The combination of busyness and boredom leads to the best ideas. Such was the case with the Wakepro brand, where, according to the famous proverb, "necessity became the mother", or rather, the fathers of invention! Learn more about the history of the Wakeprobrand.
Piotr Nowak, the founder of Techramps, and his friend Michal Starzyk have been snowboarding enthusiasts for years. However, the season for this sport is very short - from December to early March, when the snow cover on the slopes is thickest and most stable. That's when Peter and Michael started looking for a summer alternative to their hobby. In 2008, they came across an acquaintance who occasionally had a go at wakeboarding with a 15-horsepower motor in the Brzegi suburbs of Krakow. It's worth mentioning that 16 years ago wakeboarding was not such a popular sport in Poland and was a breakthrough discovery in the field of extreme sports in the country.
Wakepro's guerrilla beginnings.
The wakeboarding season in Poland usually lasts from late spring to early autumn, which means that the best time to practice this water sport is from May to September. Compared to the duration of the snowboarding season in Poland, it has made this sport number one for them. However, wakeboarding infrastructure within a radius of several hundred kilometers from Krakow was practically non-existent, and the closest place to practice the sport was the Czech lake - Terlicko.
Due to limited budgets, they did not have enough resources to fully enjoy this newly discovered sport. Then guerrilla attempts to develop their new object of interest began. Among other things, they floated behind cars on flooded city streets. After a while, however, they decided to act more organized and build their own wakeboarding site.
The year 2010 proved to be crucial for the development of this initiative. They started organizing wakeboarding shows for kids at Krakow's Bagry Reservoir, together with the Polish Motorboat and Water Ski Association. To make it possible, they founded the Association of Extreme Sports "KARTEL" and obtained players' licenses.
Piotr Nowak, owner of Techramps, was invited to their wakepark, where he tried wakeboarding himself and liked the sport. This meeting inspired them to start their own brand producing professional wakeboard obstacles. In 2012 they started their first trials, buying an extruder and some boards. This is how the first Wakepo brand obstacle made of 100% HDPE was created. Interesting fact - this obstacle is still standing in WakePark Krakow and is doing great!
The first Wakepro obstacle, now located in Krakow.
Working from behind the scenes - 2014
The years 2013-2014 saw the first realizations for Polish wakeparks, and in 2015 Michal and Piotr began expanding into foreign markets, winning contracts in Europe, the United States and the Middle East.
With the support of parent company Techramps, they gained more and more clients, and their experience grew. The implementation of Solidworks software in 2015 enabled them to design obstacles more precisely and analyze their parameters. Techramps Group also played a key role, enabling them to specialize in teams and develop their Design Department.
Wakepro's position today as one of the world's leading wakeboard obstacle manufacturers is the result of a fruitful collaboration with Techramps and the company's constant drive to grow. Their innovative designs are now the hallmark of wakeparks in Europe, the United States and the Middle East. The history of the Wakepro brand, from its initial search for a summer alternative to snowboarding to its rise to international recognition, is incredibly fascinating and passionate.
Wakepro's realizations are located all over the world. Our obstacle in Al Forsan - Abu Dhabi.
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