Jet boat races set on St. Joe River
OUTBLAST – What's being billed as the first annual Race the Joe jet boat event is set for May 17-19 based out of St. Maries, Idaho.
Read on for details from the St. Maries Chamber of Commerce.
Race the Joe
The inaugural event launches Thursday, May 16 with a Racer Meet & Greet at Harvest Foods at St. Maries. The Show & Shine Boat Show follows Friday, May 17 at St. Maries Lower City Park in the center of town. This is free event where fans may meet and take photographs of the participating jet boat race teams.
Inboard Limited Hydroplanes are scheduled to be on display courtesy of the Coeur d’Alene Diamond Cup, as well as Webb’s Slough Sprint Boat teams scheduled to perform two exhibitions on Saturday, May 18.
The St. Joe Valley Car Club will offer a pulled-pork BBQ for purchase. The event also features local D.J. and entertainment by Rocky Reynolds and a spectacular free fireworks display at dusk!
Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19 will feature two days of action-packed racing on the St. Joe River from the Idaho Forest Industries Landing to the Calder Bridge and back with several race legs along the approximate 25-mile course each day.
“Several teams that have contacted us and confirmed they have made reservations to come to Race the Joe!” Epic Media Director Kyla Sawyer said.
The St. Joe River at St. Maries, Idaho was the kickoff venue for the first leg of the 2012 U.S.A. World Jet Boat Marathon Championship held in April. The race event featured race teams from the U.S.A., Canada and New Zealand. An estimated crowd of approximately 5,000 people came to watch the jet boat races during the two-day event.
Jet river race boat teams will compete in one of five race classes based on engine size, speed and hull design. Spectators may watch the race for free from a riverbank with public access along the St. Joe River.