KICKER Marine Audio (Stillwater, OK) is returning as the official sponsor of the Women’s Pro Division at WakeFest 2026, the 21st annual wakeboarding event set for July 17-18 at Center Hill Lake in Smithville, TN. The sponsorship underscores the brand’s continued commitment to the wake community while highlighting one of its own standout leaders.
Joining longtime host TNT Watersports and partners Pates Ford Marina and FishLipz, KICKER will be on site “livin’ loud” with cash prizes for the elite women’s division, product demonstrations, and high-energy engagement for competitors and spectators alike. The family-friendly event features pro and amateur wakeboarding competition, live music, shoreline parties at FishLipz, food, and plenty of activities for all ages. Additional sponsors include AXIS Wake, Malibu Boats, Hyperlite, Brian’s Motorsports, Checkers and Tootsies.
“WakeFest is a family-fun event designed to get our customers excited about wakeboarding,” said Luke Tantrum, owner of TNT Watersports. “We appreciate having great sponsors like KICKER aboard to help us promote the fun and excitement of the wake lifestyle. Top quality audio is a huge part of the towboat experience and WakeFest will be a perfect venue to showcase premium KICKER product.”
KICKER has again partnered with professional wakeboarder and brand ambassador Guenther Oka, who will showcase his personal AXIS T250 equipped with a custom KICKER M-Class Performance Wake System. The boat will serve as a primary tow vessel for the Women’s Pro Division while providing an on-water platform for athlete interaction, content creation, and product demos throughout the weekend. The system includes two pairs of KMTC 11” tower cans, KXML amplifiers, KMC5 head unit, two MWE 12” subwoofers, 8” coaxial and component speakers, and custom KICKER Marine Audio graphics.
“WakeFest is a staple of the wakeboarding community, and we’re proud to return to sponsor the Women’s Pro Division,” said KICKER National Brand Manager Jeremy Bale. “It’s a high-energy event showcasing extreme performance—the perfect environment for KICKER Marine Audio products. Having Guenther covering the event through his social channels and showcasing his boat on the water creates a unique opportunity to demo our gear in the wake environment while supporting one of the most respected events in the industry.”
KICKER Strengthens Marine Leadership with Industry Recognition
In a separate but timely honor, KICKER Performance Audio’s Southeast Regional Sales Manager Lori Boyer has been named to Boating Industry magazine’s 2026 “Women Making Waves” list. Now in its ninth year, the prestigious award recognizes outstanding female leaders across the North American boating industry. Boyer was profiled alongside the other winners in the June 2026 issue.
Boyer began her career at KICKER as a file clerk in 1988 and has advanced through eight progressive roles over 38 years. For the past 11 years she has served as Southeast Regional Sales Manager — the first woman to hold an aftermarket manager position in the company’s history — building strategic partnerships that help dealers and customers grow sales and profitability.
“We are very proud of Lori’s outstanding recognition among her peers and appreciate the countless contributions she has made in her 38 years at KICKER,” said KICKER CEO Steve Irby. “Lori has certainly been a trailblazer and a highly dedicated member of the KICKER team. Her dedication to product knowledge and expertise has made her a trusted and highly valued leader.”
Boyer expressed gratitude for the recognition: “I am so honored to be included among this group of outstanding women in the marine industry. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my career at KICKER and the continued opportunities for personal and professional growth. After 38 years, I’m still learning and growing and loving the business more every day.”
Since 1973, KICKER has built its reputation in mobile audio and expanded significantly into the marine segment over the past two decades. The company’s Real Marine products—including tower systems, coaxials, subwoofers, amplifiers, head units, and the premium M-Class line—are engineered for waterproof durability and tested extensively for salt, fog, UV, and water ingress resistance. Whether boaters seek refined “Sound of Luxury” listening or high-volume performance, KICKER offers solutions for wake boats, pontoons, fishing boats, cruisers and more.
For more information about WakeFest, visit www.wakefesttn.com.