Chad Carlson hits the wake

Twenty-three-year-old professional wakesurfer Chad Carlson of Scottsdale made waves at the Competitive Wake Surf Association World Championship earlier this month.

Previously held in Switzerland and South Korea, the 2025 event was held at Scorpion Bay at Lake Pleasant, the first-ever CWSA championship hosted in Arizona.

Carlson joined more than 90 athletes from 12 countries, including Japan, Russia, Canada, Germany, South Korea, Cyprus and elsewhere. And while the weeklong competition was shortened due to inclement weather, the intensity remained high.

What is wakesurfing?

Wakesurfing is a popular water sport where a rider rides the wake created by a moving boat, similar to surfing.

The goal is to ride the continuously forming wave in the boat’s wake and pe

See Full Page