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A Little History
IJSBA World Finals, Lake Havasu City, Arizona
In October 1982, when our new little city in the Arizona desert awoke to find a new event taking place at the Nautical Inn on the island, who could have imagined that it would become the signature event for the City, and the entire sport. Thanks to the IJSBA (International Jet Sport Boating Association), and their premier race, the World Finals, Lake Havasu City now is almost as well known internationally as the Mecca for Personal Watercraft (PWC) Racing as it is for being the home of the London Bridge.
1983 World Finals
The IJSBA was originally formed with the assistance of Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA (then the only maker of personal watercraft) in 1980. It wasn't until 1991 that the name of the association changed to the current one, and the membership was opened to those with all makes of personal watercraft. Meanwhile the World Finals here in Lake Havasu City, continued to grow in size, scope, and impact as the sport grew with more manufacturers building PWCs. The member-driven organization blossomed to over 50,000, worldwide. All of whom look to Lake Havasu as home to their sport.
Races are held not only all across the United States, but in thirty eight foreign nations to enable competitors to qualify to travel to Havasu and compete in the World Finals. To a PWC racer, Lake Havasu City is their Indy 500. No other PWC event in the world, nor any other event in the tristate comes close to the impact of the World Finals. As testament to the true, international complexion of the event, it is the only motorsports event in the tristate with a translator on staff.
The World Finals has become not only a showcase for the finest PWC racers in the world, but the showcase for the entire industry. It is here, in the shadow of the London Bridge that the next years' models of PWC from all manufacturers are introduced to the world media and enthusiasts alike. This is understandable, since it has become the largest motorsports competition event of any type between Southern California, Phoenix and Las Vegas. The numbers are staggering, and among them are:
| Total number of competitors | 1,900 |
| States represented by racers | 40 |
| Foreign nations represented | 38 |
| Continuous days of racing events | 8 |
| On Site spectator days | 35,000 |
| Consecutive years of operation | 22 |
| Class Champions crowned | 33 |
| Financial impact on Lake Havasu City | $3.5 Mil |
Contact Monica Jackson (928) 764-2210, or Monica@DSMevents.com