Event Wrap-Up    

2003 AWA NATIONAL PWC JAMBOREE

 275 Riders From Across the Nation Jammed at the Jamboree

      The 2003 AWA National PWC Jamboree was a three-day national personal watercraft (PWC) recreational and family social and entertainment event that provided an opportunity to showcase the positive aspects of PWC as a lifestyle sport.  At the event, 275 participants from 31 different states and Canada were in attendance.  The family-oriented event was set up to bring together enthusiasts that share a common interest – the love of the sport of personal watercraft riding.  The event took place on May 16, 17 and 18 at Nashville Shores Park, just minutes from downtown Nashville. 

     On the shore the atmosphere was electric.  Professional staging and sound system, banners, tents, and corporate and industry displays set the stage for a truly large-scale event.  Watercraft enthusiasts had an opportunity to view and take demo rides on the new 2003 watercraft models, meet NASCAR drivers Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman and even race against them in the Polaris MSX Challenge.  Participants were able to socialize with other watercraft enthusiasts from all over the United States, eat food at Friday and Saturday night BBQ’s, participate in the Hydro-Turf Indo Board Challenge, and watch and participate in seven PWC events that took place during the weekend.      

      Nashville Shores Park was located on the 14,200-acre J. Percy Priest Lake that featured 213 miles of scenic natural shoreline to explore.  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.   About 10 days prior to the Jamboree, record rainfall and flooding raised the level of the lake around eight feet.  Thankfully the Tennessee Core of Engineers was able to drop the level of this huge lake by as much 1-½ feet per day, that by event time the lake was close to normal summer pool.   A week earlier the lake was the highest level the lake has been in 50 years.  Despite a little rain, the combination of a first class facility, together with some exciting recreational PWC events, made this a very exciting and memorable event.   Here are some highlights of the Jamboree:

AWA National PWC Jamboree Event Summary

 PWC Poker Run

The Poker Run was the feature attraction of the AWA National PWC Jamboree where participants had an opportunity to tour beautiful J. Percy Priest Lake and have a chance to win some very big prizes.  And we mean BIG - more than $15,000 in prizes and the winner will have their choice of one of five different watercraft models.  Due to some rain, the event was delayed 30 minutes and all participants were instructed to run the 28-mile Poker Run course set-up for the stand-up participants.  Although the course was shortened, the chance of more possible rain had most of the 209 Poker Run participants going all-out race to finish the Poker Run instead of taking a leisurely cruise on the lake.  Everyone had a great time despite being a little sore from the Poker Run on Sunday.

The grand-prize winner was Amy Cousins, of Sarver, Pennsylvania, with a nine-high flush, beating out 2nd place finisher Karen Grimes, of Florence, Kentucky, who had an eight-high flush.  Amy chose the Honda AquaTrax as the Grand Prize. The event finished back at Nashville Shores for an awards ceremony, BBQ and party where more than 200 prizes were awarded to the participants. 

Polaris MSX Super Challenge with Rusty Wallace

The Polaris MSX Challenge was an exciting event where riders had an opportunity to compete on the new Polaris MSX watercraft on a special Slalom course and try to beat the times set by NASCAR drivers Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman.  The riders with the fastest time in a Men's, Women's, and Veteran class were crowned the winners and took home some nice prizes from Polaris.  Medals will be awarded to the top three riders in each class and the winner will receive a special trophy from Rusty Wallace.  The rider with the fastest time was Rod Hipwell from Personal Watercraft Illustrated Magazine with a time of 18.93.  Rod received the trophy from Rusty Wallace, but since Rod was an industry representative, he graciously gave the trophy back to Rusty and Rusty awarded the trophy to  Kevin Milliken, who had the second fastest time of 18.93.  This event was followed by a charity auction where Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman auctioned off some autographed NASCAR items.  This year $2,415 was raised for the Victory Junction Gang Camp from the auction. 

Riva Yamaha - King of the Beach

The Riva Yamaha - King of the Beach event was an event that gave riders an opportunity to carve buoys like the Pros on a simulated racecourse.  Sixty-seven participants each got to take two laps on the course, going one at a time, with the riders with the fastest times in a Men’s Runabout, Women’s Runabout, Veteran Runabout (Age 40+), and Ski classes winning medals and gift certificates from Riva Yamaha.  The rider with the fastest time was crowned “King of the Beach” at the Friday night BBQ and was awarded a special trophy custom trophy.  The 2003 Riva Yamaha King of the Beach was Mark Aylor, of Columbus, Ohio, with a time of 47.27.  Kenny McKenzie, of Columbia, South Carolina, was the fastest Ski rider with a time of  58.12.

 Radar Gun Shootout

The Radar Gun Shootout was an event that found out who had the fastest PWC on the beach.  Sixty-six participants each made two runs on a straight course.  The peak speed-reading on the radar gun was used to determine each rider’s top speed.  Medals will be awarded to the top three participants in the Runabout and Ski divisions, as well as some nice prizes.  The Radar Gun Shootout overall winner was John West, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a top speed of 75.73 mph on his Yamaha GP1200R.  Finishing second was Chris Cason of Waynesboro, Virginia, with a top speed of 74.72 mph, also on a Yamaha GP1200R.

24-7 Innovations Sickest Trick Competition

The 24-7 Sickest Trick Freestyle competition was an exciting Freestyle event that took place after the Poker Run on Saturday May 17.  Instead of Freestyle riders performing a timed routine, Freestyle riders went one at a time and performed the best freestyle trick.  Seven Freestyle riders each had five opportunities to perform their Sickest Trick.  Judging will be based on crowd response from the Jamboree participants and the Jamboree staff.  Judging was very difficult and the field of seven participants was narrowed down to three to perform one final trick.  The crowd of many Freestyle riders cheered “Sub Off” so event Director, Patrick Mell informed the riders that the winner would be decided by the best sub trick.  All three riders gave it their all, but it was Darrin Jet, with a perfect Inverted Sub, crowned the winner.  The 24-7 Sickest Trick winner received a $150 check from 24-7 Innovations, as well as taking home a special custom trophy.  The 2003 winner was Darrin Jet of Louisville, Kentucky, with Gary Burtka of Chicago, Illinois, finishing second and Charles Cason of Newark, Ohio taking third place honors.

Guinness Book of Records Parade of Watercraft

For the 2003 Jamboree, the event received approval from Guinness World Records to establish a World Record from this event for the “Largest Parade of Personal Watercraft”.   One hundred and fifty-five personal watercraft participated in the Parade of Watercraft.  This information and photos is now being sent to Guinness for processing.

Custom Watercraft Competition

Another event at the Jamboree was the Custom Watercraft Competition.  Judging was based on the best overall watercraft.  The winner of the Custom Watercraft Competition was Mike Jenkins of Portland, Tennessee with his customized Yamaha GP1200R, who took home an awesome custom trophy. 

 Spectacular Sponsors

The AWA National PWC Jamboree was very fortunate to have many generous sponsors that were involved with the event.  Special thanks to these event and product sponsors that have made it possible for the event to take place: Advanced Sleeve, Beach House, Cometic Gasket, Factory Direct Performance, Fly, Gator Grip, Hansen’s Energy, Honda, Honda of Cool Springs, Hydro-Turf, Jazz Motorsports, Kawasaki, K&N Engineering, May Agency, Mountain Adventures Honda, Outerwears, Personal Watercraft Illustrated, Polaris, PWCToday.com, Riva Yamaha, Roll-N-Go, Sea-Doo, Slippery, Watercraft World, Wicked Watercraft, Wiseco, Yamaha, Yuasa Battery and 24-7 Innovations.

 About The AWA

The American Watercraft Association is the nation’s largest PWC owner’s organization. A membership organization dedicated to protecting and preserving PWC owners’ rights to access and use public waterways, the AWA leads the boating community, on behalf of its members, in advocating responsible use and safe boating laws. The AWA also serves as the sanctioning body for recreational PWC events throughout the United States, offering PWC riders’ opportunities to enjoy their PWC with like-minded enthusiasts in a safe and fun manner.  

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