Wakeboarding camps have been around for as long as the sport
first entered the water. Like the appeal of its
skateboarding and snowboarding brethrens, these schools are
the daydreams for a whole clique of kids bound by the
restraints of a boring and stuffy English class in mid-June.
Calgary-based Evolution Boardriding School, is riding
outside the traditional philosophy when it comes to
delivering an authentic camp experience.
“Our camp is a really cool mix of ‘roughing-it’ and ‘modern
conveniences’ rolled into one,” says Jeremy Matthews, head
honcho at Evolution.
Matthews, former coach of the Canadian National Wakeboard
Team, alongside his brother Jason, a former national level
water skier, share the same approach towards the school.
“We want to help riders progress in a fun and safe
atmosphere, while experiencing all that wakeboarding has to
offer.”
The duo, with the support of an experienced staff of
wake-shredders, holds the majority of camps at an actual
cabin on majestic Mara Lake. Located on the southern tip of
the famous Shuswap, Mara is a picturesque wakeboarding
oasis.
“Our land is right at the entrance to Turtle Bay – the
smoothest spot on the lake – and has been in our family for
20 years now,” says Matthews.
The cabin can only be accessed by boat and campers live in
tents, creating a sense of truly being in the wild. Matthews
notes that for those less adventurous, the comforts of
lakeside hotels are minutes from the local gas dock and pick
up can be arranged every morning with no worries.
Matthews is stoked to announce that the newest addition to
the Evolution team is a badass MasterCraft X-2. He says the
wake-blasting workhorse should be arriving in May and will
be used to tow all the camps for the 2005 season.
Evolution uses O’Brien wakeboards at their school and has a
tasty selection of 2005 boards for campers to demo and get
busy on.
“If riders don’t have their own gear, we will provide all
the equipment they need to get going,” says Matthews, adding
that it is usually easier to progress on a board you are
comfortable with.
Off the water, the camping crew keeps things fun with a
bagful of different activities. The riders have access to a
paddleboat, canoe, snorkeling and fishing gear, and other
water toys.
“We usually make a trip into town one night to the go-cart
track for a little race action on the fastest, most ghetto
carts on the planet,” says Matthews, claiming the people at
the track look forward to them coming each week and even
stay open late to accommodate them.
Contact:
Evolution Boardriding School
16 Lake Bevan Drive
Brooks, Alberta
T1R 0L3
