Desert Storm and Lake of the Ozarks Shootout: Two Sure Things
For high-performance powerboat action, you can’t miss with these two very different events.
November 10, 2010
For most of you, the boating season actually includes time on the water. Kind of makes sense, right?
At the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout this August, the unbroken spectator fleet was more than two miles long.
But what if you’re boating season included very little time on the water? What if you spent most of your time on the shore watching other people spend time on the water? You’d be, well, me.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. No way. I get paid to observe and write about something I’ve come to love. And this year, I had the joy of covering the best two events—Desert Storm and The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout—I’ve seen in 16 years of writing about the go-fast boating world.
Held on Lake Havasu, which has shorelines in Arizona and California, Desert Storm is a multi-day event that includes a poker run, a street fair, a top-speed “shootout” and more. The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, which happens in central Missouri, is a multi-day event that includes a top-speed shootout, large parties, a small poker run and more.
With more than 150 registered boats in 2010, Desert Storm is the world's largest poker run.
At both events, there’s enough exposed female flesh to fill the next 100 years of “Girls Gone Wild” videos—at least in certain settings and a moments—yet both retain a decidedly “family-oriented” atmosphere. Something for everyone, so to speak.
Which event is better, Desert Storm or the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout is the subject of endless online message board fodder, and there really is no definitive answer. But one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that both are better than anything happening this year on any of the offshore racing circuits. From action on the water and high-dollar hardware to people watching, Desert Storm and the Shootout rule. It’s not even close.
Now, before you, the offshore racing faithful, start filling my email box with suggestions on what I can do with my opinion, take a breath and realize that I’m not attacking you. There are bright spots, such as the racer passion and dedication generated within the Offshore Powerboat Association. But ongoing fragmentation combined with the pitiful economy of the last few years (as veteran offshore racing photographer Jeff Gerardi of Freeze Frame said to me a couple of weeks ago, “When the money stops, the fun stops”) has decimated the sport. And if you think the word “decimated” is a little strong, consider the anemic 10-boat fleet that showed up for the Super Boat International race this summer on the Hudson River in New York City.
With more than 150 registered boats in 2010, Desert Storm is the world's largest poker run.
Again, no fingers pointed, it just is what it is. But while offshore racing has been in a steady decline—fewer events with lower boat counts—since the demise of APBA Offshore LLC in 2001, Desert Storm and The Shootout have seen steady growth. To be fair, both events appeal to recreational performance-boat enthusiasts, which represent a far greater slice of go-fast boating pie than offshore racing fans. But both also have added other activities such as a poker run for the Shootout and a shootout for the Desert Storm poker run to help support their “main events.” And in doing so, they’ve reached an even broader audience.
In mid-October, I’m headed to Orange Beach, Ala., to cover the OPA Offshore World Championships. In mid-November, I’m likely cover to SBI Offshore World Championships in Key West, Fla. And I’m looking forward to both, as I enjoy the sport—even when it isn’t in the best of health.
But I’m really looking to covering Desert Storm and the Lake of the Ozarks next year. Because as successful, essential and enjoyable performance-boating events, both are sure things.
Photos by Robert Brown
Bi-weekly columnist Matt Trulio is the editor at large for Powerboat magazine. He has written for the magazine since 1994. Trulio’s daily blog can be found on speedonthewater.com, a site he created and maintains, which is the high-performance arm of the BoaterMouth group.
