11th Annual Gates & Wakes

The 2007 Gates & Wakes Fun Day & Pro Challenge was held May 4th & 5th in Lake Tahoe, California. 2007 marked a slight change in the event. The early closure of Alpine Meadows ski resort forced a change of venue for the "Gates" portion of the tournament. And due to the limited snow coverage, "Gates" was now a poker run at Squaw Valley.

Friday began at Sierra Springs lake with snow flurries. The air temperatures held around 40F, which made the 50F water seem almost bearable! A group of 15 water skiers braved the cold and took two rides each some were while it was actually snowing. A hot tub was on deck to keep participants warm. Thank you to Sierra Springs for your hospitality!

Saturday we moved to Squaw Valley for the conclusion of the poker run. We now had sunshine but high winds. The poker dealers staged around the resort are to be commended for standing out in the elements. Thank you!

The festivities commenced at Sunnyside Resort where the remainder of the Wakes portion of the event was to take place. Unfortunately Mother Nature yielded her forces again with high winds and surf on Lake Tahoe. It was so rough, they couldn't even launch the boats. So we settled inside for a beautiful lunch and began the silent auction and raffle. Despite the inclement weather conditions, everyone had a great time and hopefully eventually warmed back up! Proceeds from the event will benefit Disabled Sports USA. Thank you to all who participated and supported this great event. We're looking forward to next year!