INT Watersports Competition on Lake Keowee

The South Carolina International Novice Tour (INT) watersports league kicks off the 2015 season this weekend with a two-day event along the shores of South Cove County Park on Lake Keowee. The event features both a wakeboard and wake surfing competition that starts at 9am, Saturday, May 16 with the first round of the Wakeboarding competition. The Wake Surf competition begins at 12:30pm on Saturday. The final round for the Wakeboarding event starts at 9am Sunday, May 17. Awards ceremonies will be held each day at 4pm at South Cove Park. The South Carolina INT league is a division of the INT amateur league and a partner with the World Wakeboard Association. The competition consists of amateur riders being pulled by an INT-supplied boat through a straight course approximately 1,800 feet long where up to six tricks are performed. Each rider gets two consecutive runs through the course and is allowed up to two falls. The competition areas will be marked by six round buoys, with one competition area on each side of the causeway that leads over to the campground. Boating spectators are welcome but must anchor outside the competition area. A patrol boat will assist with boat traffic each day. Spectators can also view these exciting competitions from South Cove County Park. “We are very excited to be able to host the first competition of the year for the South Carolina INT amateur league. Our goal, if all goes well, is to partner with them one weekend each year”, said Oconee County Parks, Recreation and Tourism director Phil Shirley. “This is another opportunity for us to take advantage of our outstanding natural resources and showcase Oconee County.”