Like many PWC enthusiasts, riders all over the world know about the Mark Hahn Memorial 300 Mile Endurance Race. This is the “World’s Longest Continuous PWC Race” available to the PWC riding community. This race will test you and your team to your limits, test your machine to unprecedented speeds and test your body to see if it has what it takes to last in the race against the conditions.
Mark Hahn was a dedicated PWC rider and gave back to our ever-growing community. Sadly he was involved in a crash during a race in 2004. This race was created to continue his legacy and the impact he left on us. Many riders do everything in their power during their race to complete it and use his legacy as fuel to continue on.
This is a “Team” event which means that there are allowed two riders per team for the sitdown class and three riders per team for the stand up class. While many riders form a team to increase their chances of completing the race, a select few choose to ride solo the entire race to gain the title of Ironman. The riders that sign up for this races are by no means, new to this sport. This is a race where the best riders in the USA and surrounding countries will show their ability to withstand any condition and have the endurance to race and complete a 300 mile race.
A race with this magnitude could not be put on without the help of very supportive sponsors: Hot Products USA and Yamaha Motor Corp USA. This year’s race has built a ton of anticipation and is projected to bring in a record setting number of entries. The stakes are higher, the prizes are bigger, and the giveaways are plentiful. We understand if you are unable to make the trip and participate in the race but any support to give to fellow races would be greatly appreciated!
The race has been welcomed back to the Crazy Horse Campground’s Main Beach in Lake Havasu City, Arizona for the starting line of the race. The race date is Sunday February 12, 2017. Get your plans and team ready because the countdown is upon us!
Be sure to read the full press release below:
13th Annual Hot Products IJSBA Mark Hahn Memorial Havasu 300 Presented by Yamaha Set for Sunday February 12, 2017 in Lake Havasu
The 13th Annual “World’s Longest Continuous PWC Race” was announced today by the event promoter Jim Russell, DSM Events owner, and Executive producer Mike Follmer. The 2017 Hot Products IJSBA Mark Hahn Memorial Havasu 300 Mile National Team Endurance Race Presented by YAMAHA is all set to launch on Sunday, February 12, 2017 from Crazy Horse Campground in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The 2016 event attracted teams and riders from 14 Countries around the world and will once again be sanctioned by the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA), and it is expected to draw a new record number teams from around the globe as well as all of the top PWC racers from the USA. The Teams will be competing against each other while trying to break the 300 mile record of 4 hour 46 minute and 13 seconds set by the 2016 Mark Hahn Memorial Overall winners Pastorello and Botti of Team Kawasaki France.
For the 13th consecutive year the race is being held again in the memory of endurance racer Mark Hahn who was instrumental in providing the momentum to keep endurance racing going strong and growing across the country before his untimely death during a PWC race in 2004. The “Team” format features two riders for runabout (sit down) boat teams and up to three riders for a stand-up craft. Solo riders are also welcome to “Ironman” the race on either style of boat, a real test of endurance and stamina reserved for only the true endurance zealots. The 2011 event was the second PWC event to use transponders in the United States and it was well received and helped to increase the professionalism of this national event. Transponders have been used since that time and will be used again in the 2017 event.
“The race is returning to Crazy Horse Campground’s Main Beach site for this very important event”, said Jim Russell, “and the 10 mile course we have approval from the Coast Guard will pit all the teams against the wind, rough water and long runs that this event has become synonymous with.” In addition to all the weather and water conditions all the teams have to contend with, they will also be required to make fuel stops, without spilling fuel, and make rider changes several times during the race, while modifying their race strategies as the race progresses. There will be six different classes competing on the race course simultaneously, with all the racers competing for the overall title. At the conclusion of the race, each class winning team will be crowned the IJSBA National Team Endurance Champion for their respective class. A first-class awards program will feature a sit down dinner and will once again be held at the Aquatic Center – Rods and Recs room.
“After the gigantic success and worldwide recognition received in the press of the 2016 Hot Products Mark Hahn Memorial Presented by Yamaha, it is expected that a new record number of entries will come out for the thirteenth annual event,” Mike Follmer said. “We’re already in high gear making preparations so the 2017 event outshine what we did in 2016 by getting more giveaways and even nicer trophies for the massive awards banquet at the Aquatic Center that will far surpass what we did in 2016. We have on the water still photography and magazine coverage to chronicle the event for the riders. The awards banquet will feature a sit down dinner for over 300 people and over 75 award trophies to be presented too overall and class winners with a host of special awards that will once again surprise their worthy recipients.”
We are very fortunate to have Hot Products USA return as the title sponsor of the 2017 event as well as Yamaha Motor Corp USA and all our many other great sponsors that have helped support this exciting event for many years. All of the pre-race attention and planning for the 2017 IJSBA Hot Products Mark Hahn Memorial Presented by Yamaha will guarantee that it will far surpass the previous years which have been heralded by many as the “Best PWC race on the planet”! Get your teams together and your entry in early to make sure you don’t miss out on this great experience.
Entry forms and entry information sheets will be released soon for the February 18th event. Entry forms, race information, updates will be posted on the Mark Hahn Facebook page and web sites at: www.pwctoday.com, www.pwcoffshore.com, www.ijsba.com
