Closing out another great summer of racing along the river

The 2019 World Jet Boat Championships took place in July and were a whirlwind for both racers and spectators. Though we did cover it as it happened, the Press wanted to get a final wrap up on how things went. Vice-president of the Whitecourt Riverboat Association, Karey Crawford, said the event was very successful. “We had 40 boats in total. We were hoping for around 60 but I think with the economy the way it is and the uncertainty out there that it played into the overall number of boats.” There were boats from New Zealand, Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

Even with a lower number in the water, the spectators came out in droves thanks to sunny, hot weather. “Summer finally came and lots of people came out. The stands were full, and it was really nice to see lots of people out watching the races.” The water levels were high but that didn’t bother the racers. “It made it a little interesting, but the racers liked it. It makes the water a little rougher and a little more challenging but it’s just another day on the river,” he said.

Things kicked off in Whitecourt on July 12 with a new setup for deciding pole positions. In previous years, officials just used a hat to pull names out and place boats in their spots. “I think the race committee thought it would be a good idea and fair to do timed trials for pole position. It was a really good idea, and everyone loved it,” said Crawford. The new format also gives racers a chance to see each other in action before race day. “Everybody wants to see what everybody else has on the first day to know where they stand,” adding with a chuckle, “and everybody wants to be the big dog on the first day!”

There were a couple of scary incidences during the July 12 to 21 stretch of racing but, thankfully, everyone made it home safely. Kwik Kiwi from New Zealand, driven by Nigel Cromie, came to a brutal and sudden end when his boat suddenly ignited while speeding down the river. “It was the last day and the last leg of the race and he was in second place when it happened. His motor compartment was closed, and I believe there were some fuel fumes in there that ignited, and they had an explosion on the boat.”

Thanks to a quick maneuver, both men were up on the bank quickly and out of the boat in seconds. They escaped with minor burns and were photographed with big smiles on their faces not long afterwards. There were also a couple of incidents in Whitecourt including one that had people scrambling. “We would like to thank all the support boats and medical crew for their quick action in responding to the incident that we had when the boat flipped over. They did a great job. The volunteers in Whitecourt also did a stellar job setting up and cleaning up after us when we had to leave in a rush,” said Crawford.

The overall winner of the 2019 World Jet Boat Championship was Ross Schlotthauer and his boat Bat Outta Hell. “He has an amazing team and crew. They kept the boat running even though they had quite a few issues during the race, but they were always proactive and found the issues. They dealt with them and finished every day and they were fast. He’s a dedicated, good racer and it’s a pleasure to have him here from the states.” The top Whitecourt team was Are Mayhem driven by Regan Redlick from Peers. The next event coming up for the Whitecourt Riverboat Association is a gathering on August 24. “We used to have a summer/fall rally but its been tough to get people out for it, so we just have an impromptu rally set for the 24th.” From there the group will begin planning for next year’s spring rally and the local races in August. “I really want to thank all our volunteers and the local support from our sponsors and everyone who helped that we forgot to mention. Without local volunteer support and local community business support, we wouldn’t be able to put on a race or even have a boating association. They are the most important thing,” said Crawford.