Belgium’s Lakeside Paradise welcomes Europe’s best athletes 

96 riders. 19 obstacles. One iconic Belgian wake park.
This season, Lakeside Paradise is proud to welcome the Open European Championships to Knokke, Belgium, bringing together 96 riders for a major celebration of wakeboarding — and marking a very special milestone in the history of the park.

This event is more than just another competition. It is part of a year-long celebration as Lakeside Paradise turns 15.

15 Years of Lakeside Paradise

Fifteen years ago, Lakeside Paradise became the first cable wake park in Belgium — and in Flanders. Since then, the park has grown into a true reference point for wakeboarding and board sports in Belgium, welcoming riders from all over Europe and helping build a strong local community around the sport.

For founder Frank Vanleenhove, celebrating this 15th anniversary was the perfect opportunity to bring a major international competition to the lake.

And what better way to celebrate 15 years than by welcoming some of Europe’s best riders to the place where so much of Belgian wakeboarding history has been written?

A Pioneer Spirit

The story of Lakeside Paradise is closely connected to the history of board sports in Belgium.

Long before cable parks became a familiar sight, they were already involved in the country’s wakeboard scene. Years ago, they organised some of the very first Belgian boat-towed wakeboard championships.

And the story goes back even further. Before wakeboarding had fully established itself in Belgium, the North Sea was already a playground for experimentation. Frank and his crew were among the first to ride behind a boat in the North Sea using a “skurf”, an early ancestor of the modern wakeboard.

That pioneering spirit has remained part of Lakeside Paradise ever since.

19 UNIT Obstacles, Built for Competition

For the Open European Championships, Lakeside Paradise has transformed the park to create a challenging and spectacular competition setup. A total of 19 UNIT obstacles have been installed specifically for the event, giving riders a diverse playground to showcase their creativity, technical skills and style.

With 96 participants taking part, the competition promises plenty of action both on and off the water.

Bringing the Wakeboard Community Together

Hosting an event of this scale would not be possible without the support of a strong network of partners.

Lakeside Paradise would like to give a huge thank you to Tigerbalm, O’Neill, Smart Van Mossel, Red Bull, Sportoase, Waterski – Wakeboard Vlaanderen, Verdographics and Sport Vlaanderen for supporting the Open European Championships and helping make this event possible.

Their support contributes to the development of wakeboarding and helps us create an event that brings riders and the wider community together.

The Perfect Way to Close the Season

Now, as Lakeside Paradise celebrates its 15th anniversary, there is one more chapter to write.

The Open European Championships are here — and we’re ready to close the season in style.

Welcome to Lakeside Paradise, Belgium.

Follow all live results on EMS : https://ems.iwwf.sport/Competitions/Details?Id=65314d15-25cc-4406-9a6b-479e528eb22c