Blake Hess has 30 years of experience as an athlete, founder, and innovator in the action sports industry. While attending the University of Illinois, Blake traveled the world as a professional water skier and wakeboarder. After settling down in Texas, he worked as an art director for a local advertising agency. It did not take long before Blake began missing the excitement of watersports. Blending his business acumen, advertising experience, and his love of watersports, Blake co-founded Texas Ski Ranch (TSR) in 2000. TSR is an action sports complex that includes a wake park, skate park, Burton LTR snowboard park, trampoline park and much more. During this time Blake and team was recognized by the Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA) for numerous awards and achievements.
Fifteen years later, Doug Coors & NLand chose Austin for the world’s largest inland surf lagoon. Blake joined NLand in August of 2016. Less than a year later Blake was named NLand’s General Manager and oversaw operations, facilities, and marketing for the park. In December of 2018 the WSL purchased the Austin site and Blake was retained as the property’s General Manager. It did not take long before Blake was promoted and overseeing two sites, including the world-famous Kelly Slater Surf Ranch. Blake was tasked with transforming this R&D facility into a full blown profitable guest oriented business. Despite a world wide pandemic, Blake led Surf Ranch to its best season ever, setting new benchmarks in finance and guest survey metrics in 2020.
Today Blake is a partner at Beach Street Development and works as the Chief Operating Officer building projects worldwide focusing on development and operations. Blake has an abundance of unmatched operational experience in action sports industry. The lessons learned from these opportunities, make Blake one of the most experienced individuals in the young surf park industry.
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