CHICAGO (July 22, 2009) - Discover Boating, the recreational boating industry's national awareness campaign, announced today the winners of its amateur video and photo contest, i-Discovered Boating, designed to showcase Americans' love of the boating lifestyle.
i-Discovered Boating received nearly 300 video and photo entries. Boaters across the nation took to the water to show how they `Discovered Boating' and why life is better with a boat for a chance to win up to $10,000 and have their creation featured in a national advertising campaign for Discover Boating.
Contest judging was based on three criteria: originality, overall appeal, and likelihood to motivate people to go boating. Discover Boating is awarding each winner with $5,000, and if the video or photo is used in a future ad campaign, the chosen winner will receive an additional $5,000. Winners are as follows:
Video Winner:
"What can you discover when you Discover Boating?" (David Knight, Pittsboro, N.C.)
Knight's video illustrates the essence of Discover Boating and addressed a broad audience by showcasing the many facets of the boating lifestyle. This video captures the evolution of boating, how it connects family and friends and builds traditions.
Photo Winner:
"Just add . people" (Ken Lancaster, Highland Village, Tex.)
Lancaster's snapshot highlights the importance of spending quality time with friends and family and how there's nothing better than spending that time aboard a boat.
"This contest allows us to share the experiences that real boaters have on the water with millions of potential boaters," notes Carl Blackwell, spokesman for Discover Boating. "We were overwhelmed with impressive entries from around the country, all of which captured the essence of why 70 million Americans take to the water each year."
Nine entries were also selected in each category as honorable mentions and are featured along with the winners on DiscoverBoating.com. The recognized video and photo entries used humor, emotion and creativity to highlight the numerous benefits of boating, while illustrating what it's like to Discover Boating.
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About Discover Boating
Discover Boating is a national awareness campaign developed by the North American recreational boating industry and managed by the industry's trade group, the National Marine Manufacturers Association