On Sunday, August 17, the “Latvian Open Wakeboarding Championship 2025” and “Latvian Open Wakesurfing Championship 2025” took place at Wake Up Academy in Spuņciems, where 25 athletes from different countries participated – Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Malta and Latvia.

In wakeboarding, the fiercest competition was in the Open Men group, where our Roberts Linavskis won, leaving behind Spaniard Ulises Ceballos Paradeda and Atis Bogomazovs. Also in the Open Women group, in a fierce battle and in challenging weather conditions, our Alise Ceballos Paradeda won, leaving behind Greek Alexandra Kavvad and Estere Veinberga.

In the Over 30 Master Men group, Oskars Krūze won, leaving behind Ģirts Kilpe and Boris Bobrovnikov.

In the Junior Men group, Wake Up Academy student Valters Baltausis showed an enjoyable performance and won, leaving behind Aleksei Bain and our youngest competitor Jēkabs Nartiss. However, in Junior Women group the first place was taken by Elizabete Bite, leaving behind Dara Buyanova from Malta and Nina Bain.

In the Wakesurfing Open Men group, Nikita Buria from Ukraine won convincingly, leaving behind Roberts Linavskis and Kristaps Sars. In the Wakesurfing Open Women group, Julia Shevchenko from Ukraine won, leaving behind Katrin Stadnik and Liubov Lagutin.

Thank you to everyone – the competition participants, fans and helpers and DJ Dans for the great music! Thank you to Atis Bogomazovs for the enjoyable hosting of the event and @arturslapinskis for the wonderful pictures!

The wakeboarding competition behind boat at the World Games taking place in Chengdu, China from August 6 to 17 has concluded. Latvian rider Roberts Liņavskis started his participation with a convincing start, immediately qualifying for the semi-finals, leaving athletes from Germany and China behind him. In his semi-final run, Liņavskis had a great run, but it was not enough to beat wakeboarding legends Massi Pifaretti from Italy and Shota Tezuka from Japan.

These were Liņavskis' third World Games – in Poland in 2017, in the USA in 2022 and this year in China. He qualified for the Games last year by winning the Masters group (30+) of the World Championship held in China.

The competition was won by Australia's Noah Bollard, who with difficulty qualified through the 'last chance' race. However, his performance was outstanding in the aftermath, securing the gold medal. In the women's group, the victory was celebrated by the home rider Hu Lu, leaving behind athletes from Italy and Argentina.

The World Games are a sports forum that was first held in the USA in 1981, covering sports and sports disciplines that are not yet included in the Olympic Games program. More than 5,000 athletes from 118 countries were competing in 34 sports at the 2025 Games.

Latvia was represented by 45 athletes at this event - a men's floorball team, women's and men's disc golf teams, two aerial sports representatives, three dance pairs, one wakeboarder and four orienteers.

Official competition website: www.theworldgames.org

The Latvian Open Championship in boat wakeboarding and in wakesurfing will be held this year on August 17 at the usual venue - at our Wake-up Academy in Spuņciems.

We will hold wakeboarding and wakesurfing competitions the same day, and we will find out the best wakeboarders and wakesurfers in Latvia. The championship is open - representatives of other countries can also participate.

Applications should be filed before August 16th, 20:00 through this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdj1vQm4Ru50sEeqNsigArRSPFjFwhjo4JM42r87jKrDFGnqQ/viewform

Wakeboard groups:
Junior Women, Junior Men, Open Women, Open Men, Over 30 Master Men

Wakesurf groups:
Open Women, Open Men

Entry fee 50 EUR should be transfered to “Veikborda Klubs Wake Up” before the start of the competition. Athletes with Latvian passport should hold a license which can be purchased together with entry fee or seperately at LUSVF. License fee is 10 EUR.

Entry fee and license fee should be transferred to:

Biedriba Veikborda klubs Wake Up
IBAN: LV67HABA0551048965575
Details: Participant Name, Last name, Country, Year of birth, discipline (boat wakeboard, wakesurf or both)

For further questions please contact Oskars (+371 29178872).

When?
August 17th 2025, 10:00

Where?
Wake-up Academy, Spuņciems

DJ DANS will provide the musical atmosphere.

See you at the championship! ✌️

The Latvian Open Championship in boat wakeboarding and in wakesurfing will be held this year on August 11 at the usual venue - at our Wake-up Academy in Spuņciems.

We will hold wakeboarding and wakesurfing competitions the same day, and we will find out the best wakeboarders and wakesurfers in Latvia. The championship is open - representatives of other countries can also participate.

Applications should be filed before August 10th, 20:00 through this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PoYsMJquVON9PrDlFBpCXQGkwLza4KlbnKwY6i8cZJY/edit

Wakeboard groups:
Junior Women, Junior Men, Open Women, Open Men, Over 30 Master Men

Wakesurf groups:
Open Women, Open Men

Entry fee 50 EUR should be transfered to “Veikborda Klubs Wake Up” before the start of the competition. Athletes with Latvian passport should hold a license which can be purchased together with entry fee or seperately at LUSVF. License fee is 10 EUR.

Entry fee and license fee should be transferred to:

Biedriba Veikborda klubs Wake Up
IBAN: LV67HABA0551048965575
Details: Participant Name, Last name, Country, Year of birth, discipline (boat wakeboard, wakesurf or both)

For further questions please contact Oskars (+371 29178872).

When?
August 11th 2024, 10:00

Where?
Wake-up Academy, Spuņciems

DJ Tiltinsh will provide the musical atmosphere.

See you at the championship! ✌️

Wakeboarding in Jurmala, particularly along the serene waters of the Lielupe river, is an exhilarating experience that attracts both beginners and seasoned enthusiasts. This beautiful coastal town offers ideal conditions for wakeboarding, with professional facilities and experienced instructors ready to guide you. Whether you're seeking an adrenaline rush or simply looking to try something new, wakeboarding in Jurmala promises an unforgettable adventure. In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know, from preparation to hitting the water, ensuring you have a seamless and enjoyable experience.

What to take with you

One of the great conveniences of wakeboarding at Wake Up Academy in Jurmala is that all necessary equipment, including wetsuit, board, and safety gear, is provided at no extra cost. However, there are a few personal items you should consider packing to enhance your comfort and enjoyment:

• Personal Items: Sunscreen is highly recommended to protect your skin from the sun, especially during longer sessions. Bringing a water bottle ensures you stay hydrated, and a towel will be useful for drying off after your ride.
• Optional Items: If you have an action camera, it can be fun to capture your wakeboarding moments. Snacks are also a good idea to keep your energy levels up.

Booking - don't forget

Booking your wakeboarding session in advance is essential. You can easily make reservations through the Bookla (more details here), which allows for convenient online payments. Alternatively, if you book over the phone, you can pay on-site using a card.

Arriving at the spot

Wakeboarding in Jurmala at Wake Up Academy (Google Maps, Waze) is located in Valtera Raga Osta. This prime location offers ample parking, making it convenient for those arriving by car. Additionally, there is a helipad for those who prefer to fly in, and you can also arrive by boat. If you plan to come by helicopter or boat, it's best to call ahead to ensure we have space available for your arrival.

When you arrive, you’ll be greeted by a professional and friendly team dedicated to providing a top-notch wakeboarding experience. The academy boasts some of the best coaches in the region, ready to assist you whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider.

Best coaches in the region

At Wake Up Academy, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from some of the best coaches in the field. Our team includes Oskars, a pioneer of boat wakeboarding in Latvia and an official judge at world events like the World Games and World Championships. The coach team also includes Ulises, Matiss, and Alise, all professional wakeboarders who have represented Latvia (or Spain in the case of Ulises) in various international championships.

Starting Your Wakeboarding Session

If you have experience with cable wakeboarding, you’ll find it easy to transition to boat wakeboarding. Our coaches will provide tips to help you adapt quickly. For those new to wakeboarding, our expert coaches will patiently guide you through the basics, ensuring you feel confident and ready to take on the water.

During your session, you’ll start with a dry land demonstration to familiarize yourself with the techniques. Then, you’ll hit the water, beginning with getting up on the board and maintaining your balance. Our coaches will be with you every step of the way, offering encouragement and tips to help you improve.

See you at Wake Up Academy

Wakeboarding in Jurmala (technically, in the river between Jurmala and Spunciems), especially at the renowned Wake Up Academy, offers an adventure for both beginners and experienced riders. With all equipment provided and top-tier coaching from world-class professionals, your experience on the beautiful Lielupe river is bound to be memorable. Whether you're looking to refine your skills or try wakeboarding for the first time, the combination of stunning scenery, expert guidance, and state-of-the-art amenities makes Jurmala the perfect destination. Book your session today and dive into the thrilling world of wakeboarding in Jurmala, where excitement and adventure await.

👉 Click here to see available timeslots

On Sunday, August 20th, Latvian open wakeboard and wakesurf championship 2023 took place at Wake Up Academy, Spuņciems, where 25 athletes were competing from various countries - Ukraine, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Spain and Latvia.

The fiercest competition in wakeboard was in the Open Women group, where Morgan Haakma from New Zealand won, leaving behind Alise Krūze and Justīne Zonne. However, in Open Men group Ulises Ceballos from Spain won by a mile, leaving behind Kārlis Krūze and Jānis Alberts.

Over 30 Master Men winner was Oskars Krūze, leaving behind Ģirts Kilpe and Normunds Greizis.

In Open Men Wakesurf group the win was taken by 11 year old Nikita Buria from Ukraine, leaving behind Sergejs Tjurikovs and Andris Baltausis. In Open Women Wakesurf group the win was confidently taken by Julia Shevchenko from Ukraine, leaving behind Agnija Vītola and Simona Bogomazova.

Thank you all - contestants, fans, helpers, @ApbalvojumiTevunTaviempasākumiem for beautiful trophies, @Ansamblis for delicious burgers and DJ Tiltinsh from amazing music. Special THANK YOU - Atis Bogomazovs for leading the event and Justīne Zonne for amazing photos! See you next year!

The Latvian Open Championship in boat wakeboarding and in wakesurfing will be held this year on August 20 at the usual venue - at our Wake-up Academy in Spuņciems.

We will hold wakeboarding and wakesurfing competitions the same day, and we will find out the best wakeboarders and wakesurfers in Latvia. The championship is open - representatives of other countries can also participate.

Applications should be filed before August 19th, 20:00 through this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JqP1xDbyXdFLoHgt0L4mp0rCdAmAC-x8XpTjLjBC43o/edit

Wakeboard groups:
Junior Women, Junior Men, Open Women, Open Men, Over 30 Master Men

Wakesurf groups:
Open Women, Open Men

Entry fee 50 EUR should be transfered to “Veikborda Klubs Wake Up”.
IBAN: LV67HABA0551048965575

When?
20. August 2023, 10:00

Where?
Wake-up Academy, Spuņciems

DJ Tiltinsh will provide the musical atmosphere.

See you at the championship! ✌️

For further questions please contact Oskars (+371 29178872).

Wakesurfing is a thrilling water sport that is gaining popularity around the world. It involves riding a specially designed board on the wake of a boat, without being pulled by a rope. Wakesurfing offers an endless range of tricks that can be performed on the board, each with its own level of difficulty and style. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most popular wakesurf tricks that you can try.

Basics

Pumping: This trick involves turning and carving up and down the face of the wake to gain speed. It is one of the fundamental tricks in wakesurfing and is necessary to maintain your momentum and progress to more advanced tricks.

Riding Backside: This trick involves riding with your back facing the wake, which means you are riding on your heels. It is a basic trick that will help you become more comfortable on the board.

Switch Stance: This trick involves riding with the opposite foot forward, also known as Fakie. It is a great way to challenge yourself and improve your balance and control on the board.

Rail Grab: This trick involves grabbing the board's rail while the board is on the wake. You can perform a single or double grab, depending on your skill level.

Fire Hydrant: This trick involves placing your front hand on the board and taking your front foot off, stretching it out. It is a simple but stylish trick that can be performed while riding.

Sitting Duck: This trick involves placing your back hand on the board and taking your back foot off, stretching it out forward. It is a fun trick that can be performed while riding or as a starting position for other tricks.

Hokey Pokey: This trick involves placing your back hand on the board and taking your back foot off, stretching it out backward. It is a great way to add variety to your tricks and keep things interesting.

Knee Down/2 Knee Down: This trick involves placing one or both knees down on the board, creating a kneeling position. It is a useful trick that can help you maintain control and stability on the board.

Cheater 5: This trick involves extending your front foot (toes) close to the nose of the board. The more credit you will receive from judges, the further forward (nose) your rear foot is.

Hang 5: This trick involves extending your front foot (toes) over the nose of the board. The more credit you will receive from judges, the further forward (nose) your rear foot is.

Hang 10: This trick involves extending both feet (toes) over the nose of the board. It is a challenging and stylish trick that requires a lot of balance and control.

Skiing: This trick involves standing with your feet parallel to each other, facing towards the boat. It is a simple trick that can be used to maintain speed and momentum.

Sit Down: This trick involves sitting down on the board with your legs stretched out in front towards the nose. It is a relaxing and fun trick that can be used as a starting position for other tricks.

Coffin: This trick involves laying down on your back on the board. It is a simple but stylish trick that can be used as a starting position for other tricks.

Drop and Paddle: This trick involves going to the extreme rear of the wake, getting down on the board, and paddling back into the power zone. It is a useful trick that can help you maintain speed and momentum.

Body Varial: This trick involves jumping and spinning 180 degrees in the air while the board stays in the same direction. It is a challenging and stylish trick that requires a lot of skill and control.

Floater: When a rider and board "floats" on top of the wake. This is one of the base tricks in wakesurfing.

Floater Shuv Out: A combination trick where the rider performs a Floater and then executes a Shuvit to turn the board back into the wake.

Boardslide: A trick where the rider slides the board 90 degrees on the crest of the wake for at least one second, with the tail of the board going over the wake first and the rider facing the boat.

Lipslide: A trick where the rider slides the board 90 degrees on the crest of the wake for at least one second, with the nose of the board going over the wake first and the rider facing away from the boat.

Chop Hop: A trick where the rider performs a Floater and then executes an Ollie off the top of the wake, landing back into the water.

Stalling: A technique where the rider applies pressure to their back foot to slow down or "stall" the board, splashing water forward.

Slash Carve: An aggressive carving turn off the top of a wave.

Shuv-its

Shuv-it 180: This is a trick where the rider spins just the board backside 180 degrees under their feet and lands with the board "backwards".

Shuv Grab: A Shuv-it trick where the rider grabs the rail of the board while spinning.

Frontside Shuv 180: This is a trick where the rider spins just the board frontside 180 degrees under their feet and lands with the board "backwards".

360 Shuv: A Backside 360 degrees Shuv-it is a trick where the rider spins the board backside 360 degrees under their feet.

Big Spin: This trick combines a 360 degrees Shuv-it with a frontside 180-degree body spin.

Bigger Spin: A more advanced version of the Big Spin, the Bigger Spin is a 540 degrees Shuv-it with a 360 degrees body varial in the same rotational direction.

River Dance: This trick combines a backside 180 degrees Shuv-it with a surface 180 degrees and a body varial.

Gumby Shuv: This trick is a backside 180 degrees Shuv-it with a frontside body varial.

Canadian Shuv: This trick is a backside 360 degrees Shuv-it with a frontside body varial.

Jumps

Ollie: Jump off the water to get air without wake, must see fin/daylight.

Airs: Launching off the lip with board into the air and landing back on the wake. Nose still facing forward.

Aerial: Air with board at 90 degrees frontside.

Air grab: Air with rail grab.

Superman: Air with a grab on both sides of the board, brought up over the head into superman flying position.

Air Reverse: Air into a frontside 180 degrees.

Air Reverse 360: Air into a frontside 360 degrees.

Alley Oop: Doing an Air while spinning 180 degrees the blind direction.

Alley Oop 360: Air with a backside 360 degrees.

Widow Maker: Air with a backside 360 to surface backside 360.

Spins

Drifter: A stalled frontside 90 degrees spin with tail press.

Blind Drifter: A backside Drifter, pressing on the nose.

Front Side 180: Surface frontside 180 degrees spin.

Half Cab: Riding switch into a frontside 180 degrees spin.

360 Spin: 360 degrees spin (surface).

540 Spin: 540 degrees spin (surface).

720 Spin: 720 degrees spin (surface).

900 Spin: 900 degrees spin (surface).

1080 Spin: 1080 degrees spin (surface).

Blender: Surface frontside 180 degrees to backside 360 degrees.

Where can you learn these tricks?

You can try these and other tricks yourself at Wake-up Academy. You can also receive advice from coaches who are among the pioneers of this sport in Latvia and train the Latvian national team in wakesurfing. With us it is possible to use Skim boards as well as regular ones (thicker and more stable) so that the learning progress is faster, and we also use a professional boat - Air Nautique G20.

The Latvian open championship in boat wakeboarding and in wakesurfing will be held this year on August 21 at the usual venue - at our Wake-up Academy in Spuņciems.

This year, we will hold wakeboarding and wakesurfing competitions in one day, and we will find out the best wakeboarders and wakesurfers in Latvia. Another change in the championship this year is that the championship is open, that is, representatives of other countries can also participate in it.

Applications should be filed before August 20th, 20:00 through this link: https://forms.gle/LMEMcvNyAooMDbas8

Entry fee is 20 EUR for Junior categories and 30 EUR for Open and Master categories. Athletes with Latvian passport should hold a license which can be purchased together with entry fee. License fee is 10 EUR.

Entry fee and license fee should be transferred to:

Biedriba Veikborda klubs Wake Up
IBAN: LV67HABA0551048965575
Details: Participant Name, Last name, Country, Year of birth, discipline (boat wakeboard, wakesurf or both)

For further questions please contact Oskars (+371 29178872).

Wakeboard groups:
Junior Women, Junior Men, Open Women, Open Men, Over 30 Master Men

Wakesurf groups:
Open Women, Open Men

When?
21. August 2022, 10:00

Where?
Wake-up Academy, Spuņciems

See you at the championship!

Latvian wakeboarders were competing also in The World Wakeboard Championship 2022!

The World Wakeboard Championship took place in Rieti, Italy from 25th till 30th of July, where 148 best world wakeboarders were competing for the title, including 2 our Latvian athletes - Alise Krūze and Roberts Linavskis.

Roberts Linavskis in Over 30 Master Men category took the 7th place, however Alise Krūze in Open Women category took the 11th place.

Congratulations to our athletes!

The world champion in Open Men category is Nic Rapa from Australia and the world champion in Open Women Category is Eugenia De Armas from Argentina.

Livestream from the competition: YouTube

The results of The World Wakeboard Championship 2022: Results

The World Games took place in USA, Birmingham from 7th till 17th of July, which brought together 3600 athletes for 41 types of sport.

This year wakeboarder Roberts Linavskis managed to qualify for The World Games. Only 28 of the best wakeboarders were qualified to compete. Roberts Linavskis took the 14th place in Open Men category. We are congratulating Roberts and wishing him the best for upcoming competitions.

The winner of Open Men category was Nic Rapa from Australia, however the winner of Open Women category was Hinata Yoshihara from Japan.

The World Games results for Open Men and Open Women categories: Results
The World Games 2022 website: https://twg2022.com/

Oskars Kruze will go to the World Games, which will take place in the US city of Birmingham from July 7-17, as a judge, while wakeboarder Roberts Linavskis will go as an athlete.

We wish them to defend the name of Latvia and good luck in the World Games!

Around 3,600 world-class athletes from more than 100 countries will participate in the 2022 Games, competing in 41 sports for 223 sets of medals.

See more about the Sports Games here: https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Waterski-Wakeboard-37

Full list of judges and wakeboarders: https://iwwf.sport/theworldgames2022/

We are welcoming children and teenagers for wakeboarding lessons from June 1st till August 31st in Jurmala, Spunciems. Don't miss a great opportunity to spend a summer full of activities and positive vibes as well as learn new tricks with experienced instructors. Warm ups will be led by Alise Kruze, who participates in various European and World class competitions, but lessons on water will be led by Oskars Kruze, who was one of the founders that started wakeboard in Latvia and has achieved the highest qualification of a wakeboard judge.

Lessons take place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

More info and application through: +371 29178872 (Oskars)

See you soon at Wakeup Academy!

Good news for all wakesurfers!

Great rider and experienced coach Julia Shevchenko will be coaching at Wake Up academy from June 2-22.

Make your reservations or get more information +371 29178872 call/WhatsApp.
See you at Wake Up Academy!

On Saturday and Sunday, August 21-22, two competitions took place at Wake Up Academy, Spuņciems: "Latvian Wakeboard Championship behind the boat" and "Latvian Wakesurf Championship 2021". For two days, the best Latvian wakeboarders and wakesurfers demonstrated their skills.

The fiercest competition in wakeboard was in the Open Men and Master Men 30+ groups. An unexpected surprise was in the Open Men group, where Jānis Zalpēteris won, leaving Roberts Linavskis and Atis Bogomazovs behind. In the Master Men 30+ group, last year's Latvian champion Oskars Krūze managed to get the title of champion again, leaving behind Jānis Alberts and Ģirts Kilpe. In the group Open Women Alise Krūze was able to hold the title of champion for the fourth year in a row.

In wakesurf there was fierce competition in both the women's and men's groups. Roberts Linavskis won the Open Men group, leaving Buria Nikita and Buria Sergey from Ukraine behind. Agnija Vītola from Limbaži won the Open Women group, leaving Alise Krūze and Laura Apine behind.

🙏🏽Thank you all - contestants, fans, helpers, @boardsidelv for the prize pool, @ el.metal_official for beautiful trophies and @manzo_meat for delicious burgers. 🙏🏽Special THANK YOU - Atis Bogomazovs for leading the event! See you next year!