Starting as a toddler on Lake Anna, Gordie Graham has spent most of his life on the water. Earlier this month, he was crowned national champion in the Men’s 19–29 division at the 2025 Nautique WWA Wakeboard National Championships presented by GM Marine. The competition took place the first week of August in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Graham has been involved in watersports nearly his entire life. He began waterskiing at age three and was on a wakeboard by five, influenced by his father, Scott Graham. He spent weekends at Lake Anna while growing up in Richmond and trained with pro wakeboarder Adam Fields.

“Lake Anna is where it all started for me,” Graham said. “I’ve been around the sport my whole life.”

The championship conditions in Colorado were challenging, with heavy wind and rough water. Graham fell on his first trick but recovered, landing every attempt until his final one. He also successfully landed a back blind for the first time in competition.

“It was some of the roughest water I’ve ever competed in,” he said. “But everything came together, and I was really happy with how it went.”

The win now qualifies Graham for the WWA World Championships, scheduled for September 10–14 in Florida, where he will compete against riders from around the globe.

In addition to competing, Graham has taught wakeboarding for more than a decade. He often helps boat owners and their families learn new skills and has also served with WakeWell, a Christian watersports ministry, where he has volunteered at events and supported other riders.

“Wakeboarding has always been more than competing for me,” Graham said. “It’s about sharing the sport, teaching others, and building community on the water.”

Graham is part of a line of athletes who sharpened their skills at Lake Anna before reaching national and international recognition. Cody Hesse of Orange, VA, another standout who trained at the lake, went on to become a professional wakeboarder with a signature Hyperlite board, the Codyak. Hesse has earned multiple “Best Trick” awards, including the 2018 Wakeboarding Magazine “Trick of the Year” for landing the first-ever Mute Triple Half Cab Flip.

Together, Graham and Hesse highlight Lake Anna’s reputaion as a training ground for world-class talent.

Jen Bailey

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