Watercross: World's best personal watercraft racers set for 22nd Annual IJSBA World Finals

Athletes from around the globe and across the USA are heading to Lake Havasu as the world's top racers prepare to battle it out during the upcoming 22nd International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) World Finals, Oct. 5-12 in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Sanctioned under rules of the IJSBA, of Foothill Ranch, Calif. and co-produced for the first time in association with Desert Steel Motorsports of Lake Havasu City, the IJSBA World Finals of personal watercraft racing is one of the world's most unique and spectacular sporting championships. Returning to Lake Havasu for the 22nd consecutive year, the massive racing extravaganza will be held in the shadow of the original London Bridge on the offshoot waters of the Colorado River.

The race site for the fifth consecutive year will be at the purpose-built Aqua Stadium on the grounds of the Crazy Horse RV Resort and Campgrounds in the popular Arizona water resort of Lake Havasu City.

Featuring over 1,500 entries from as many as 40 nations, the IJSBA World Finals is the premier personal watercraft racing extravaganza in the world and boasts more than $120,000 in prizes and contingencies in the massive eight-day event. IJSBA World Championship titles will be presented in 34 closed-course racing classes as well as Pro Freestyle, Amateur Freestyle and Amateur 14-15 Freestyle.

"It is truly an honor for our company to have been selected by the IJSBA to become the curators of this vital piece of motorsports history," said Jim Russell, president of Desert Steel Motorsports. "It is our privilege to maintain its preeminent position internationally while we celebrate its importance to Lake Havasu City -- the worldwide home of the sport. Being based in Lake Havasu, DSM is able to bring a new dimension to the infrastructure of this great event. The IJSBA World Finals is largest event held annually in Lake Havasu City and equally has by far the biggest economic impact for any special event held in our city."

After 21 years as an annual Lake Havasu happening, this year's IJSBA World Finals, will once again center around the world's finest PWC racing.

Additionally, the festival will include great food, live music, fireworks, the Yamaha Miss World Finals contest, Kawasaki 4-stroke mini motorcycle race and the Cycle News Celebrity Challenge mini motorcycle race. Also scheduled are a Karaoke night, KJJJ Country Night, LocoGoGo Battle of the Bands, Bud Oktoberfest, IJSBA Performance Alley industry exhibits and entertainment for the whole family.

A number of area bands will perform on the IJSBA Performance Alley stage immediately following the day's racing action on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (Oct. 9-11).

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 2003 IJSBA Novice and Masters National Finals (Oct. 5-7), followed by the 2003 IJSBA Expert and Amateur World Finals (Oct. 9-10) and concluding with the featured 2003 IJSBA Pro and Pro-Am World Finals (Oct. 10-12).

Freestyle athletes will compete in the IJSBA Amateur Freestyle and IJSBA Amateur 14-15 Freestyle World Finals on Friday, Oct. 10 and the IJSBA Pro Freestyle World Finals on Sunday, Oct. 12.

The IJSBA and the Lake Havasu Tourism Bureau are in the fourth year of a current agreement to bring the internationally-televised event to Lake Havasu through 2003. Again producing the television show is Southern California's Impact Media. The domestic telecasts will be on Speed Channel.

"It's been wonderful to work with the Lake Havasu Tourism Bureau all of these years and adding Jim Russell and his Desert Steel Motorsports as co-producers has been an extremely positive experience," said Kirk Holland, Executive Director of the IJSBA. "DSM knows the area extremely well and is helping the IJSBA involve more of the Lake Havasu City business community into the event.

"Lake Havasu has grown tremendously since our first event was held here in 1982 and having DSM as co-producers is helping to truly make this more of a community event for Lake Havasu," Holland added. "The area has always received tremendous economic benefit from our event and now Lake Havasu City is able to provide even more services and staff to help us produce an even more successful special event."

The popular event will once again showcase the 2003 IJSBA Pro National Champions -- Chris MacClugage, Baldwin Park, Calif. (Pro Ski-Kawasaki), Dustin Farthing, Port Lucie, Fla. (Pro Runabout 1200-Kawasaki) and Eric Malone, Duncansville, Pa. (Pro Freestyle-Polaris).

Also in the spotlight will be the returning 2002 IJSBA Pro and Pro-Am World Champions--South Africa's Dustin Motzouris (Pro Ski), MacCaclugage (Pro Runabout 1200), Malone (Pro Freestyle), Jayme Cheney, Mapleton, N.D. (Pro-Am Runabout 800 SS) and Victor Sheldon, Vista, Calif. (Pro-Am Ski Stock).

General Admission to the first half of the IJSBA World Finals (Oct. 5-8) is free with daily pit passes available for $5 each. Individual daily General Admission tickets for the featured four days of the event (Oct. 9-12) are $10 each for Thursday and Friday, $15 on Saturday and $20 for Sunday. Pit passes for those four days are an additional $10 for Thursday and Friday, $15 on Saturday and $20 on Sunday.

Special IJSBA Super Passes, which include both a general admission ticket and a pit pass will also be available at the gate for the final four days (Oct. 9-12). Four day Super Passes will be $60 each, three day (Friday-Sunday) will be $55, Two day (Saturday and Sunday) will be $50 and Sunday only will be $35.

Various discounts, with valid ID and good for up to two discounted tickets, are also available for AWA/IJSBA members, Military personnel, senior citizens (over 60) and residents of Lake Havasu City.

Desert Steel Motorsports will produce and promote the massive, internationally televised event with a small army of nearly 300 staff and volunteers.

While this is the first time DSM Events has completely co-produced the IJSBA World Finals, the group has provided specific goods and services for nearly 10 years. Started in 1994, DSM Events has produced 60 motorsports events during the past nine years, including 28 in Lake Havasu City. v Title Sponsor of the 2003 IJSBA World Finals is the Lake Havasu City Tourism Bureau.

Co-sponsors of this year's IJSBA World Finals are Kawasaki, Yamaha, Polaris, Sea-Doo and Honda. Associate Sponsors are Budweiser, Bud Light, and Beach House.

Special thanks from the IJSBA and DSM Events are extended to Personal Watercraft Illustrated, the May Agency, Cycle News, Loco GoGo, Ramada Inn, Sun State and KJJJ FM.

Helping to commemorate the history of the IJSBA World Finals, Robert Whelan, Mayor of Lake Havasu City, has proclaimed the week of October 5-12, 2003 as "IJSBA World Finals Week" in Lake Havasu City.

"In recognition of the outstanding contributions made by this organization for the general betterment of Lake Havasu City, and extend our heartfelt congratulations to the IJSBA as they celebrate the 22nd anniversary of this event," the proclamation states.

Another popular ancillary event will be the 2003 IJSBA World Finals Poker Run, presented by the May Agency and Personal Watercraft Illustrated on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Rotary Beach in Lake Havasu City.

For more information, please contact DSM Events at 928.855.2208 or visit www.dsmevents.com.

Also, check out the official website of the IJSBA World Finals at www.ijsba.com.