Located in Springtown, Texas, just outside of Dallas, RP Elite Motors and Marine is the only Skater Powerboats dealer in the country. All other sales of the vaunted catamarans are handled directly at Skater headquarters in Douglas, Mich., by national sales and marketing director Tony Cutsuries. It’s a responsibility Ross Ramsey, the co-owner of RP Elite Motors and Marine, takes seriously.
So Ramsey, his wife, McKenzie—a Lone Star State couple that puts the “hospitable” in “hospitality”—pulled out all the stops last year for the first Lake Texoma-based Skaterfest affair in catamaran builder’s then-50-year history. Seeing as it was milestone event, Skater founder/owner Peter Hledin, his son, Michael, great nephew, Matthew and Cutsuries made it to the Golden Anniversary affair.
Matthew Hledin even produced a beautiful short video celebrating the brand to open the Saturday night dinner celebration. It was an intimate and joyful weekend to remember.
And it must have impressed the Hledin clan, as the family patriarch and his son, as well as Cutsuries, are coming back for the second-year event set for October 2-4.
Of the 16 Skater catamarans registered this year, five are new to the event, according to Ramsey. And thanks in part to the whims of Mother Nature, the 2025 happening is looking even stronger.
“The lake level is up this year which is great,” Ramsey explained. “This allows us to run on the north side of the islands and then head back south toward Flowing Wells Marina. Last year we were not able to do that with the lake level being down.
“We also added two stops this year where participants will receive a ‘chip,’” he continued. “The chips makes them eligible for some giveaway items we will draw for during our Saturday night dinner.”
Photographer Pete Boden is returning to capture all the action from the air via a helicopter. Fellow shooter Erick Bryner will handle the water-angle work from a photo boat.
“To top off the event, my wife and I get have some news we are looking very forward to sharing with our Skater family,” Ramsey added. “It should be a great way to wrap up the 2025 boating season.”