POLK CITY, Fla. — Texas Ski Ranch in New Braunfels, Texas, will host three major USA Water Ski wakeboarding championships in 2003: the Cable Wakeboard National Championships, July 19-20; the Malibu USA Wakeboard Championships, Aug. 16-17; and the Collegiate Wakeboard National Championships, Sept. 27-28. The American Wakeboard Association, a sport division of USA Water Ski, will sanction the events.

"Texas Ski Ranch, with its central location and emphasis on extreme sports, is a perfect fit for USA Water Ski's championship wakeboarding events," said Steve McDermeit, USA Water Ski's executive director. "It is my hope that our partnership will continue to benefit the organizations, the city of New Braunfels and, most importantly, the sport, well into the future."

In its third year, the Cable Wakeboard National Championships will feature competition in cable wakeboarding and cable wakeskating. In these events, a cableway tows riders from circulating cable suspended above the water. Already well established in Europe, Asia and Australia, competition wakeboarding on the cable is gaining popularity in the United States, evidenced by the launch of the USA Cable Wakeboard Tour in 2002. Texas Ski Ranch is one of five cable water ski systems in the United States.

The fourth annual Malibu USA Wakeboard Championships will provide wakeboard athletes from around the nation an opportunity to take their skills to the next level and be crowned national champions. The event will feature wakeboarding competition in 17 age and gender divisions.

In its third year, the Collegiate Wakeboard National Championships will feature the United States' top collegiate riders and wakeboard teams, as they compete head-to-head for national titles. Wakeboard teams may comprise up to 10 members from a university team, college club or technical school team. National titles will be awarded in five categories.

Texas Ski Ranch is a 72-acre extreme sports complex centered around its cable and boat lake. It was created to give people a place to participate in a variety of extreme sports from wakeboarding to skateboarding. Texas Ski Ranch plans on adding motocross and rock climbing by 2004 to make it the only facility of its kind in the world.

"We are excited to be able to host three of the tournaments in USA Water Ski's national competition series," said Blake Hess, Texas Ski Ranch Cable & Skate Manager. "I think by hosting the events at a facility like Texas Ski Ranch, we can propel these tournaments to unprecedented levels and help to expand the sport of wakeboarding." For more information on the Texas Ski Ranch, visit www.texasskiranch.com.