For 49 years, boaters and boat enthusiasts have gathered on the Snake River for the annual Idaho Regatta.
The event will be held at River’s Edge Marina and Golf Course in Burley during the last full weekend in June.
Races are held on Saturday and Sunday after the events to show off the boats on Thursday and Friday. The event has become a staple of the Burley community and there is something for everyone.
For some it may just be a nice way to spend a weekend and enjoy the summer sun. For others, it’s a chance to watch boats cruise down the river, reaching speeds of up to 235 kilometers per hour. With such high speeds, event president Louis Schindler gave the event an appropriate nickname.
“It’s like NASCAR on water,” Schindler told the Times-News.
A season veteran and Idaho Regatta newcomer are ready to test their engines in the two-day, 30-lap Grand National Endurance race at Burley this weekend.
Schindler, who lives in Burley, has been involved with the event for 15 years and has been chairman for 10. Not much has changed about the event, other than minor adjustments to the rules and regulations, as racing came back under the jurisdiction from the American Power Boat Association this year. Just take the boats out on the water and let them race.
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“The race has been pretty much the same for the last 49 years,” Schindler said. “We try not to change the good.”
Schindler estimates there will be between 10 and 15 races, depending on the number of boats that enter. Classifications range from children’s and youth level to experienced professionals. The Snake River course is about 1.25 miles long and many of the races last four laps. Grand National class races, which feature the most skilled competitors, can last between 10 and 15 laps.
Before the race begins, there was a Show and Shine at the Best Western Plus Inn on Thursday night and a boat parade through Burley on Friday. Saturday and Sunday are dedicated to the race, with preliminary heats and finals on those days. The course has an island in the center, with the boats disappearing around the island before emerging again around the final bend to create a potentially exciting finish.
Single-day adult admission is $20 with a $40 weekend pass. Children under 12 are free, while seniors, veterans and first responders pay $10. There is plenty of grass to set up chairs and watch the boats go by.
The event is the only one of its kind in Idaho. Schindler said the closest regatta to Idaho is Bear Lake, Washington. Ridgefield, Oregon, has had one in the past, but won’t have one this year. Athletes and spectators come from states such as Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, New Mexico and some from as far away as Florida.
The Idaho Regatta would not happen without the Burley community, Schindler said. Sponsor money, as well as regatta entry fees, are what keep it going. The fact that it’s also an entertaining weekend always helps.
“It’s a great event to come and hang out,” Schindler said. “You can come and sit in your lawn chair on the grass and just bring your EZ Up and have a good time.”
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