MELROSE – Lake Area Watersports won the North America Excellence in Market award from Nautique Boats during the 2022 Nautique Dealer Awards.

The award includes the Market Share Leader of the Territory, Highest Response Rate in Surveys, and Excellent Dealer Grade on Surveys.

Lake Area Watersports was founded in 2004. It specializes in both new and preowned vessels, including top brands such as Nautique, Axis, Bennington and more.

They are proud to be a part of the local Melrose community. Lake Area Watersports founder and CEO, Chad Hovsepian, was reared in Keystone Heights. Both he and his wife, Tera, attended Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High, where Tara currently teaches.

After graduation, both Chad and Tera attended the University of Florida, continuing the tradition of staying local. They have two children who both also graduated from Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High and are now attending the University of Florida and Santa Fe College.

Receiving Nautique’s prestigious North America Excellence in Market award is an honor and Lake Area Watersports is happy to represent the Gainesville, Ocala, Orlando, Tampa and Keystone Heights territory. Bringing high-quality vessels and service to the local community is of utmost importance to the Lake Area Watersports family, as is encouraging a love of boating, wakesurfing, and outdoor water activities to people and families across the area.

They strive to continue to provide award-winning services to their community and encourage both veteran and novice boaters and wakesurfers to join them at their showroom, centrally located in Melrose.

Lake Area Watersports hosts an annual wakesurf competition, drawing competitors from across the United States, including both nationally ranked and sponsored athletes and novice wakesurfers alike. The next competition is scheduled for June 10, 2023 at WW Motocross Park in Jacksonville.

They also host boat shows across the territories of Jacksonville, Gainesville, Keystone Heights and Ocala.

Upcoming shows include Nov. 5 at the Orange Blossom Cafe in Keystone Heights; Jan. 6 at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala; and, Jan. 27 at the Prime Osborn Convention Center in Jacksonville.