By Carmen Rodgers
Elmore Autauga News
Photos by Kendra Naile, Asst. Manager at Kowaliga Marina
Lake Martin, a sparkling gem nestled in the heart of Alabama, has earned a prestigious nomination for USA TODAY’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best Lake for Water Sports.
Lake Martin spans just over 44,000 acres and borders Elmore, Coosa, and Tallapoosa Counties. Once boasting the title of the largest manmade lake in the world, Lake Martin offers plenty of wide-open spaces for all water sports.
“I think the reason that it’s a great place for water sports is that it’s a really big lake and you can always find an area that’s safe to tube, waterski, wakeboard, surf, and now we have foil boards,” said Doug Hamrick, Alabama Water Ski Hall of Fame Board of Directors.
Manmade lakes are often favored among the ski community because conditions can be better controlled, making for fewer variables.
One unique aspect of skiing, tubing, or surfing is that they’re rarely solo activities—they thrive on teamwork, shared experiences, and a little help from a boat.
“It’s about getting together with friends and having a good time,” Hamrick said.
When it comes to skiing, Hamrick favors the single-ski style.
“I compete in the slalom,” he said.
Slalom skiing is a water sport where the athlete rides a single ski, weaving expertly through a series of buoys set in a zigzag pattern while being pulled by a boat. This sport challenges the skier’s agility, precision, and timing, as they skillfully cut across the boat’s wake and make sharp, controlled turns at high speed.
Lake Martin is home to three slalom ski courses that are maintained and well-kept.
Many Hall of Famers have skied Lake Martin. The Alabama Water Ski Hall of Fame reception, dinner, and induction ceremony are held annually at Kowaliga Restaurant in Eclectic.
“When it comes to water skiing, there’s recreational skiing and competitive three-event skiing,” Hamrick explained. “Slalom, trick, and jump.”
Alongside water skiing, wakeboarding has steadily grown in popularity, attracting enthusiasts eager for new challenges on the water.
“It’s been popular for a long time on Lake Martin,” Hamrick said. “It’s something that has continued to grow.”
As with any sport, water sports are consistently evolving, and cutting-edge foil-boarders now rise above the waters on Lake Martin. These boards are lifted by hydrofoils that glide silently beneath the surface, creating the sensation of flying just above the water. This “new” water sport isn’t new to Lake Martin, and it’s gaining in popularity.
Alongside the foil boards are the eFoil boards. Riders glide above the water’s surface on electric-powered hydrofoil boards, adding a whole new level of freedom and innovation to the world of water sports.
“I saw one come into our slough the other day,” Hamrick said.
There are plenty of water sports perfect for those who prefer a slower-paced experience on the lake.
Paddleboarding offers a serene connection with the lake’s rhythm, as stand-up paddlers glide silently over glassy stretches.
Back in the sloughs and winding arms of the shoreline, kayakers and canoers can drift under tree branches along the lake’s shoreline, perfect for wildlife explorers and nature lovers.
We cannot forget swimming. Swimming doesn’t compete with the lake—it connects with it. There’s no need for fuel, equipment, or instruction—just a moment of peace. Whether it’s the solitude of a morning swim or the shared laughter of a group jumping from a dock, swimming captures the essence of Lake Martin’s magic: simple, timeless, and endlessly rejuvenating.
Clean water is at the heart of every great day on the lake—and it’s essential for safe and enjoyable water sports.
“Clean water, clean shoreline,” Hamrick said. “Russell Lands and Alabama Power are always working to preserve the shoreline. It’s a great place to live and visit.”
Lake Martin isn’t just a lake, it’s a living, liquid playground where every splash tells a story. From the adrenaline rush of wakeboarding, where riders launch into the air with flips and spins, to the timeless grace of water skiing, skimming across the sunlit surface, the lake offers something for all water sports enthusiasts.
“You can spend the weekend with friends and compete against each other, or it can be a lake day when everybody goes. You take turns skiing, or ski together. You pile all the skis, tubes, and wakeboards in the boat and go spend the day at the lake. There’s nothing more family-oriented than that. You create memories, and that’s what makes it special.”
For many water sports enthusiasts, the lake isn’t just a place – it’s a way of life.
“A bad day on the lake is better than a good day at work,” Hamrick said, summing up the sentiment shared by countless lake lovers.
To learn more and cast your vote for Lake Martin in USA TODAY’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best Lake for Water Sports, visit https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/lake-martin-alabama/
