The American Power Boating Association (APBA) is excited to announce that the APBA, together with its race promoters, has made a decision to replace the APBA Triple Crown of Watercross with the APBA Western States Cup and Eastern States Cup Series. This change will create two three-event national racing circuits to be run during the season instead of one. Both series will provide an opportunity to showcase the sport at three great race locations. Many of the events are run in conjunction with major festivals, or at great locations that will have large spectator turnouts, that will create new race fans for the sport. Both the APBA Eastern and Western States Cup series will have their own champions, titles, and awards similar to Supercross for the 125 class.

“With minimal support and sponsorship currently available to racers to travel, creating the two Eastern and Western States Cup series just makes more sense”, said Patrick Mell, APBA Marketing and Event Coordinator. “Racers on the West Coast can attend three great events and earn a Title while racers on the East Coast can do the same. Once a year, we will all meet together at the APBA Watercross Nationals in Nashville .” The Western and Eastern States Cup events will bring new excitement to the sport of PWC racing.

The original Western States Cup was the creation of West Coast promoters Aaron Boatman (Region 1) and Evan Kilkus (Region 2). The Western States Cup consisted of two events in 2004, and region 3 promoter, Kevin Redinger, from Washington , came on board in 2005 to add the final event of the three-race series. This Western States Cup was a great idea and we we’re certain that these events would be very successful. After several conversations with the APBA race promoters, it kept coming up that “Wouldn’t it be cool to have both a Western and Eastern States Cup?” After a few phone calls to the race promoters, and a few racers that participated on the 2004 Triple Crown, we were all in agreement that this is the right thing to do for our sport. With two of the scheduled Triple Crown events already on the East Coast, the only thing that needed to be done was to find one additional East Coast event to make this a reality.

All six of these double-round events will be recognized by the APBA as “APBA National” events and the events will receive 1.5 times points value toward the APBA National Highpoints Championship, which determines racers annual ranking. The APBA Watercross Nationals in Nashville will receive double points, and all other regional races will receive single points.

Racers will have the option to compete in many different racing classes that will be offered at these events. There will be classes for Novice to Pro-Am riders and event and overall awards and titles given out for all recognized classes. The final class structure will be released next week and will be based on the demand and past participation of riders on each coast.

The final event of the year, the Eastern States Cup event in Rochester , New York , will be filmed and nationally televised for a one-hour show for the Outdoor Channel’s Speedzone television show. The event will receive primetime coverage - the Speedzone show airs at 5:00 pm EST ( 2:00 PST ) on Saturdays.

2005 APBA WESTERN STATES CUP EVENTS
ROUNDS 1-2 – Granada Street Watercross Nationals
April 23 & 24, 2005
Granada Street – Long Beach , California
Promoter – Everclear Promotions

Everclear Promotions is proud to welcome racers from across the country to the Granada Street Watercross Nationals.  This event will be rounds one and two of the APBA Western States Cup.  This event will take place on April 23-24 just south of the beautiful Belmont Pier and boardwalk in  Long Beach , California .  Training grounds for some of the best talents in the watercraft race industry, this inaugural event will include two days of racing action and is guaranteed to have the hottest on and off water action in 2005.  Located inside a protected break wall from the Pacific Ocean , don’t be fooled as the race course is sure to shake things up with 3-foot rolling swells and the fast salt water mix together and create some of the most challenging racing conditions. Think you are the hottest woman on the beach prove it in the $700 Raceski.com - winner take all bikini contest.  A fabulous awards dinner and racer’s party will take place at 7:00PM each night at Sunsets on the Beach.  Don't worry everything you need is in one spot.

ROUNDS 3-4 – Columbia River Watercross Shootout
June 18-19, 2005
Howard Amons Park – Richland , Washington
Promoter – Mid-Columbia Watercross

Round 3-4 of the APBA Western States Cup will take place in Richland , Washington , on the Columbia River . The Columbia River Watercross Shootout, the opening round for Mid-Columbia Watercross, takes place at Howard Amons Park that is located in the Tri-Cities area on June 18-19. The Richland site has hosted a personal watercraft race every year for over 20 years, including a National Tour stop a few years back. The water conditions will be rough and unpredictable that will make for great racing action. With a beautiful nice beach, ample parking, motorhome camping allowed on site, and the host hotel (The Red Lion Inn) a few hundred feet from the race site, this is region 3’s premier race site. Both the awards ceremonies and Saturday night racers party will take place at Jackson ’s Sports Bar that is also walking distance from the race site.

ROUNDS 5-6 – Benicia Waterfront Festival
July 29, 30 & 31, 2005
Waterfront - Benicia , California
Promoters – Pacific Coast Entertainment & Bay Area Watercross

The final two rounds of the Western States Cup will be held in the historic town of Benicia , California , that is located 40 miles East of San Francisco, on July 30 and 31. The event is run in conjunction with the 12 th annual Benicia Waterfront Festival that attracts over 20,000 spectators. This event is a favorite for the west coast riders, as the huge crowd of spectators really get excited about the PWC racing. Expect a large turnout of riders from regions 1, 2 and 3 at this event at the third and final round of the Western States Cup. In addition to the personal watercraft races, the event will feature live bands, many kinds of food, arts and crafts vendors, and a Micro Brew Beer Garden .

2005 APBA EASTERN STATES CUP EVENTS

ROUNDS 1-2 - “The XTreme”
July 2 & 3, 2005
Panama City Marina - Downtown Panama City , Florida
Promoter – Surf & Turf Promotions

The first two rounds of the APBA Eastern States Cup will take place in downtown Panama City , Florida , on July 2 nd and 3 rd as one of the feature attractions of “The XTreme” extreme sports festival. The Xtreme received an award last year as Florida ’s #1 new event. On the bay will feature APBA sanctioned personal watercraft racing with some of the most talented and nationally ranked riders in the country. There will be two days of exciting racing action.

In addition to the Watercross racing events, catch the “Giant Bicycle Stunt Team’s” show, which has traveled all over the world performing their BMX skills to millions. The popular “Team FMX” Freestyle Motorcycle team will also get your attention with their aerial displays in the Marina Area. The event also features nonstop music, hundreds of food and craft booths, adult beverages, and a fireworks show. Make your plans now for the most “OUTRAGEOUS” event ever in the Panhandle area! For more info on The Xtreme visitwww.panamacitydowntown.com/Event/extreme.html.

ROUNDS 3-4 – Celina Lake Festival
July 23-24, 2005
Waterfront – Celina , Ohio
Promoter – PM Sports Marketing

Rounds 3 and 4 of the APBA Eastern States Cup will take place in Celina , Ohio , as a feature attraction of the annual Celina Lake Festival. Located in Center of Ohio near the Indian border, the event takes place on Grand Lake that was for many years recognized as the largest man-made reservoir in the world. The Celina Lake Festival attracts over 40,000 spectators annually and the festival features over 50 events and attractions, more than 100 vendors, carnival rides, car show and the spectacular Shoot for the Stars fireworks display on Friday night. In between the races will be the cardboard duct tape boat races as well as the largest gathering of Amphicars in the world. With great events and a huge spectator draw, the Celina Lake Festival will be a great event to showcase our sport.

ROUNDS 5-6 - Toyota Water Jam
August 27 & 28, 2005
Ontario Beach Park - Rochester , New York
Promoter – Upstate Watercraft Promotions

The final round of the Eastern States Cup is the Toyota Water Jam that will take place in Rochester , New York , at Ontario Beach Park , on August 27-28. Lake Ontario may be an in-land lake, but don’t expect calm waters! It can be calm in the morning and 10-foot waves in the afternoon – so be prepared for all conditions and great racing action at the final event. There will be plenty going on that weekend in Rochester . Other events scheduled to take place during the event include a Fast and the Furious Car show, Freestyle Motocross show and other exciting events.

Following racing on both days the APBA Eastern States Cup Champions will be crowned and coveted with spectacular awards down on the beach in front of the Toyota Water Jam’s main stage with the crowd there to cheer them on! This event will be filmed for a one-hour show produced for the Outdoor Channel’s Speedzone TV show. Stay tuned for dates and times. This is an event you do not want to miss!

For more information on the APBA Western and Eastern States Cup events, call the APBA at (586) 773-9700 or visit www.apbaracing.com on the Internet. For more information on the three Western States Cup events go to www.WesternStatesCup.com.

Contact Info
Western States Cup

Aaron Boatman - Everclear Promotions - Region 1 aaronboatman@yahoo.com
Evan Kilkus - Pacific Coast Watercross - Region 2 evan@pacificwatercross.com
Kevin Redinger - Mid-Columbia Watercross - Region 3 midcolumbiawc@msn.com

Eastern States Cup

Patrick Mell – PM Sports Marketing - Region 6 patrickmell@aol.com
Mike Young – Surf & Turf Promotions - Region 7 mpyoungjr@aol.com
AJ Handler – Upstate Watercraft Promotions - Region 8 aj@uwpinc.com