World Finals Minimum Precautions

In order to prevent the potential introduction of COVID-19, IJSBA is making changes and implementing restrictions in relation to the normal operation of World Finals.  This list is the start of our process to design the mitigation measures.  These announcements should be considered the very basic of what to expect at all times during the event.

1. Registration and Sign In will be extended by an additional day.  Initial practice is expected to be pushed to Tuesday, with registration to take place Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.  This extra day will allow for more distancing and less intermingling of participants and crew.
2. The riders’ briefing, normally held on Sunday night will now take place on Monday afternoon, at the race site.
3. Volunteer medical professionals will be at the entrance to the pits.  Temperature controls will be in place.  Random screenings are to be expected.
4. There will be one grandstand.  Volunteer medical professionals will be stationed next to the grandstand.  Grandstand entry will require a daily temperature check.  Persons who receive the temperature check will receive specific colored wristband for the day.  No person will be admitted to the grandstand who does not have the correct colored wristband.
5. VIP area, as well as the area where the second grandstand normally sat, will be turned into lawn chair seating in both reserved sections as well as a “first come first served” section.  Distancing will be required between lawn chair placements with only members of the same household, or similar regular contact, will be allowed to place lawn chairs in a close proximity pod arrangement.
6. VIP hospitality will be a daily snack and gift along with a reserved observation area.  Buffet food will be suspended for 2020.
7. Award ceremonies will not take place on Friday and Sunday nights.  Instead, awards will be given daily on the beach with proper distancing.
8. Food service providers will be required to maintain enhanced precautionary measures during the event including facemasks, gloves, and regular sanitizing.  This will be the case irrespective even if local and/or state laws no longer require the use of such measures at the time of the event.
9. Vendor placement will be staggered, in the trade show portion of the event, to allow for regular distancing.  All vendors must employ daily sanitization measures.
10. Hand washing stations will be present throughout the event.
11. Persons not complying with mitigation measures will be removed from the event without exception.
12. Technical and safety inspections will be staggered in a larger area to allow for distancing to be maintained.

What you can expect at the 2020 World Finals

IJSBA is preparing a plan that relies, primarily, on federal, state, and local guidelines and requirements.  As these rules are constantly evolving, so too will our plan evolve. What is being reported here are the minimum precautions IJSBA will be taking to ensure that we deliver you the best possible World Championship.  Make no mistake, amenities will likely be cut in order to prepare for producing the event under difficult financial conditions.  Do not expect the same World Finals you normally see.  Do expect great racing, the world’s best staff, and the push to return back to normal, next year, for our 40^th Anniversary event.

IJSBA is charged with the obligation to ensure that Personal Watercraft Racing is maintained as a constant, sustainable, and prestigious sport.  This obligation extends to competitors, the support industries, the numerous tradespersons who make their living in the watercraft business, the fans, event organizers, International Affiliates, and the OEM Manufacturers which govern IJSBA.  The lead agency of nearly every major sport, around the world, has either started back up or has announced their intentions to operate, this year, under restrictive conditions.  IJSBA believes it is in the best interest of the PWC community to hold the 2020 World Finals and to continue to demonstrate the resilience of the sport and to maintain the confidence of all participants that PWC racing will persevere even in the most complicated times.  The PWC Racing sport, and PWC performance industry, are no less significant than any of the other sports and industries that are making a commitment to carry on this year.  We will get this done, and get it done correctly, so that our special 40^th celebration, in 2021, is everything it should be.

This week, IJSBA will be contacting immigration officials in the USA, as well as other countries, to prepare the proper environment for attendees to obtain travel permission.  We will have more announcements on the subject of mitigation measures at World Finals as things develop from planning to implementation.  We will also have announcements of more fun and exciting things that have to do with PWC Racing, too.

  For questions or comments about this bulletin, please email info@Ijsba.com.