Hundreds of spectators, some on shore and many on the water, swarmed to Old Hickory Lake at Mt. Juliet's Lone Branch Recreation Area over the weekend of July 10-11 to cheer on competitors in the 13th Annual Board Bonanza wakeboarding competition.

Sponsored by Aqua Sport Marine, Mastercraft, Jetpilot, Lee Tudor and the Ledford Family, the annual competition has been held at Lone Branch for the past 11 years. Focused on style and big air, Board Bonanza attracts wakeboarders from across the United States, including some from as far away as California.

Lebanon resident Tol Swindell was among the local competitors who took part in this year's event. Swindell has won several regional wakeboarding contests and, last year, he participated in the national championships in Oklahoma City and earned an invitation to the world championships in Orlando.

Although he's often competed against some of the most accomplished athletes in the adrenaline-heavy sport, Swindell said he faced "extremely" steep competition at Board Bonanza 2010.

"I was the only amateur participating this year, so I stepped up to the Outlaw Division," he said, noting the Outlaw Division is typically filled with professional wakeboarders. " ... I've got about 10 or 12 years on some of the guys who compete at that level. They're some really big-time riders."

But, as the sun set on this year's contest, Swindell found himself in third place after landing the majority of his tricks.

"I was pretty pumped about that. I rode really well. I told my wife it was the most excited I'd ever been about winning third place," he laughed.

And while he has taken home numerous trophies and awards for his skill on the water as a competitive wakeboarder, Swindell - father to two young sons - said his focus has begun to shift to teaching the next generation of "boarders."

"Both of my sons can ride, and I've taught a ton of other kids," he said. "They've started finishing on the podium in all of their competitions. They'll probably end up beating me pretty soon ... and that's an accomplishment that I really like, that I'm really proud of."

Participants in Board Bonanza are judged on three primary elements: the difficulty of tricks performed, how much "big air" they can catch and style. The crowd in attendance at the weekend competition were regularly wowed by competitors' tricks, as were the judges. Throughout the two-day event, cheers and celebratory music could be heard across Lone Branch.

According to Swindell, Board Bonanza is one of the longest-running wakeboarding competitions in Tennessee. And, he noted, the wakeboarders will return to Lone Branch with plenty of razzle-dazzle in mid-August for an event known as Wakefest.

Final Standings: Board Bonanza 2010 (Outlaw and Advanced Divisions)

Outlaw Division

• First Place - Matt Simms, Alabama
• Second Place - A.J. Racinelli, California
• Third Place - Tol Swindell, Lebanon, TN

Advanced Division

• First Place - Adam Stevens, Lebanon, TN
• Second Place - Zach Linton, Kentucky
• Third Place - Brad Riddick, Knoxville, TN

Pictured, above: Lebanon's Tol Swindell starts a run during Board Bonanza 2010 at Old Hickory Lake as spectators look on. Photo by Jason Neagle of Boarderline Media (follow link for complete photo gallery from Board Bonanza 2010).