Poor Man Poker Run - Lewis Smith Lake - August 3rd, 2024

by Owen Harris

  The team here at WaveLink strongly believes that we have a responsibility to be involved in making more than just great products, we also want to make a difference in the lives of people who live or visit freshwater lakes.  With that in mind, WaveLink announced that it is a returning Sponsor for the 2024 Poor Man Poker Run at Lewis Smith Lake.

What is the Poor Man Poker Run?

               The Poor Man Poker Run is the largest and most exciting event on Smith Lake every year.  The event is run by Alabama Lakewide Charities –facilitated by David Dempsey, Brian Czup & Jason West.  The primary goal of the event is to raise money for Smith Lake search and recovery efforts, aiding in the procurement and maintenance of specialized deep water recovery equipment and hands-on training. Additionally, funds are allocated to Wake the World, Alabama, and other selected nonprofits around Smith Lake..  Due to a recent tragedy on the lake, this year's event is dedicated to the memory of Braxton Beasley - who's family is an integral part of the Smith Lake community and family business, HydroHoist of Alabama, is the title sponsor of this year's Poker Run.

               The Poker Run itself consists of players riding in their boats making stops at as many participating docks as possible.  At each dock, a player receives a randomly drawn card which they then proceed to “scratch off” to reveal what card they have.  The goal is to put together the best 5 card poker hand you can as you go from stop to stop.  At the “after party”, everyone reveals their cards and the person with the best hand wins.  Last year, there were approximately 500 players on 250 boats visiting 22 sponsor docks.  It was a great time and the event raised over $75K.

Can I still volunteer?

Yes, if your family or business is wanting to be one of the docks, please reach out directly to Brian Czup at (205) 388-2019 or at events@lakewide.org. 

When does the Poker Run occur?

  Thursday & Friday – August 1st & 2nd, 2024 – (All Day)  Saturday  -  August 3rd 7 AM to 10 AM - Packet Pick Up – at Trident Marina

  • Players come pick up your packets to participate 
  • Some packets may be able to be picked up as early as Thursday, August 1st for those who purchased early.
  • Some packets may be available to purchased on Friday night and Saturday morning on a 1st come, 1st serve basis while supplies last.

 Friday – August 2nd, 2024 - 5 PM to 8 PM - August 2nd, 2024 - Meet & Greet - at Trident Marina

  • Snacks generously provided by N&N Meat Co. of Jasper
  • HOST DOCKS are REQUIRED to pick up gameday supplies
  • All Players, Dock Hosts and Partners welcome for some fun, food and music.

  Saturday – August 3rd, 2024 – 10 AM to 4 PM – Poor Man Poker Run

  • This is the main event – Get to as many sponsor docks as you can on the lake
  • Fun with your friends as you get to stop at some docks you’ve always wanted to visit!

  Saturday Night – August 4th, 2024 –  5 PM till 8 PM -  The After Party! – at Trident Marina

  • Cards need to be turned in by 5 PM at Trident Marina – Remember, best hand wins!
  • The event starts at 5 PM, runs till they kick us out
  • Come enjoy live music, live auction, giveaways (door prizes), great food and a whole lot of fun!

Why did WaveLink get involved?

               WaveLink got involved because of our commitment to water safety awareness on freshwater lakes.  When asked about why WaveLink got involved with this great event, one of our founders Arnar Thors said,  “My family has been on this lake (Smith Lake) since 1987 and it is very special to us.  And, as our kids grew up and began playing on the dock, we wanted them to be protected, so we started to work on the technology that has become the WaveLink system.  So, getting involved with this event which aligns so perfectly with our mission and purpose was something the whole team felt passionate about.”

So why is WaveLink important to add to your dock?

Electricity from docks and boats can leak into water, creating a dangerous situation for swimmers. Even small amounts of voltage in freshwater can cause muscle paralysis leading to a person drowning, known as Electric Shock Drowning.  Current products in the marketplace are not effective, both in range and accuracy.

WaveLink is a suite of products and cloud-based services for freshwater docks.  The WaveLink Hub monitors your dock and the surrounding water for hazardous conditions.  The WaveLink App provides accurate, real-time information and allows you to connect to your dock to get access to water temperature, clarity, barometric pressure and more.

WaveLink is a smart device that learns the waterscape around your dock.  As WaveLink learns what to expect from your natural environment, it becomes more attuned to dangerous variations from normal.  This enables a dramatic increase in sensitivity to protect your swimming area from dangerous electricity, even if it comes from other docks or sources.

So, what’s our competitive advantage – first, is a patented machine-learning algorithm which eliminates false positives and extends detection range; second, our Hub is self-calibrating, self-testing and always on 24/7/365; and finally, 3 years of proven testing providing us with continual improvement. 

Poor Man Poker Run – August 3rd, 2024

               Everyone here at WaveLink is looking forward to a great event again this year at Lewis Smith Lake.  We hope we get to meet lots of our lake neighbors and continue to spread awareness of how our device can help make your time at the lake more relaxing.  Leave your worries behind when you come to the lake knowing your swimming area is secure

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