Managing partner, Earl Ball, has been wakeboarding since college
Have you ever wanted to wakeboard, but you don’t have a boat or the other equipment you need? Quest ATX has you covered.
How It Started
A wakeboarder since college, Earl Ball worked at and managed businesses in the wakeboarding industry for 10 years until last September, when he opened Quest ATX with partners Bill Vaubel and Jerry Taylor.
After choosing their location at 10815 FM 1625, the trio got busy setting up Austin’s first and only cable powered wakeboarding park. Cable power means no boats and shorter wait times for customers.
When I asked Earl why the Quest ATX team chose to go with cables, he replied, “With a boat, you…have fewer people on the water. With cables, we can have up to six people on the water at once.”
During my visit to Quest ATX, Earl showed me the two different sections of the park. The main line has a cable track that circles the oval shaped pond with obstacles spread throughout the course. The second section of the park has a single cable line, a swimming area, and other water related activities.
The Quest ATX Park
Though the obstacles are located on the main course, wakeboarders can avoid them if they want. Eli, one of the crew members, told me the obstacles are a bit out of the way of the wakeboarder’s path. If a rider wants to try to take on a ramp or rail, they must steer towards it. While there, I saw a kid try to take on a fairly long rail…he almost made it.
Quest ATX is a family friendly park with week long kids camps
If you’re worried about the cost, don’t be. Much like Hot Lava Obstacle Course and BAM Academy, Quest ATX has a tiered pricing plan. Park goers can purchase anything from two hours to an entire season pass at the park. Daily passes include life jackets, beginner boards, kneeboards and skis.
A young girl hangs on tight
If you wish to tackle the obstacles, a higher end board needs to be rented separately. The difference between these boards and the beginner boards is that the beginner boards have straps like sandals. The advanced boards have boots like a snowboard.
By the way, if you are rocking your own gear, you’re more than welcome to bring it with you. In case you need anything extra, Quest ATX has a nice pro shop featuring a variety of boards, helmets and assorted wakeboard gear.
Fitting into Austin
Earl and the crew at Quest ATX are excited to be a part of the Austin community. “I feel that we’re a good fit culturally. In fact, we’ve commissioned local artists to create our park entrance and logo. Josh Row, owner of No Comply Skateshop, did the design for one our wakeboards we have for sale.”
This board was custom painted by Josh Row, co-owner of No Comply Skateshop
Extending the community vibe, Quest ATX will be hosting periodic Saturday events featuring live music, food trailers and beer on tap, tentatively called Summer Sounds. Currently, two of these events are planned for July and August 2014, along with a big bash planned for September.
I predict that Quest ATX is going to be the go-to place for Austinites in the very near future. Between the wakeboarding opportunities and the overall laidback vibe of the park, it’s a fun place to hang out.
Quest ATX is open seven days a week. All pricing, including the kids camps and Summer Sounds events, can be found on the Quest ATX website. I can definitely see myself tearing around the park and working on my epic tan there.
@The_DT_Show asks:
Would you try cable powered wakeboarding?
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