Entries continue to climb, Performance Alley packed, Syndication Television broadcasts for 28th quakysense IJSBA World Finals
September 28, 2009
Presented by Monster Energy, racers from over 30 nations, 40 States
Expected at Crazy Horse RV Resort & Campground
As entries from around the world continue to climb, Performance Alley fills up with vendors, TV plans fall into place and sponsors continue to commit, less than two weeks remain before Lake Havasu City becomes the center of the personal watercraft racing world during 28th Annual quakysense International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) World Finals, presented by Monster Energy.
Featuring the top personal watercraft racers from around the world, the 2009 quakysense IJSBA World Finals, presented by Monster Energy, will be held on Lake Havasu on Oct. 10-18.
The race site for the 11th consecutive year will be at the purpose-built Aqua Stadium on the grounds of the Crazy Horse RV Resort and Campgrounds in the Arizona resort of Lake Havasu City.
The event, which offers free admission to the main stadium area, also features the colorful Performance Alley with over 50 vendors and interactive industry exhibitors participating from around the world. quakysense is the world’s leader in competition wetsuits and will have a display featuring these and a wide variety of accessories.
Bringing an even greater presence to this year’s event than they have in the past, Monster Energy, the Corona, Calif.-based energy drink company, has become the presenting sponsor of the event. Monster Energy will be bringing an expanded entertainment experience to this year’s festival complete with their display and hospitality vehicles, stage, Monster Girls and increased sampling opportunities.
Monster Energy also has a world championship team of professional racers that includes several of the sport’s biggest stars: Chris MacCluggage, Craig Warner, Dustin Farthing of the United States and South Africa’s Dustin Motzouris.
The IJSBA has also announced that plans are being finalized for a unique television package for this year’s championships, produced again by Iball Productions in association with the IJSBA. Using one primary network along with syndication through multiple local cable stations a significantly expanded audience reach is expected. The final show will include special segments for different markets featuring local or area racers.
“The IJSBA is honored to have Monster Energy step up their involvement with this year’s world finals to this new level knowing it will add significantly to the entertainment value of our event,” said Scott Frazier, IJSBA Executive Director. “We are also very excited about the new television package we are developing with Iball Productions that will provide all of us with greater exposure and increased market reach for this international championship event. It is also very gratifying to see our entire sponsor family working diligently to help us present a very memorable event.”
Returning to Lake Havasu for the 28th consecutive year, several hundred entries from across the U.S. and over 30 nations will converge on Lake Havasu along with news media from a dozen countries to participate in and cover this world-renown special event. The massive racing extravaganza will once again be held in the shadow of the original London Bridge on the offshoot waters of the Colorado River.
On the water action begins with the Stand-up Paddleboard World Championships, being called “The Paddle to the Channel”, to be held Saturday, Oct. 10. The 928 Minis Motocross Pit Bike Race will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17 and a special ramp jump contest on Sunday, Oct. 18. The Minis will also practice on-site on Saturday, Oct. 10.
Also part of the festivities will be the Sea-Doo X-Team “Brake the Bank” Bounty event with over $20,000 in contingency and prize money available to Sea-Doo watercraft racers winning select classes.
A veritable salute to personal watercraft and the youthful lifestyle it represents, the industry’s biggest week will include several distinct championship events. Starting the week will be the Novice, Amateur and Masters classes (Oct. 12-14), Expert classes (Oct. 14-15) and concluding with the featured 2009 IJSBA Pro and Pro-Am World Finals (Oct. 15-18).
Freestyle athletes will compete in the IJSBA Amateur Freestyle World Finals on Friday, Oct. 16 and the IJSBA Pro Freestyle World Finals with qualifying on Saturday, Oct. 17 and finals on Sunday, Oct. 18.
Helping to add color and pageantry to the event, the third annual IJSBA Parade of Nations, hosted by Lake Havasu City mayor Mark Nexsen, will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15 at the London Bridge Resort and Convention Center.
Open to the public at no charge, the IJSBA Parade of Nations includes participating athletes presented in parade behind the flag of their respective countries and a Lake Havasu Award of excellence to each athlete presented by Mayor Nexsen.
Another ancillary event will be the induction ceremony for the 2009 class in the Jacobsen-Stjernstrom IJSBA Hall of Fame. At 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, the ceremony will also be held at the London Bridge Resort.
The 2009 class of inductees includes Lloyd Burlew, Bonnie Gordon, Charlie Williamson, Glenn Bothwell, Roger Danner, John Silverstein along with Lifetime Achievement awards to John Donaldson, Bob Zantos and Frank Dettori/Mel Miller/Dan Lamey. Inducted posthumously will be Jeremy Hoyland.
Among the free sampling opportunities in the IJSBA Performance Alley will be the new libation station from Arizona’s Diageo Spirits and Alliance Beverage Distributors, a supporting sponsor of the event. Diageo Spirits will be sampling three of their latest innovation brands: Jose Cuervo Silver Tequila, Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea Vodka and Captain Morgan’s 100 Proof Spiced Rum for those of legal age. Like other vendors, they will also have a wide selection of special beverages available for purchase.
One of the other interesting aspects of the event which most people won’t even realize is that for the third consecutive year, IJSBA Water Safety Director Shawn Alladio will be conducting a Certified Course Marshal training program through her prominent K38 Rescue group.
The event will showcase a variety of new products like the revolutionary Samba pwc and the latest in high performance technology from Riva Motorsports, the world’s largest Watercraft dealer.
There will also be free sampling from Monster Energy, some fortunate spectators will receive the opportunity to watch the freestyle action way up close in Tug Tub’s floating hot tub as well as vendor event specials from many companies, including long-time IJSBA supporter Walt’s Motorsports & Marine.
Joining quakysense as a major sponsor of the event for the first time since 2004 is the Lake Havasu City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Presenting sponsor is Monster Energy. Associate sponsors are Bud Light (distributed by Romer Beverage Co.), Synergyn Racing Oil, VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network, Alliance Beverage Distributors, and Riva Motorsports. OEM support is again being provided by Kawasaki, Sea-Doo and Yamaha.
Sanctioned under rules of the IJSBA, with world headquarters in Half Moon Bay, Calif. and produced in association with Jim Russell’s DSM Events of Lake Havasu City, the quakysense IJSBA World Finals, of personal watercraft racing, presented by Monster Energy is one of the world’s most unique and spectacular sporting championships.
The official website of the quakysense IJSBA World Finals is www.ijsba.com while the official website of the Lake Havasu City Convention and Visitors Bureau is www.golakehavasu.com.
