Mountain Air Classic celebrates 25 years of wakeboarding competiton on Lake Burton

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Benj Trodgon gazes upward on his wakeboard during the 25th annual Mountain Air Classic on Lake Burton near Billy Goat Island. Trodgon, a 31-year-old who has been wakeboarding for 20 years, won the Outlaw Division which is the competition’s best of the best.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. In front of onlookers in boats, Sarah Rhino glides through the air during the Mountain Air Classic on Aug. 2 to claim the Women’s Division. Rhino of Atlanta said her “home lake” is Lake Burton.

Submitted photo. In the GROM Division, (from left) Hayes Andrews was second; Bode Rhino first; and Watson McElveen third at the classic on Lake Burton.

Submitted photo. In the Beginner Division, (from left) Carson Clark was second; Miller Stroble first; and Jake Clark third at the classic on Lake Burton.

Submitted photo. In the Women’s Division, (from left) Dallas Rhino was second; Sarah Rhino first; and Zoe Nichols third at the classic on Lake Burton.

Submitted photo. In the Outlaw Division, (from left) Matthew Niekamp was second; Benj Trodgon first; and Corey Bradley third at the Aug. 2 event.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The first wakeboarder of the day James Bradley receives accolades from people in the GROM Division of the Mountain Air Classic on Aug. 2.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Miller Stroble gets some air in the Beginner Division at the Mountain Air Classic on Aug. 2 on Lake Burton. Stroble took first place in the division as many watched from their boats.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. David Stroble, who finished third in the Advanced Division on Lake Burton at the Mountain Air Classic flies above the boaters on the lake.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Jake Cannon captured the Intermediate Division at the Aug. 2 Mountain Air Classic on Lake Burton. The classic celebrated 25 years on Saturday.