As part of the Wake Awards on Friday, September 10th, the WSIA will honor the water sports industry's best retailers and manufacturers.

Voice your opinion now and vote for your favorite companies!

The WSIA’s Annual Summit in the Snow event 2010 was a HUGE success! Located in beautiful Park City, Utah again this year, the event went off without a hitch.  Snow conditions were perfect, Summit speakers were dynamic, and the event was very well attended with over 90 participants.  The buzz was that the speaker line up was the best ever. Click here to read more...

Chad Sharpe has a close call and learns a valuable lesson about wearing a lifejacket. He writes:

"The next thing I realize is I am 180 degrees upside down in the water looking up at my board and light at the top of the water. Not such a bad thing, just swim up and wait for the boat to get back, Right?

Thats what I thought untill I try to swim up and my whole body is not working at all, its just fuzzy and tingling but not moving. Panic time. So I still had a whole breath..."

Click here to continue reading the whole story on Chad's blog

Quagga and Zebra mussels are invasive species known to clog drainage pipes and underwater structures, wreak havoc on boats stored in contaminated waters, and over-filter the water, leaving no food for other species to survive.

To prevent the further spread of these non-native species, many state departments are stopping boaters at state lines and requiring that boats be decontaminated (at the owner's expense, and taking several hours) before continuing on.

Read more about how this affects recreational boating at BoatingWorld.com

2009 WSIA Leadership Awards
For outstanding efforts in advertising, promotions, and branding

Surf Expo, August 20-22, 2009, Orlando, Florida.

[ Manufacturer Categories, voted by Dealers ]

Best Ad Campaign of the Year
For best promotional campaigns using innovative and creative marketing
MASTERCRAFT

Buzz Brand of the Year
For excellence in exhibiting industry enthusiasm for product development, branding, and stimulating conversation within the industry
NAUTIQUES

Manufacturer of the Year
For the manufacturer who continues to reinvent themselves with new product design, graphics, and technology
RONIX

Most Innovative Product
The product introduced in the last 12 months with the greatest level of innovation, creativity, technology and forward-thinking in the industry.
RONIX ONE BINDINGS

[ Dealer Categories, voted by Manufacturers ]

Best Promotion of the Year
For best dealer who establishes favorable publicity and/or sales through unique advertising, consumer events, contests, competitions, drawings, or raffles
MP PRODUCTS

Breakout Retailer of the Year
For outstanding dealer who has gained an exceptional awareness of market influences, resulting in a significant increase in sales
ACTIVE WATER SPORTS

Retailer of the Year
For outstanding dealer who demonstrates product knowledge, creative displays,consumer enthusiasm, and promotional ingenuity
PERFORMANCE SKI AND SURF

Winner recap:

June 2009

CHUBB CUSTOM MARKET, INC. is currently writing their first parasail insurance coverages for WSIA members. Chubb is offering a great insurance package for WSIA members that is customized for the parasail market. It is now even more economical and cost efficient to join the WSIA.

WSIA continues to strive to provide its members with more benefits for dealers, operators, and manufacturers and we welcome the addition of the parasail market to our association!

Click here to read more about Parasailing joining the WSIA

States Look to Prevent Spread
of Invasive Species

From www.boating-industry.com:
A sighting of a vessel tainted with invasive mussels in Utah last week led to a race to find the boat before it could contaminate waters in surrounding states, regional broadcaster NorthWest Cable News reports.

The concern stems from the ability of the non-native species to overwhelm unprepared ecosystems, threatening native fish and wildlife. In addition, damage to the water-intake systems of power plants and water treatment facilities as well as boat engines results in millions in damage each year.

Click here to read the full article at www.boating-industry.com

Parasailing Joins the WSIA

Water Sports Industry Association announces the inclusion of a parasail operator and manufacturer membership in the WSIA. A committee of various operators and manufacturers from both the East and West coasts has come together to formulate best practices and safe operating procedures.

Click here to read the full press release

2008 Overview of Industry Survey

The survey numbers are now in! The WSIA is again pleased to report that even though we did not receive the response we had anticipated this year, the water sports industry continues to show a solid growth.

Click here to read more about the results in the Member Info area.

Public Service Announcement:
Always Wear
Your Lifejacket

WSIA and FUEL TV team up to produce a commercial promoting life jacket wear with the help of Alliance Wakeboard Magazine, WakeBoarding Magazine and FUEL TV.

PASSED:
The Clean Boating Act of 2008

The Clean Boating Act of 2008 (S.2766) was PASSED by both the House of Representatives and the US Senate and on 7-22-08 it was signed by President Bush. This legislation will permanently restore a long standing exemption for recreational boats from permitting requirements under The Clean Water Act.

WSIA Earns Advisory Role on Boating Safety Council

September 8, 2006
In a historic move to expand the representation of its members, the Water Sports Industry Association announces that it has earned a seat on the National Boating Safety Advisory Council.

WSIA 2009 Leadership Awards
Click to read more about the winners