The 2026 Short Block Technologies World Finals are just around the corner, happening October 3-11 at Red Rock Waterside* in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.   Normally, we have two awards ceremonies which take place on Friday and Sunday and cover all completed classes.  Lake Havasu City local business owner and race director, Brian "Bubba" Smith came up with some really good ideas for the 2026 SBT World Finals/Second Round WGP1 Word Series that IJSBA intends to implement. 

First, he has conceived reimagining the Sunday final awards as a closing ceremonies event which takes place under the London Bridge.  For those of you who are new to this, there is a whole English Village there wish restaurants and other attractions.  This creates a very special display and gathering for all of the award recipients for the final classes including the Pro Classes.  This has the support of many local businesses which Bubba has orchestrated to make a new concept of how the final awards are presented.

Second, IJSBA is planning to hold the first awards on Thursday instead of the traditional Friday.  This will add a couple of classes to the Sunday awards but will make the Thursday awards a bit shorter.  Moreso, this will allow attendees to enjoy a Friday night to experience the Lake Havasu nightlight and dining scene as well as some of the evening workshops that will be held from trade show participants.  Normally, there are no free evenings due to awards being on Friday, the Freestyle Night Show being on Saturday and awards being on Sunday.

A lot of changes will be coming to World Finals along with new faces taking up leadership roles for segments of the event.  New ideas are needed and we believe this is an exciting and welcomed change to the World Finas program.  

So, we are asking you to comment on whether you support moving the Friday awards to Thursday and whether you believe it is best to have these awards at the venue or at the location under the bridge where the Sunday closing ceremonies and awards will be held.  Please share your opinion by emailing IJSBA at info@ijsba.com.  We look forward to seeing you in less than sixty days.

 

*used to be Crazy Horse.  Same location and new name!!!