On Friday, May 5th, 2007 at 3:30pm, the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department notified us that the first SFWA event to be held at Lake Okeeheelee Park from 10:00am until 6:00pm is cancelled. Nothing like waiting until the last minute, huh? Apparently, our permit for the event (which has been in place for over two months) was issued in error by the County and was in conflict with a SkiClub event at the Park. The Park has five lakes, two of which are designated wakeboarding only. The SkiClub of Palm Beach County is having an event that will use the other three lakes and has successfully blocked our access from the other two lakes (which again, they are not even using). The SkiClub had the opportunity to allow us to use the lakes regardless of the misissued permits but choose not to. Everyone, this is exactly the reason that we have decided to form the South Florida Wakeboarding Association. Wakeboarding in South Florida has been run out by groups like this. This turn of events should be sickening to everyone who wakeboards and wakeskates. Our sport is under attack in South Florida and we have a long road to go to accomplish our goals, that message is crystal clear as I type this today. It is disheartening and extremely disappointing that this could be allowed to happen at a public lake.
The SFWA is currently pursuing our options in this matter but for now it appears we have been defeated.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to those of you who planned to attend the event. It will be rescheduled at a different location in the upcoming days. For more information please visit
www.sfwake.com.