Utah Water Sports Emerges as State's Number One Dealer of In-Board Boats

Utah Water Sports, the state's only MasterCraft boat dealership, today released sales numbers from 2005 showing that Utah Water Sports is Utah's number one in-board boat dealer.

"2005 was a record-breaking year for Utah Water Sports, and we're gearing up for a very big '06," said Wayne Sorensen, president of Utah Water Sports. "With as many lakes as we have here in Utah, families are really learning how much fun boating together can be."

The Utah Water Sports dealership is now the seventh largest MasterCraft dealer in the world, outselling 116 dealers, including major metropolitan and year-round sunny areas such as Houston, Miami and Phoenix. Utah Water Sports sales in 2005 were approximately $7 million, a significant increase of 106 percent over sales of $3.4 million in 2004, and its projected sales for 2006 are even higher.

Sorensen attributes the recent success of his business to a critical change of venue, shifting trends in the marine industry and a change to a customer-focused business style. Yet Sorensen himself is quick to point out that the end of Utah's drought also deserves credit for some of Utah Water Sports' recent sales success.

One of the principal reasons for the company's rapid growth has been its much-needed relocation. When Sorensen purchased the business in 1998, it was located in a rather undesirable part of town. Additionally, the former facility could house only two boats in its showroom and had a single service bay. The office had room for only two desks and was crammed into a facility that was less than 2,000 square feet.

In September 2000, in the middle of an autumn snowstorm, Sorensen opened the doors to a new multi-million dollar facility. The new facility, conveniently located just off 10600 South in South Jordan, boasts more than 10,000 square feet on two acres. The spacious showroom has room for 11 boats and can accommodate eight more on display outside. Numerous other boats are being stored on-site on a lot nearly an acre in size.

Another reason for this recent growth is the new direction and business savvy Sorensen has brought to the business. A former investor, general manager and vice-president of operations for a successful software company, Sorensen brought a customer-focused approach to Utah Water Sports. The result? Last year's revenues came to just under $7 million, a huge leap from the $2.3 million back in 1999, Sorensen's first year at the helm.

During the last 10 years, MasterCraft has made a strong move to corner the recreational boating market. Traditionally, MasterCraft was known for producing the best tournament waterski boats in the industry. MasterCraft is now known for family recreational boats up to 28-feet in length. Utah Water Sports' best selling models are the 23-foot X-30 and the 24-foot X-45. With seating capacities of 16 and 18 people and a deep V hull for a smooth ride, these models are ideal for Utah's large families and the rougher water of Lake Powell. They also provide much better ski and wakeboard wakes than the more common stern-drive boats.

A family man himself, Sorensen, recognized the potential for the recreational boating industry in this mountain state and, taking a cue from MasterCraft, built a business around the increasingly popular water sports and MasterCraft's quality merchandise.

"Sorensen hired a new sales staff with a fresh perspective on water sports to revamp the entire buying experience on the showroom floor," said Rob May, director of marketing at MasterCraft. "The attitude in the showroom is totally different and customers are catching the excitement. Utah Water Sports has really become the premier boat dealership in the Rocky Mountains."

This year Utah Water Sports is seeing increased sales of the mammoth X-80 and the popular X-Star. The X-80 is the top end, twin engine, 28-foot, 700 horsepower multi-use family boat. Sales of the X-star, WakeWorld.com's "Wakeboard Boat of the Year" three years in a row and the official towboat of the X-Games and the Wakeboard Pro-Tour, are already well ahead of projections for the 2006 model year. New for 2006 are the X-15, a multi-purpose dream machine and the 20-foot X-2, the official boat of the Dew Action Sports Tour.

Utah Water Sports offers MasterCraft boats starting at $45,000 and feature the same technology that has made MasterCraft the industry's leading innovator from its early beginnings. They feature everything from linear ballast systems, ZeroFlex Flyer towers and booming sound systems to heaters, showers and more.

For more information about Utah Water Sports please call 801-495-2400 and for information on MasterCraft's full product line visit www.mastercraft.com.

About Utah Water Sports, LLC
Utah Water Sports is the No. 1 in-board boat dealer in Utah and the seventh largest MasterCraft boat dealer in the world. Located in South Jordan, Utah, it offers sales and service of MasterCraft's sports-luxury wakeboard and ski boats. Its 10,000 square-foot facility on two acres, located conveniently off Interstate 15 (I-15) at 110th South, houses a large showroom, a well-inventoried pro-shop with a large video screen and four service bays and the equivalent number of factory trained technicians ready for service. For more information about Utah Water Sports please call 801-495-2400 or visit with the staff at 11017 S. Jordan Gateway, South Jordan, Utah.

About MasterCraft
Headquartered in Vonore, Tennessee, MasterCraft strives to deliver consumers the ultimate water sports experience by designing and building the world's highest quality, best performing sports luxury boats in every significant inboard niche. For more information, model specifications, high- and low-res digital images or 35mm running and detail shots, please contact Jason Boertje at 423-884-2221, ext. 1205 or visit http://press.mastercraft.com.

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Media Contacts:
Chip Smith, SOAR Communications, 801-523-3730, csmith@soarcomm.com or
David Politis, SOAR Communications, 801-523-3730(wk)/ 801-556-8184(cell), poppa.p@soarcomm.com