest member group they are also the most rapidly declining. I think it shows a total lack of respect to cancel on these folks last second and so calculating. Hope the commission gets an ear full about it.
May 9, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Jake
No worries, SFWA is taking over!
May 14, 2007 at 6:35 pm
mullet
I just moved here to the south and what I think is that because it doesn’t get cold ever unlike orlando that the skiers think they own the okelleee and that wake culture belongs in orlando; what I also think is that, well, wake riders need to influence the youth because the creativity of wake riding is=the=future, not something with to much intensity and no creativity,
It needs to be wakeskating before the kids get to old
May 21, 2007 at 1:43 am
kevin
I am a wakeboarder at okeeheelee and the ski club is constantly trying to get rid of wakeboarders. They are jelous that more people want to wakeboard other than slalom ski.
January 9, 2009 at 3:20 am
Lily Reese
hi
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good luck
January 10, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Kate Mcdonald
hi
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good luck