With only 14 days remaining to Waterfest 2006, featuring the 2006 Gamez-N-Flix APBA Watercross Nationals and the National PWC Jamboree presented by Sea-Doo, the event shaping up to be the “must-attend’ watercraft event of the Summer. Waterfest 2006 is a three-day national racing and recreational personal watercraft (PWC) event that provides opportunity for PWC owners to participate in a fun event.
The whole atmosphere of the event will be fun and family-oriented and will take place on September 1-3 at Nashville Shores Park, just minutes from downtown Nashville. Watercraft enthusiasts can watch some of the best watercraft racing action to take place all year long, socialize with other watercraft enthusiasts, and watch and participate in more than several recreational PWC related events that will take place during the three days.
The event is also the final points round for the 2006 APBA Watercross National Tour and final points round for the APBA National Highpoints Championship that determines riders national ranking and numbers. The event is open to all watercraft enthusiasts – racers and recreational riders and it is free to watch the racing events
The feature attraction of Waterfest 2006 is the APBA Watercross National Championship racing events. The event will feature the top Amateur, Pro and Junior racers from all across the United States and Canada competing for cash, awards, and National Championship titles and numbers. The event will be filmed for two separate shows to air on the new Water Channel cable network – Competition H20 and X20 Beach Extreme.
In addition to the top Amateur riders, all the top riders in the U.S. are expected to be in attendance, including Eric Malone, Dustin Farthing, Rob Flores, Eric Lagopoulos, Craig Warner, Tim Bushman, Erminio Iantasca, Billy Dearman, Amy Green Leanne Falvey, Dennis Mack, Rick Sherker, Bill Haig, and many others will be in attendance trying to earn a shot at a National Championship title. Racers can still register for the event online or by fax until Friday August 25th without a penalty or on site at late registration.
While the main attraction is the APBA Watercross National Championships, there will be several other events for watercraft enthusiasts to enjoy as part of the Jamboree including the SlalomX SuperChallenge, Radar Gun Shootout, and the Riva King of the Beach for non-racers and racer’s family members to participate in. There will be no Poker Run this year. Registration for all the Jamboree events will take place at the event.
Nashville Shores Park is located on the 14,200-acre J. Percy Priest Lake that features 213 miles of scenic natural shoreline to explore. This is the same site that hosted last year’s Waterfest event. The lake is absolutely beautiful, and except for several marinas, campgrounds, boat launches, and parks, including Nashville Shores, the rest of this huge lake is wide open. The combination of a first class facility, together with exciting recreational PWC events, will make this a very exciting and memorable event.
WATERFEST 2006 EVENTS
APBA Watercross National Championships
Similar to motocross on the water, Watercross racing is handle bar-to-handle bar competition that pits rider and machine in a personal watercraft battlefield. Reaching top speeds of over 80mph, closed course racing features a buoy-marked track that is designed to keep the competition tight and fans close to the action. Each race begins with one of the most gut-wrenching experiences in motorsports - the side-by-side gated start. Similar to horse racing, a PWC racing start features 20 riders exploding off the line, each thinking to themselves “I’m going to be the first one to that buoy.” Surviving the first-turn is just the beginning. Speed, technique and racing ability will all come into play over the next 20 minutes, as the riders begin to negotiate a series of left- and right-hand turns - and oh yeah, one must not forget the man-made log jumps.
APBA Amateur & Pro Freestyle National Championships
The event will feature both A Pro and Amateur Freestyle competition that highlights the acrobatical abilities of these highly specialized athletes and their watercraft. One of the truly “extreme sports,” freestyle features some of the most gifted athletes on the beach, performing two-minute routines in an Olympic-style format for a panel of seven judges. Amateur Freestyle will be run on Saturday and Pro Freestyle on Sunday. Like introduced last year, Pro Freestyle participants will get to do one final trick in between two water ski boats to do one BIG air trick.
Radar Gun Shootout
The Radar Shootout will find out who has the fastest PWC in the United States. Participants will make two runs on a straight 1/4-mile course. The winner will be determined by the reading on the radar gun. Speeds approaching 90 mph will be registered at this event – that’s fast! This event is scheduled to run on Saturday morning from 8:00 am - 11:00 am.
Riva King of the Beach
So your boat goes fast in a straight line – but can you ride it. The Watercross - King of the Beach event will give riders an opportunity to carve buoys like the Pros on a simulated racecourse. NON racing participants will get two laps on the course, going one at a time, with the riders with the fastest times in a Men’s, Women’s and Ski classes taking home some nice awards and prizes from Riva Motorsports and the rider with the fastest time will be crowned “King of the Beach” and win a cool trophy.
SlalomX Super Challenge
The SlalomX Super Challenge is an exciting event where riders will compete on a Slalom course. The watercraft will be supplied for the participants. The riders with the fastest time in a Men's and Women's runabout, and a Ski class will be crowned the winners and take home some nice prizes. The fastest time will win a cool trophy in each class.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday, August 31
2:00 am to 7:00 pm Check-in and Safety Inspection All Classes
Friday, September 1
6:30 am - 7:30 pm Check-In Novice, Junior, and Beginner Classes
8:00 am Riders Meeting
8:00 am – 5:00 pm Check-In all other classes and Jamboree events
8:30 am - 10:00 am Practice Novice, Junior, and Beginner Classes
10:00 am - 5:00 pm Racing
11:00 am - 4:00 pm Check-In Expert, Pro-Am, Amateur and Masters
Events Running on Friday
Watercross - All Novice, Junior and Beginner Motos and Qualifying and LCQ's
Saturday, September 2
6:30 am - 7:30 pm Check-In Expert Vet, Amateur and Masters Classes
8:00 am Riders Meeting
8:00 am – 11:00 am Radar Gun Shootout
8:00 am – 5:00 pm Check-In all other classes and Jamboree events
8:30 am - 10:00 am Practice Expert Vet, Sport, Amateur and Masters Classes
10:00 am - 5:00 pm Racing
1:30 pm Amateur Freestyle
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Riva King of the Beach
7:00 pm Awards – All Friday and Saturday Classes
Events Running on Saturday
Watercross - All Novice, Junior and Beginner Finals
Watercross - All Amateur and Masters, Expert Veteran Ski and Sport Motos, Qualifying and LCQ's
Amateur Freestyle
Radar Gun Shootout
Riva King of the Beach
Sunday, September 3
8:00 am Riders Meeting
8:30 am - 10:00 am Practice Expert, Women’s Runabout and Pro-Am Classes
8:30 am - 4:00 pm Racing
10:00 am – noon Slalom X Challenge
1:00 pm Pro Freestyle
6:00 pm Expert, Pro-Am, Women’s Runabout and Pro Freestyle Awards
Classes Running on Sunday
Watercross - All Expert, Pro-Am and Women’s Runabout classes
Pro Freestyle
Slalom X Challenge
For more information, contact Patrick Mell at (586) 773-9700 or visit www.apbaracing.com orwww.pwcfun.com on the Internet.
