Austin does things its own way. A city where live music spills out of bars and into the streets. Where lake culture and cowboy boots coexist without irony. So when we started thinking about how to show up for Austin this summer, one question kept coming up: what would happen if we brought Austin traditions out to the water? What would happen if we took Austin’s love of the rodeo and pushed it even further?
The answer is the first ever Boatsetter Rodeo.
What to Expect
The event transforms a collection of boats on Lake Travis on 7/12 from 11am-3pm into a fully immersive floating festival, blending Austin’s rodeo heritage with the kinetic energy of watersports. Here’s what’s on the water:
The Circuit is the main event where the competition lives — featuring Tyler Stewart and Uriah McDonald in a wakeboarding tricks competition and timed e-foil challenges that put some of the best talent in the sport on full display.
The Arena takes the rodeo’s centerpiece and drops it onto a floating barge: a custom mechanical bull, because some things are just too good not to bring on the water.
The Dance Floor brings Austin’s beloved two-step tradition onto the lake with line dancing and lessons from Double or Nothing Two Step for anyone brave enough to try.
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Browse ChartersThe Stage features live music performances celebrating Austin’s identity as the Live Music Capital of the World.
The Pit offers a custom food-and-drink experience in collaboration with a local Austin restaurant — a taste of the city, on the water.
The Pasture rounds out the rodeo spirit with a floating goat experience inspired by classic petting zoos. Yes, really. Austin approved.
For more information and to find a boat for your summer Rodeo adventure, check out Lake Travis boat rentals.
A Summer of Side Quests
Spurs, surf, and summer fun? The Boatsetter Rodeo is hard to categorize: a competition, a celebration of Austin culture, and where Western traditions meet waterfront thrills. It’s a chance to disconnect and say “yes” to what matters, because most good stories start with saying yes.
Attendees are encouraged to book their own boat on Boatsetter and join the celebration from the water, transforming the activation from a standalone event into a larger community experience.
Every boat on Boatsetter comes with $1M liability coverage. Rent with confidence.
Find a BoatTo extend participation, Boatsetter will launch a giveaway in July, awarding five winners and a Guest exclusive access to join the main Boatsetter Rodeo boats on Lake Travis. All you have to do is sign up for a Boatsetter account.
The Bigger Picture
New Boatsetter research shows that Americans are craving time on the water more than ever — so much so that nearly nine in ten people surveyed said they’d give up a daily comfort (yes, including their phone, social media, and even ChatGPT) for a full day out on the water. Watersports bookings on Boatsetter are up 17% heading into high season, and when we asked people why they want to try a new watersport, the answers were refreshingly simple: it looks fun, it’s a chance to try something new, and it’s something to do with friends. It represents something we genuinely believe about the trajectory of outdoor recreation.”Watersports are entering a new chapter,” says Boatsetter CMO, Caitlin Choate.”For years, participation was largely driven by enthusiasts. Today we’re seeing a much broader audience become interested because the category is becoming more social, more approachable, and more spontaneous.”
The through-line across every element of this event — the competitions, the music, the food, the goats — is participation. Not spectating. Getting on the water, trying something new, and making a memory that wouldn’t have happened any other way. That’s what we’re here for.
Boatsetter empowers people to explore with confidence by showing them a world of possibility on the water. Rent a boat, list your boat, or become a Boatsetter captain today.
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