And they did — Beaver, 14, taking first in the Women’s Amateur Surf and Juniors Open divisions and Walker, 50, taking a second-place title in the Masters division.

It was the first time each entered a competition in the increasingly popular sport of wakesurfing, where the surfer rides a wave created by a boat.

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Beaver, at left, on the podium at Lake Anna.

Both Beaver and Walker learned the sport at WakeSurf NC, which is run by Jay Baker at Lake Gaston.

After learning to enjoy the sport for fun, Beaver began reaching for the next level. “I wanted to push it further. I wanted to join it (the competition) to see where I stood,” the Roanoke Rapids High School student said today.

Beaver had early and late starts in both competitions. The later start let her know she needed to nail the ride. “I needed to do the routine and do it right.”

The early start was a little more pressure-filled, she said. The good thing about it, however, was, “There are things I do well under pressure. I just wanted to see where I stood.”

With first place finishes in each event, Beaver said, “It feels really great. I like being a winner.”

With this competition behind her, Beaver wants to do another and learn more technical maneuvers. “I definitely want to see how far I can go.”

Walker, at left, on the Lake Anna podium.

Walker

Walker got into the sport through his 35-year friendship with Baker, a friendship that always involved watersports.

Watersports, however, faded out and it wasn’t until two summers ago that he began to learn wakesurfing. “When I came out everyone was wakesurfing.”

He became hooked and began a physical and nutritional regimen that helped him drop 50 to 60 pounds solely for wakesurfing. “It’s not really hard on you. It’s a little easier than wakeboarding.”

While Walker ended up in second place, he was still proud. “The guy I lost to was really good.”

Walker, like Beaver, wants to do another competition. “Every day I go and try to learn a higher level.”