MISSION
TO CONTINUOUSLY RAISE THE BAR FOR WAKEBOARD AND WAKESURF INSTRUCTION BY PROVIDING THE SAFEST, MOST FUN, AND HIGHEST QUALITY EXPERIENCE AT THE GREATEST VALUE.

Core Values

Our Values: Experience

Experience

Georgia Wake Lessons is owned by former professional wakeboarder Brandon Lee and Jay McKibben. Along with a select team of elite instructors, Georgia Wake Lessons continues to raise the bar for wakeboard and wakesurf instruction by providing the safest, highest quality instruction at the greatest value.
Our Values: Safety

Safety

We take all necessary precautions to ensure our students are having fun while being safe. Our instructors are at the minimum USCG certified boat drivers, certified instructors, and certified American Red Cross in Lifeguard, First Aid, CPR and AED. Safety is our #1 priority.
Our Values: Skills

Skills

Through our experience, we have learned the importance of proper technique. We break tricks into easy-to-digest building blocks where we can reinforce proper technique before layering on additional skills. We strongly believe that you have to walk before you can run, and apply this theory throughout our instruction.
Our Values: Flexibility

Flexibility

Flexibility is key in our instruction. No two students are the same regardless of age, gender or skill level. When you're on the boat with us, our attention is focused on you.

Instructors

Brandon Lee

Brandon Lee

Jay McKibben

Jay McKibben

Henry Arvanites

Henry Arvanites

Tyler Urrutia

Tyler Urrutia

Brett Lee

Brett Lee

Blake Grimsley

Blake Grimsley

Sam Henry

Sam Henry

Brandon draws his coaching techniques from over twenty years of experience on the water. As a rider who has always put heavy focus on proper style and technique, his coaching can best be described as creative, methodical, and purpose-driven. In the last ten years, Brandon has competed at the professional level and been featured in multiple media outlets including magazines, product reviews, and an exclusive video section in the 2008 release: Godspeed. In the past several years, Brandon has had the opportunity to evaluate wakeboard wakes and surf waves of most makes and models for Wakeboarding Magazine, judge and be the official driver for prestigious events like The Masters, the Pro Wakeboard Tour and the World Wakeboard Championship.

Additionally, Brandon is the Oconee General Manager and Director of Marketing for WaterSports Central, and leads the production of Georgia's grassroots wakeboard tournaments. Grassroots wakeboard events are what kick-started Brandon's passion for watersports and an experience he wants to share with others, providing a platform for the stars of tomorrow to get their start today. Brandon's knowledge and passion of the sport is second to none, and a driving factor in why Georgia Wake Lessons is one of the best schools in the world.

  • Certified American Red Cross - First Aid, CPR, AED
  • Certified American Red Cross - Lifeguard
  • Chairman - Watersports Industry Association - Camps & Schools
  • General Sales Manager - Oconee, WaterSports Central
  • 2021-Present: Boat Driver - US Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament
  • 2020 - Present: Boat Driver - Wakesurf Masters and Wakeboard World Championship
  • 2016: Official, WWA US Nationals
  • 2016 - Present: Director/Partner, Georgia Wake Series
  • 2016 - 2019: Official, US Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament
  • 2016 - 2017 Boat Evaluator, Wakeboarding Magazine
  • 2015 - Present: Official, Pro Wakeboard Tour
  • 2018: 1st Place, GA Wake Series State Champion - Open/Pro Boat
  • 2017: 1st Place, GA Wake Series Stop 1, Rome - Open/Pro
  • 2017: 2nd Place, GA Wake Series Stop 5, Lake Lanier - Open/Pro
  • 2016: 1st Place, GA Wake Series Stop 3, Lake Lanier - Open/Pro
  • 2014: 1st Place, Wake Fest GA, Open
  • 2012: 1st Place, INT Georgia State Championship, Open
  • 2009: Exclusive instructor at "Ambush School of Wake"
  • 2008: Alliance Wake Magazine "Coming Up" Interview
  • 2008: Opening video section: Godspeed
Brandon LeeBrandon LeeBrandon LeeBrandon LeeBrandon LeeBrandon LeeBrandon LeeBrandon LeeBrandon Lee

  • NASBLA certified boat driver
  • Certified American Red Cross - First Aid, CPR, AED
  • Certified American Red Cross - Lifeguard
  • 2022: Official - Pro Wakeboard Tour
  • 2016-2020: Vice President - Wake For Warriors
  • 2014-2019: Boat Driver - Nautique Boats Events
  • 2013-2017: Callaway Gardens Resort and Spa - Watersports Manager & Instructor

  • Certified American Red Cross - First Aid, CPR, AED
  • Certified American Red Cross - Lifeguard
  • 2020: 3rd Place - World Wakeboard Championship - Mens 1

  • Certified American Red Cross - First Aid, CPR, AED
  • Certified American Red Cross - Lifeguard
  • 2021: 2nd Place - Nautique Wakesurf Masters

Brett's coaching is built on over two decades of experience in the sport of wakeboarding. The combination of competing, free-riding, coaching, discipline for training, and love for the sport make his coaching second to none. Brett has multiple highlights throughout his involvement in the sport that include ranking 7th in the nation in the Pro Mens division, along with a multitude of competitive achievements like winning a Pro Wakeboard Tour stop in the Jr. Mens division. In addition, physical fitness and proper diet has been a major focus for Brett, having unmatched discipline in training before it was popular. His love for training and knowledge in human physiology helped propel him through a degree in Exercise and Health Science, certifications in personal training,a career as a firefighter/paramedic where he has pivoted his future to nursing. Referred to by many as "The Machine" because of his incredible consistency in riding and discipline in the gym, Brett's textbook technique and otherworldly physical fitness are a testament to the positive effects of building a solid base. Those qualities alone are primary factors in the school's success, but it's his other professional skillset as an RN and background as a first responder that he has used to provide Georgia Wake Lessons the direction needed to be one of the most prepared wakeboard and wakesurf schools in the world.

  • Licensed Paramedic
  • Certified personal trainer by the American Council on Exercise (ACE)
  • 2016: 1st Place, GA Wake Series Stop 1, Rome - Open/Pro
  • 2016: 1st Place, GA Wake Series Stop 4, Lake Lanier - Open/Pro
  • 2013: 23rd place: Pro Wakeboard Tour; Pro Men; Acworth, GA
  • 2008: Section in Scratch Films' wakeboard video, Godspeed
  • 2008: 1st place: Buffalo Wild Wings Rail Jam; TN
  • 2007: 16th place, Pro Wakeboard Tour; Acworth, GA
  • 2006: 7th place, WWA US Wakeboard Nationals; Pro Men
  • 2006 Collegiate Nationals; Pro/Open; 1st place
  • 2006: 6th place o/a; Pro Wakeboard Tour; Jr. Pro Men
  • 2006 Collegiate Nationals/Team 4th place
  • 2005: 10th place o/a; Pro Wakeboard Tour; Jr. Pro Men
  • 2004: 3rd place o/a; Pro Wakeboard Tour; Jr. Pro Men
  • 2004: 1st Place; Pro Wakeboard Tour; Jr. Pro Men; Kelowna, B.C.
Brett LeeBrett LeeBrett LeeBrett LeeBrett Lee

Off the water, Blake is one of the most laid-back guys in the game, but watch him ride for a few minutes and you'll see his expertise in proper technique and explosive pop. His sharp riding is the result of hours of training at The Boarding School, tutelage from household name Shaun Murray, as well as here at GA Wake. Blake took all that he absorbed as a student and perfected his own coaching skills at Callaway Gardens, where he taught over 200 riders how to wakeboard, wakesurf, and waterski. After cutting his coaching teeth at Callaway, we were fortunate to bring him on board at GA Wake where he has continued to shine in the industry. Blake now calls South Carolina and Lake Keowee home and works at WaterSports Central as Sales Consultant and Purchasing Manager. With his passion for coaching still as strong as when we brought him on six years ago, we are excited for what’s to come from Blake in the Upstate area.

  • Certified American Red Cross - First Aid, CPR, AED
  • Certified American Red Cross - Lifeguard
  • 2020: 1st Place - WWA World Wakeboard Championship - Mens 2
  • 2018 - Present: Nautique Specialist - WaterSports Central @ Seneca
  • 2018-Present: Georgia Wake Series Announcer
  • 2016-2017: Georgia Wake Series Official
  • 2016: 5th place - Georgia Wake Series Stop 1
  • 2016: 5th place - Georgia Wake Series Stop 2
  • 2015: Wakeboard & Waterski Manager, Callaway Gardens
  • 2013-2014: Instructor, Callaway Gardens
  • 2014: 2nd place - Ambush Classic
Blake GrimsleyBlake GrimsleyBlake GrimsleyBlake GrimsleyBlake GrimsleyBlake GrimsleyBlake GrimsleyBlake Grimsley

Sam Henry, a powerful rider on the water and easy going off the water, is an incredible instructor. It's no fluke that Sam received Terminus Wake Park's 2014 Coach Of The Year award, as he has the ability to dissect a trick and then communicate it effectively to the rider, regardless of their age or skill level. Sam is just as comfortable with a 9 year old girl getting up for her first time as he is with a group of business executives taking a day out of the office for some team bonding. An expert wakeboarder, his instructional techniques are the culmination of training through multiple coaches, including O-Town Watersport's Glenn Fletcher, The Boarding School's Travis Moye, world-class wakeboarder Shaun Murray, World Wakeboard Center's Trevor & Reed Hansen.

Sam is also a sales consultant for WaterSports Central, Georgia's Nautique dealership, with a vast knowledge for Lake Oconee and its residents' needs.

  • Certified American Red Cross - First Aid, CPR, AED
  • 2018 - Present: Sales Consultant - WaterSports Central
  • 2016 - Present: Official, GA Wake Series
  • 2018: 3rd Place O/A, GA Wake Series - Open/Pro-Am Boat
  • 2018: 3rd Place, GA Wake Series Stop 4, Wakefest - Open/Pro Am
  • 2017: 2nd Place O/A, GA Wake Series - Open/Pro Am
  • 2017: 2nd Place, GA Wake Series Stop 8, Acworth - Open/Pro Am
  • 2016: 4th Place O/A - GA Wake Series; Open/Pro-Am Division
  • 2014: Coach Of The Year award - Terminus Wake Park
  • 2013: 6th place: WWA Wake Games; Mens 1; Orlando, FL
  • 2008: Cover Photo in Lake Oconee Navigator
Sam HenrySam HenrySam HenrySam Henry
WaterSports CentralNautiqueHyperliteFATSAC