Havasu based Bullett Racing has a long list of world titles. Pic courtesy Bullett Racing.

The lake trembled at the passage of hundreds of racers last week, at the International Jet Sport Boating Association’s World Finals. The roar of engines receded Sunday, the waters calmer with the event’s conclusion.

The IJSBA World Finals drew more than 20,000 visitors to Havasu over eight days, and featured more than 500 racers and crew members from 42 countries. According to IJSBA executive director Scott Frazier, the organization’s 35th showing in Havasu exceeded expectations.

During election years, visitation to the IJSBA World Finals tends to fall, Frazier said. This year, the organization saw increased visitation, as well as participants. In the international community, some race teams faced more difficulty in coming to Havasu, due to a decline in the value of their currency, and the increased expense of making the trip.

“I’m pleased that they made it a priority to come here to compete,” Frazier said. “With those things in mind, the event has been a tremendous success.”

With the close proximity of Las Vegas, San Diego and other major cities which host international air-ports, Frazier says Havasu has been an ideal location for the event since it began.

“We’ve been coming for so many years,” Frazier said. “Everyone loves it here. It’s part of (IJSBA’s) culture. The weather’s nice, the cost of living’s low, and we live within a two-hour drive of the nearest airport. This place is tough to beat.”

Frazier says that three of the competition’s standout-teams this year have been a local team sponsored by Bullet, a United Kingdom team sponsored by Sea-Doo, and an Indonesian team sponsored by Yamaha. Even more worthy of notice, Frazier said, was the Havasu community.

“It’s spectacular, coming out,” Frazier said. “There are a lot of fans, a lot of people wishing us good will – I can’t tell you how amazing it is. The City of Lake Havasu and Crazy Horse Campgrounds have really supported us, and their support is a really important part of our ability to come.”

Producer Jim Russell, of DSM Events, spent 16 days at Crazy Horse Campgrounds, with help from local sponsors including the Lake Havasu City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Russell’s crews spent one week setting up the event, which ran for eight days, and will spend the next three days clearing the area so that Crazy Horse Campgrounds can resume normal operations.

“We’ve built a veritable city here,” Russell said. “We provided the power, sanitation, security, internet access and the liquor for the event. People all over the world race to qualify just to come to Havasu to compete.”

Russell says the IJSBA World Finals is Havasu’s largest event because of its duration. “There isn’t another event like this,” Russell said. “We’ve been holding this event 35 continuous years. It was conceived and born here. Thanks to our partnership with the CVB, we hope to be here 35 years more.”

According to Frazier, there were three minor injuries at the event this year, and no major injuries.