Ballyhass Open Wakeboarding Competition 2024: A Weekend to Remember
The Ballyhass Open Wakeboarding Competition, held from August 23rd to 25th, 2024, marked the sixth edition of this highly anticipated event since its inception in 2018. As always, Ballyhass delivered a weekend packed with thrilling performances, camaraderie, and a celebration of the wakeboarding community.
A Grassroots Approach for the Next Generation
This year, the competition embraced a grassroots-style format, designed to nurture the next generation of cable riders in Ireland. The Rookies and Intermediates categories allowed participants to showcase as many tricks as possible over three laps of the park. Riders were permitted to fall and continue their run, offering an ideal environment for first-time competitors to gain experience and confidence. The open categories followed a more traditional format, where falls counted, but riders were given two runs, with the best run determining their score.
A Memorable Start Under the Lights
The weekend kicked off with a night-time jam session under the floodlights at Ballyhass Wakepark on Friday night. There’s something magical about riding in a quarry illuminated by lights, and this experience did not disappoint. The atmosphere was electric as riders queued well into the early hours of the morning, eager to take their turn on the water. For any watersports lovers who have not yeat expereinced this setup get yourself booked in before the seasons out!
Competition Day: Saturday's Showdown
Saturday saw the full competition unfold, beginning with morning warmups and a rider briefing before the 1 PM start time. With 50 riders registered and 48 ultimately participating, the day was filled with excitement, despite a few August storm showers. The crowd remained in high spirits, cheering on their favorites.
In the Open Men's category, Conor Sealy emerged as the clear winner, impressing everyone with his KGB mobes and 720 spins, along with world-class rail riding. Léan Duane, a long-time Ballyhass rider, continued her winning streak by claiming the Open Women's title with a flawless run. The Junior Open category was dominated by the Let's Go Hydro riders, with Rory O'Donnell and Alex McCulla showcasing enormous potential that left the Open Men's competitors relieved they weren’t in the junior division.
The Intermediate categories were hotly contested, giving Head Judge John O'Brien a tough time with the scorecards. Ultimately, Daniel Russotti took the top spot in the Men's Intermediate division, while Josie Singleton, a new cable driver on the Ballyhass crew, secured the Women's Intermediate title. The Rookies category revealed a wealth of new talent, with Darren Hickey, Niamh Cleary, and Quinn McGeady winning their respective divisions.
Celebrations and Camaraderie
Saturday night was capped off with a prize-giving ceremony and a lively BBQ at the Ballyhass Bunkhouse Village, where most competitors were staying. The 22 camping-style bunkhouses provided the perfect setting for riders to celebrate their achievements and unwind after a day of intense competition.
Sunday Funday: Team Events and Jams
To close out the weekend, Jess Harris, a wakepark hero, organized a fun team event on Sunday, allowing everyone to wind down and enjoy some light-hearted competition. The day also featured a jam session that ran from 10 AM to 5 PM, giving competitors ample time on the water to share tips, tricks, and forge new friendships.
A Heartfelt Thank You
The Ballyhass team would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this event possible. Special thanks to Sean and Jess for their tireless efforts in organizing everything, as well as the Ballyhass drivers and dock marshals for keeping the event running smoothly. A big shoutout to those members who ran the MC tent, DJ tent, and assisted Head Judge John O'Brien in making tough decisions. To all our participants, especially those who traveled from Dublin and Belfast, and our first-time competitors, we hope you had an unforgettable experience and are eager for more.
This marks the end of the 2024 competition season, but we're already looking forward to next year. Stay tuned for announcements about a multi-stop competition series and training camp weekends launching around Christmas.
Full List of Podium Finishers:
Junior Rookies:
1st: Quinn McGeady
2nd: Eva O’Reily
3rd: Marc Watson
Men’s Rookies:
1st: Darren Hickey
2nd: Barry Sherlock
3rd: Connor O’Farrell
Women’s Rookies:
1st: Niamh Cleary
2nd: Grace Cronin
3rd: Sophia Cogan
Women’s Intermediates:
1st: Josie Singleton
2nd: Anna Sheehan
3rd: Chloe Dunleavy
Men’s Intermediates:
1st: Daniel Russotti
2nd: James O’Donnell
3rd: Enda McKenna
Junior Open:
1st: Rory O’Donnell
2nd: Alex McCulla
Women’s Open:
1st: Léan Duane
2nd: Poppy Gribben
3rd: Lynsey Brown
Men’s Open:
1st: Conor Sealy
2nd: David Duane
3rd: Brett Webb
We look forward to seeing everyone back on the water in 2025!