With sunlit skies and a packed shoreline, Legacy on the Lake made a splashy debut March 28–29, 2025, transforming Lake David into a high-energy tribute to Groveland’s legendary water sports heritage.
This video is illustration.
Part of the city’s Founder’s Day celebration, the inaugural event honored Lake David’s decades-long reputation as a launchpad for world champions and pioneering athletes. From the trailblazing days of Liz Allan’s Superstars to elite training grounds like Benzel Ski Center and Hansen’s World Wakeboard Center, the lake has been home to some of the most iconic names in waterskiing and wakeboarding since the 1970s.
For the first time in decades, the sight of a ski jump on Lake David brought back memories—and excitement—for longtime locals and curious newcomers alike.
“This lake has history,” said event organizer Danny Amir, better known in the industry as Dano the Mano. “Legacy on the Lake was our way of honoring the past, while creating something unforgettable for the future.”
Where Tradition Meets Innovation
The weekend featured a packed schedule of barefoot endurance challenges, freestyle waterski jumping, junior long distance jumping, ski shows, and two standout contests: The Groveland Mini-Wake Wakeboard Invitational and The Groveland Wakeskate Scrimmage.
The atmosphere was electric, but relaxed—celebratory more than competitive. “We wanted our contests to be as fun for the riders as it was for the fans,” Amir said. “And we pulled it off.”
Mini-Wake Wakeboard Invitational: No Towers, No Frills, Just Style
Friday’s Mini-Wake Wakeboard Invitational offered a back-to-basics wakeboard contest that stripped away the distractions—no extended pylons, no towering wakes, just pure skill behind the boat.
“The format was simple,” said pro rider and judge John Dreiling, who helped conceptualize the Mini-Wake contest. “Seven-minute jam sessions, unlimited falls, and creativity over perfection.”
Riders—including seasoned pros, emerging talent, and even a few first-timers to a boat that size—carved, slashed, and tumbled behind a Nautique Ski 200 provided by Regal & Nautique of Orlando. The smaller wake and stripped-down setup tested their adaptability and rewarded style, originality, and fluidity.
Guenther Oka soared to win the “Biggest Air” award with a towering crow mobe to flats off the double up, while Trent Stuckey grabbed “Best Trick” for his mute mobe 540. The coveted “Best Line” went to Jake Pelot, whose flowing combo included a toe 7 off the double up, tantrum to flats into a tumble turn, crow mobe, and a finishing backside hack for punctuation.
“It wasn’t about the biggest tricks,” Amir said. “It was about keeping it fun, smooth, and stylish—how the sport was meant to feel.”
Groveland Wakeskate Scrimmage: Old Names, New Heat
Saturday’s Wakeskate Scrimmage brought the heat in a single-round, winner-take-all final. With just four attempts to land the best three-trick line, the pressure was on.
Legends returned to the water as Chase Gregory and Matt Manzari competed for the first time in more than a decade. But it was local hero Reed Hansen who stole the show, delivering a powerhouse run: varial flip wake to wake, switch 360 wake to wake, and a clean shuv-it wake to wake—earning him the “Best Three-Trick Line” award.
“It was surreal,” said Hansen. “Being back here, on this lake, with this crowd—it’s exactly why I started riding in the first place.”
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Looking Ahead to 2026
Powered by Nautique Boats and supported by community partners including Wake United, Discover Lake County, Jack Travers Sunset Lakes Waterski School, and more, Legacy on the Lake delivered on its promise: celebrating where the sport came from, and where it’s going next.
Plans are already in motion for the 2026 event—and if this year’s energy is any sign, it’s shaping up to be even bigger, bolder, and more unforgettable.
Follow along at @LegacyOnTheLake on Instagram for updates, highlights, and announcements about next year’s return to Lake David.
