Wake in the Snake brings high-flying wakeboarders to Burley
BURLEY - Carol Warr called the Wake in the Snake a big family reunion.
Riders rip the Burley shores at the 2026 Wake in the Snake
Ryker Burtenshaw pulls off a trick on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at River's Edge Golf Course in Burley during the Wake in the Snake.
In some cases, that involves the direct family. There were plenty of Calvins and Burtenshaws competing among the 10 divisions on offer at the 2026 edition of the Wake in the Snake.
Warr alluded more to the friendships that have blossomed and continue to grow with the Wake in the Snake.
On Saturday, the event held its 28th edition. Idaho Water Sports, the organization that puts together the Wake in the Snake, welcomed 55 riders from across the northwest.
Riders traveled into the Magic Valley from across Idaho as well as from Nevada, Utah, Colorado and other states.
The Wake in the Snake's consistency has allowed people to grow up through its divisions.
Those rank as low as the grom divisions, with separate boys and girls grom divisions housing competitors aged 11 and under.
There was also a division for those aged 40 and over, a particularly notable achievement given the hard-hitting effects of water when boats travel between 20 and 22 mph along the Snake River.
"People come here and make friendships," Warr said during Saturday's event near River's Edge Golf Course in Burley.
Riders rip the Burley shores at the 2026 Wake in the Snake
Brody Trail reaches for a tail grab on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at River's Edge Golf Course in the men's junior division at the Wake in the Snake.
Those friendships blossom into families, with one contestant meeting his eventual wife at the Wake in the Snake about 10 years ago.
The grassroots nature of the Wake in the Snake keeps things friendly both on and off the water. Emcees had trivia regarding wakeboarding, with the first correct response garnering a souvenir. A slip-and-slide allowed attendees, both young and old, to have a laugh. The floating docks on the shoreline provided an entryway for people looking to cool off on a sweltering day along the Snake River.
Riders rip the Burley shores at the 2026 Wake in the Snake
Kids enjoy a day on the docks on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at River's Edge Golf Course in Burley. They were attending the 2026 Wake in the Snake, a wakeboarding competition on the Snake River.
The belly-flop competition was a painful spectacle in the foreground while wakeboarders pulled off their best tricks and flips.
Riders rip the Burley shores at the 2026 Wake in the Snake
Birklee Burtenshaw catches air on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at River's Edge Golf Course during the 2026 Wake in the Snake.
Wakeboarding remains the driving force for the event. Pulled behind a Malibu Wakesetter, each competitor had a trip up and down the course. The top division, the open men's riders, would generally be able to throw five tricks on each trip, giving them 10 attempts.
Riders were allowed to fall twice on their lone attempt. If they fell late in their return trip, the towing boat would continue to pick up the next rider, while a rescue boat would pick up the downed rider and return them to the main event area.
Three judges remained on the towing boat, scoring each rider's tricks. Here are the top three finishers in each of the 10 divisions from Saturday's competition.
DIVISION
RANK
HOMETOWN
VETERANS
1.
Kenneth Russell
2.
Hank Toone
3.
Adam Hegstrom
*
Ogden, Utah
*
Idaho Falls
*
Boise
GIRLS GROM
1.
Hadlee Burtenshaw
2.
Oakley Jellum
*
Terreton
*
Syracuse, Utah
BOYS GROM
1.
Hadley Sabin
2.
Blake Bryson
3.
Toby Toone
*
Rock Springs, Wyoming
*
Boise
*
Idaho Falls
BOYS (AGES 12-15)
1.
Zach Cooper
2.
Max Bryson
3.
Beckett Trail
*
Caldwell
*
Boise
*
Denver
JUNIOR WOMEN
1.
Birklee Burtenshaw
2.
Madi Burtenshaw
*
Terreton
*
Terreton
JUNIOR MEN (AGES 16-20)
1.
Brody Trail
2.
Jonathan Bryson
3.
Ryker Burtenshaw
*
Denver
*
Boise
*
Terreton
MEN'S 1
1.
Briggs Ruff
2.
Aiden Moore
3.
Luca Delis
*
Pleasant Grove, Utah
*
Boise
*
Heyburn
MEN'S 2
1.
Mitch Sutherland
2.
Blake Skidmore
3.
Mitch Johnson
*
Ogden, Utah
*
Terreton
*
Clearfield, Utah
OPEN WOMEN
1.
Rebekah Calvin
2.
Kylee Shaw
3.
Hadley Sabin
*
Roy, Utah
*
Twin Falls
*
Rock Springs, Wyoming
OPEN MEN
1.
Chase Shaw
2.
Crew Christensen
3.
Aaron Calvin
*
Twin Falls
*
St. Geogre, Utah
*
Roy, Utah
Riders rip the Burley shores at the 2026 Wake in the Snake | Photos
The 2026 Wake in the Snake had 55 wakeboarders compete across eight divisions on Saturday, July 11, 2026, on the Snake River near River's Edge Golf Course in Burley. Riders, both male and female, ranged in ages from younger than 11 to older than 40.
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