Nautique WWA Wakeboarding World Championships set to return to Gold Coast in 2026 as local clinches 2024 crown

The Wakeboarding World Championships are set to return to the Gold Coast soon after a local hero clinched the 2024 crown. Discover the details of the event’s future here.

Gold Coast local Nic Rapa was crowned Nautique WWA Wakeboarding World Champion on the Gold Coast on Sunday. Picture: Kaleb Kennedy.

After a two-decade wait for the return of the Wakeboarding World Championships to Australian shores, it will only be a further two years until they are back again.

World Wake Association CEO, and one of its original founders, Shannon Starling was so impressed The Spit that the association has rushed to bring the championships back to the Gold Coast as soon as they can.

“We got really excited when we saw this facility, it’s the first time I’d seen this,” Starling said.

“The facility will be under construction next year but we’ll be back in 2026.”

Starling added that he was thrilled with how the Gold Coast had welcomed the wakeboarding community and embraced its championships.

“It’s been very cool to do. It’s like a dream come true for a lot of these guys … who doesn’t want to come here (to the Gold Coast)?

“We’ve had nothing but great crowds … it’s been pretty cool to see that, we don’t get that everywhere in the world but that’s the reason we’ll come back.”

Gold Coast local Nic Rapa was crowned world champion following the conclusion of this year’s championships in his hometown on Sunday.

Gold Coast local Nic Rapa in action at the Nautique WWA Wakeboarding World Championships on the Gold Coast on Sunday. Picture: Kaleb Kennedy.

It all came down to Rapa’s final run and he managed to score a 90, narrowly edging out second-place finisher Thomas Herman – who became the first person to land a wrapped double KGB in competition – and Burleigh Heads product Cory Teunissen.

“He’s so spotless on all of his doubles, he just knows how to land, he’s really clean,” Starling said of Rapa.

The win also earnt Rapa the title of world series champion for 2024.

In the women’s, American Meagan Ethell clinched an astounding eighth world title after scoring 83.33.

“I’m absolutely stoked. I’ve come out here in my hometown of the Gold Coast, been really happy with the turn out, so many people came to visit and a lot of my family and friends are here as well,” Rapa said.

“I’m very happy with my performance putting me on top.”

Rapa was the top seed, which meant he was last off the dock.

Gold Coast local Nick Rapa in action on the Gold Coast on Sunday. Picture: Kaleb Kennedy.

“I basically just went out and knew that I had to stick a run with not many bobbles and be pretty perfect. I managed to have a fall … but my run up until that fall was pretty good. I managed to stick the final trick off the double-up which was the final seal and I couldn’t be happier.

“I’ve had so many events where you think it’s going to go one way and it goes another so I don’t get my hopes up. I’m just there fingers crossed but I had faith for sure and knew that the level of my run was hopefully enough.”

That it was the first time the world championships had been held in Australia for 20 years made the win all the more special for Rapa.

“We’re used to typically being overseas at this time of the year, so many of my friends were able to come up from all over the country, it means the world to me and I can’t wait to have it here again in a couple of years.

“It’s the first time some of my friends have been able to watch me, and in a competition of this level, so I’m very happy to take the win. It’s really cool that we can be out here and ride so close to the shoreline.

“It’s really really cool to be here and see so many people it’s really good for our sport.”