Chandler Powell

Last updated

Chandler Powell
Chandler Powell 2026 (cropped).jpg
Powell in 2026
Born
Chandler Joseph Powell

(1996-11-14) November 14, 1996 (age 29)
Seffner, Florida, U.S.
Citizenship
  • United States
  • Australia
Education
Occupations
Years active2009–2016 (wakeboarding)
2015–present (conservation)
Spouse
​
(m. 2020)​
Children1
Relatives
Website australiazoo.com.au

Chandler Joseph Powell (born November 14, 1996) is an American and Australian conservationist and former professional wakeboarder. He manages Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland, and is married to its chief executive officer, Bindi Irwin.

Contents

Powell was featured in the Animal Planet television series Crikey! It's the Irwins (2018–2022) alongside his wife, his mother-in-law Terri Irwin, and his brother-in-law Robert Irwin.

Early life and education

Chandler Joseph Powell was born on November 14, 1996, in Seffner, Florida, to Christopher and Shannan Powell. [1] His father was one of the first professional kneeboarders to enter and compete in a ski board competiton. [2] During his early childhood, Powell embarked on an amateur career in skateboarding. [3] He participated in events held at the Skatepark of Tampa and earned sponsorships from Airwalk and Powell Peralta. [3] Because there was no youth division at the time, he primarily competed against teenagers. [3]

After Powell's skateboarding career ended when he was seven years old, he played soccer for local clubs in Brandon. [2] He graduated from the International Baccalaureate program at Strawberry Crest High School with a grade point average of 6.2 in 2015. [2] He then studied marketing with a minor in international business at the University of Central Florida. [4]

Career

Powell became interested in wakeboarding when he was twelve years old after attending a contest in Orlando with his father. [3] He began entering professional competitions in 2012 and finished in the top ten of that year's Monster Energy Wake Park Triple Crown. [3] In September 2014, he won the Wake Park Triple Crown in the professional men's features category. [5] Powell became sponsored by several companies such as Liquid Force, [2] and was named a global ambassador for the non-profit organization Wildlife Warriors. [6] Throughout his career, he competed in China, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and Thailand. [3]

Powell continued competing in the WWA Wake Park World Series until his retirement in 2016. [7] He relocated to Queensland, Australia two years later amidst his romantic relationship with conservationist Bindi Irwin. [8] He is now apart of the managerial team at Australia Zoo and was featured on the Animal Planet television series Crikey! It's the Irwins (2018–2022) alongside Irwin's family. [9]

Personal life

Powell met Bindi Irwin, the daughter of conservationists Steve and Terri Irwin, at Australia Zoo in November 2013, and started dating two years later. [10] He proposed on her twenty-first birthday, [11] and they were married on March 25, 2020, in a private ceremony at the zoo. [12] [13] They welcomed their daughter, Grace Warrior Irwin Powell, on their first wedding anniversary. [14] [15]

The couple live on the private grounds of Australia Zoo with Irwin's family. [10] Powell became a naturalized citizen of Australia on February 27, 2026, at Australia Zoo's Crocoseum. [16]

References

  1. ↑ Mansour, Chanelle (March 29, 2022). "Meet the Powells: Everything to know about the family Bindi Irwin married into". New Idea . Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Kline, Justin (August 21, 2015). "SCHS grad Powell prominent in world wakeboarding scene". Plant City Observer. Plant City, Florida. Archived from the original on May 21, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wright, Brandon (January 3, 2014). "Florida wakeboarder Chandler Powell rides an international wave" . Tampa Bay Times . Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  4. ↑ O'Sullivan, Kelly (May 27, 2019). "Wait a Second, Is Bindi Irwin Engaged?!". Country Living . Archived from the original on July 5, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Monster Energy WPTC – BSR – Results" (Press release). World Wake Association. September 22, 2014. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  6. ↑ Donaghey, Kathleen (July 24, 2015). "Bindi Irwin's new boyfriend has been revealed as Chandler Powell: 'Blessed to have you in my life'". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on April 5, 2026. Retrieved April 5, 2026– via The Courier-Mail .
  7. ↑ "Tom Fooshee scores overall titles for both features only and traditional cable in the 2015 Wake Park World Series". World Wake Association. December 21, 2015. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  8. ↑ Strohm, Emily (January 31, 2018). "Bindi Irwin's Boyfriend Moves to Australia! 'He's Up for the Challenge'". People . Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Crikey! It's the Irwins: Bindi Irwin Shares Promo & Premiere Date For Animal Planet Series (VIDEO)". TV Insider . Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018– via United Press International.
  10. 1 2 Tremaine, Julie (December 12, 2022). "Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell's Relationship Timeline". People . Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  11. ↑ France, Lisa Respers (July 25, 2019). "Bindi Irwin gets engaged". CNN. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Bindi Irwin all grown up, getting married". 7News . July 24, 2019. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023– via Australian Associated Press.
  13. ↑ "Bindi Irwin marries Chandler Powell at Australia Zoo". ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. March 25, 2020. Archived from the original on September 17, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  14. ↑ Williams, Patrick (March 27, 2021). "Bindi Irwin names new daughter in honour of late Crocodile Hunter father". ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  15. ↑ Wolski, Gillian (December 26, 2021). "Bindi Irwin celebrates Grace's first Christmas with milestone news: 'Two teeth'". Yahoo! Lifestyle. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2021– via Yahoo Australia.
  16. ↑ Burke, Sammi (February 28, 2026). "Bindi Irwin's Husband Chandler Powell Receives Australian Citizenship in Sweet Ceremony at Family Zoo: 'Huge Honor'". Parade . Archived from the original on March 2, 2026. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
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