Alexandria native Cade Lybeck wins world title at 2024 Centurion World Wake Surfing Championships

FORT WORTH, Texas – Cade Lybeck set out to become a world champion at the 2024 Centurion World Wake Surfing Championships in Marine Creek Lake in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Alexandria native came into the 2024 world championships with world championship experience. Lybeck placed fifth in the Amateur Male Skim division at the

2022 world championships

in North Carolina and second at the

2023 world championships

in Utah.

Nights before the 2024 world championships began on Oct. 9, Lybeck had dreams of being atop the podium and becoming a world champion. And on Oct. 12, Lybeck accomplished his mission, as he won the 2024 Centurion Semi-Pro Male Skim world title.

“It was a surreal experience,” Lybeck said. “I think it feels good to be on the podium at any competition, but being on top, especially at the world championships, is something that I’m proud of. Being a world champion at anything is pretty impressive, and it’s a title that I never really thought I would have when I was younger. It feels good knowing that I worked for it, and spent a couple of years trying to get to this point and getting to the pro division. It feels really good to be a world champion.”

Lybeck began wake surfing around the age of six and competing at the age of 15.

Wake surfing requires the rider to trail behind a boat while riding the boat’s wake. Riders aren’t directly pulled with a rope behind the boat.

At the 2024 world championships, Lybeck faced four other competitors. All five competitors had two runs. Each run lasted one minute, and each rider was judged based on the run’s DRIVE (degree of difficulty, risk, intensity, variety, and execution).

After each run, riders earned placement points (70 points for fifth, 75 points for fourth, 80 points for third, 90 points for second, and 100 points for first).

Lybeck shined in both runs, finishing first after both runs.

“My first run was pretty good; I had a stand-up first pass, which usually doesn’t happen to a lot of people,” Lybeck said. “My second pass was alright. My second run was worse than my first, but somehow, I was still able to pull it off. I went out there, and I did what I could. So that’s what I’m happy about.

Lybeck finished with 200 points, beating out runner-up Phoenix Stalbird by 20 points.

Lybeck described the Texas weather from Oct. 9-12, 2024, as hot and humid.

“It was almost 96 degrees every day, and it was pretty windy,” Lybeck said. “Luckily, the lake we were on had a lot of wind protection. When the wind would blow from the parking lot, it caused a dust storm. Everyone around there. So, oftentimes went home with dusty hair and dusty clothes.”

The competitors in the world championships come from across the world.

“There were people there from all over the world, from many parts of the United States to Japan and Europe,” Lybeck said.

The 2024 Centurion world championships turned out to be a family event for Lybeck.

“So it was originally just gonna be me and my dad going up until a week before, and then I learned that my mom had gotten tickets for her, my sister, and my step-father,” Lybeck said. “My grandma and step-mom also got tickets, so it turned out to be a family event, which I’m very grateful for. I thought it was really cool that they could be there to see that happen.”

Lybeck is also thankful for his sponsors.

“I’d like to give a special thanks to my sponsors: Faction Marine, Centurion Boats, Phase 5 Wakesurfers, Yung Wake Collective, Jason Lybeck, and Faction board shop (Faction Forever),” Lybeck said.

Lybeck is currently a senior at Alexandria High School. He’s taking dual credit classes at the high school and Alexandria Technical and Community College.

His father, Jason, is the owner of Faction Marine in Alexandria. Cade said he’s going to use what he’s learning from his studies and apply it to his dad’s business, where he (Cade) currently works.

“We’re going to try and grow Faction Marine to be bigger and better than it has been before,” Cade said.

As for wake surfing, Cade is now turning pro and will compete professionally next year. His goal is to make it to the world championships as a pro next year.