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Bonnier Corp.'s sports marketing division is kicking off its 22nd year May 1-2 with its first event of the season. World Sports & Marketing has produced more than 350 televised sporting events so far, including professional wakeboard competitions, the Pro Water Ski Tour, the ESPN X Games and Formula 1 Powerboat Racing. New this year, the group is adding running events.

"World Sports & Marketing is Bonnier's only stand-alone event marketing division," says Terrence Dorner, vice president of WSM. "While we work closely with selected Bonnier magazines on promotional partnerships, WSM is not accountable to a publisher or group publisher. WSM's goal is to work with other Bonnier entities, capture synergies, serve its customers while returning a profit."

It's been a long run for the group, which has bucked the recent downward trend in the marine industry. The first event of the season, Wake Games, is a prime example. More than 200 wakeboarders from around the world will descend on Orlando, Florida, for the first big competition of the year - a crowd of more than 10,000 is expected.

In addition to maintaining its longevity, World Sports & Marketing's business model makes it an enigma among a marine industry pummeled by a 45 to 50 percent contraction over the past two years. In contrast, WSM's sponsorship revenues have remained nearly flat, with attrition dollars being replaced by new sponsors.

Dorner attributes the success to the strength of its brands, long-term sponsor contracts and its innovative digital and video sponsorship reporting that gives viewers a particularly strong emotional connection to the events.