About Us

Providing tools to build better wake parks—that’s our mission at The Wake Park Project. Our team installs cables all over the world, but our goal isn’t to simply build more cable parks. We want to raise the bar, creating new products such as Lake Control, to streamline your business; and building innovative new cable systems, like the System 2.0, to progress the sport. Together with Sesitec, we are working hard to bring you better products. And when you choose to build a wake park with The Wake Park Project, you get all the tools you’ll ever need to launch a premiere cable operation.

Turn Key Solutions

The Wake Park Project not only offers the best cable systems on the market by Sesitec, we also offer as little or as much help as you require to build a successful wake park. Some of our services include:

  • Cable systems and installation
  • Lake designs
  • Custom obstacle leasing
  • Custom obstacle packages
  • Full site plans
  • Building plans
  • Site preparation
  • Marketing plans
  • Consulting
  • Business plans
  • Site feasibility analysis
  • Revenue projections
  • Market specific demographics
  • Warranty facilitation
  • Spare parts
  • Maintenance programs
  • Sponsorship assistance
  • And much more…
The Wake Park Staff The Wake Park Staff
Pat Panakos

    Pat Panakos

    Founder of The Projects Wakeboard and Wakeskate Camp, Pat Panakos has more experience designing and building rails for wake parks than anyone in the world. His skills were first demonstrated during the first ever rail competition, “the Carnival,” in 1999—an event Pat created. Some of his masterpieces include rails and artificial pools for events like Wakestock Canada, Wakestock England, the Pro Wakeboarding Tour, the Red Bull Depth Charge, X-Games pool jam, Tige Pro Am, Surf Expo, the Arizona and Salt Lake City boat show pool jams, and more.

    As an active participant in the sport, Pat believes in not only building the best obstacles available, he rides them daily which helps inspire new designs. Pat was a Rail Rider of Year nominee in 2006, and he has helped several companies design and test boards including the Covenant, a new flex board from Ronix, and the first rail-specific board, the Roam, from Hyperlite.

    Our most recent project took Pat to the Camsur Watersports Complex (www.camsurwatersportscomplex.com) in the Philippines, where he designed a boat lake, a stand-alone rail park, and a complete rail layout for the cable lake. Pat has the experience to help you visualize every aspect of the perfect wake park.

Pat Panakos
Matt Hickman

    Matt Hickman

    Watersports has been the center of Matt Hickman’s life for the past 20 years. He was riding at a professional level by age 19, and earned national titles in 2000 (Mens I) and 2002 (Mens II) at the WWA Wakeboard National Championships. He was also a watersports instructor and managed the premiere watersports center at Walt Disney World before becoming the managing editor of WaterSki magazine in 2001. This was part of a natural progression that led him to become editor-in-chief for WakeBoarding magazine in 2002, where he served the industry for five years before transitioning to the west coast editor in 2007.

    He is currently the Vice President of the World Wakeboard Association, which is the world governing body of wake sports competitions both on the amateur and professional level, and in 2007, he worked with the WWA in a collaborative effort with four U.S. cable park owners to organize the first U.S. Wake Park Series (U.S. based cable event series).

    Matt is currently requested to be a judge or official at many events around the world including the Asian X Games, Japan’s J-Round, The WWA World Championships, Gravity Games H2O, Wakestock Canada, Boardstock, CWC Open, the Wakeboard World Series, the Pro Wakeboarding Tour, WWA Wake Park Series and the Wake Park World Championships. Based on his experience, Matt sees an opportunity for cable parks to flourish in the U.S. by offering participants of all ages and abilities full immersion in the lifestyle with safe access to multiple activities. His knowledge base and intimate connection to the watersports industry on a global level can help you in every facet of wake park implementation.

Matt Hickman
Christian von Lerchenfeld

    Our Partner, Sesitec Cable Systems

    Christian von Lerchenfeld

    A true watersports enthusiast, Sesitec owner Christian von Lerchenfeld began riding cable back in 1972 at one of the world’s oldest parks, Blaichach Allgaeu, in his native Germany. He has been part of the industry ever since, installing cables all over the globe.

    Christian founded Sesitec in 1992 because he saw a better way to build and install cable systems. Since then he’s installed 26 cable systems with countless innovations. He focuses on a complete project, ensuring that every cable he installs reaches its full potential. Sesitec is also the only cable manufacturer who personally owns and operates three parks. And his sons Nico and Janik frequently ride in events around the world. As a worldwide wakeboarding advocate, Christian is involved at every level of the sport both on and off the water.

    Christian’s mission has been to provide the best products for cable parks, and his focus is now on the US. He’s the only cable manufacturer that attends Surf Expo (wake sports show) and the WSIA (Water Sports Industry Association) Summit each year. Together with The Wake Park Project, Christian is looking forward to providing you with the knowledge and service you expect from a worldwide leader in cable watersports.

Christian von Lerchenfeld
Patrick Viererbe

    Patrick Viererbe

    As an operational expert, and a Liquid Force pro rider in Germany, Patrick Viererbe is a huge asset to our team. He has traveled all over the world assisting Sesitec during installations. Patrick inspires innovation and was part of our on-water test team for Sesitec’s System 2.0. He knows every detail about running a smooth cable operation, and he knows what riders expect from a world-class wake park.

Patrick Viererbe