JakePelot

Learn More About Jake

Jake Pelot’s story starts the way the best ones do — with time on the water, a crew of friends, and a spark that quickly turned into something more. From growing up on a lake in Orlando to building a career that’s taken him around the world, his path has been shaped by progression, community, and a genuine love for the sport. This is a look at how it all came together — and what’s kept him coming back to the water ever since.

Where It All Started

Ask Jake Pelot what he remembers about the first time he got on a wakeboard, and he'll tell you it didn't exactly go smoothly. He was ten years old, it was the end of October, kind of cold, and he struggled to get up — but that didn't last long. "Funny enough, I didn't really enjoy the first goes," he admits with a laugh. But when the following summer arrived, and a group of friends got into wakeboarding alongside him, something shifted — and then came the first flip. "That was really motivating and felt like it opened the door to so much opportunity," Jake says. It was the moment that separated a hobby from a calling, and for Jake, there was no going back.

Growing up on a lake in Orlando, Jake was surrounded by the sport from an early age. "I grew up living on the same lake as Shaun Murray," he says, "and seeing him and other riders like Keith Lyman and Gerry Nunn had a huge impact on me as a kid." When asked about his biggest influences in wakeboarding, Jake also points to Erik Ruck, Danny Harf, Parks Bonifay, Chad Sharpe, and Adam Errington as riders who shaped his view of the sport. Between the riders he grew up around and those who pushed him to see wakeboarding differently, Jake had no shortage of motivation.

A Career Built on the Water

The trajectory that followed speaks for itself: a Rookie of the Year title in 2017, Top 10 standings on both the WWA World Rankings and the Pro Wakeboard Tour, and a 1st Place finish at the 2021 PanAm Wakeboard Championships. Over the last decade, Jake has competed and traveled across the globe — racking up experiences that go well beyond podiums.

Ask him about a standout place or memory from all those years on the road, and his answer might surprise you. It's not a destination. It's the people. "No matter where you are in the world, there are tons of great, fun, awesome people — and watersports is a great catalyst for bringing us all together," he says.

Why Tigé

When asked what made him want to be part of Team Tigé, Jake points to years of firsthand experience on the water at photoshoots — and the things he kept finding that set them apart. The GO System was a big part of it, but so was the group of people behind the brand and the direction Tigé's mindset and innovations seemed to be headed. "That really got me excited," he says. "It's been nothing but incredible for the last 5 years."

These days, Jake rides behind the Tigé 22RZX — and he's not short on reasons why. The wake tops the list. "It's simple to set up and very versatile," he says. The GO System makes it easy to dial in, and the transom surf locker gets regular use. "I could go on, it's packed full of great features, but I'll leave it there."

As for his current favorite trick? An Osmosis 5 — a move that involves releasing the handle mid-spin and catching it again on the way around. "Not the most technical trick," Jake admits, "but something about letting go of the handle, spinning, and then catching it again is just fun every time."

And fun, it turns out, is the whole point.

The Advice He Lives By

When asked what he'd tell a younger rider just getting in the sport, Jake doesn't reach for a training tip or a competitive strategy. He goes back to something he was told when he first turned pro — advice that's stayed with him ever since.

"Keep finding the fun." He acknowledges how easy it is to get caught up in pressure, frustration, or plateaus — but says leaning into the joy of it is what makes the journey sustainable and rewarding. Then he pauses: "Maybe that applies to life outside of wakeboarding too."