Watersports Competition draws Crowd to Lake Keowee

A large crowd could be seen on Lake Keowee over the weekend for a watersports competition. The event featured a wakeboard and wakesurfing competition, explains Oconee County Parks, Recreation and Tourism director Phil Shirley. “The watersports event went really well at South Cove; this was our first year attempting to host. We partnered with INT, which is an International Novice Tour; they are a partner of the World Wakeboard Association. It is really amateurs and this is the South Carolina division. They had 40 competitors this weekend that competed in both wakesurf and wakeboard. Things went really well and we have started conversations about a potential date for 2016.” Spectators viewed the exciting competitions from South Cove County Park, continues Shirley. “That is part of the reason we go after events like this, you know every opportunity we get to increase visitation and expenditures her in the county. We had multiple competitors who camped with us at South Cove, who brought their boats, campers, tents and whatnot and were here with us this weekend.” Shirley said the two-day competition was an opportunity to take advantage of the natural resources and showcase Oconee County.