Jet Boat Racing in Riggins Idaho. Every third weekend in April race boats hit the Salmon River. This event has been going on now for over 25 years. This was the first race of the 2009 jet boat racing season. Racers traveled as far away as Canada, Oregon, Washington, and California. The town of Riggins Idaho hosted a number of events that weekend. The had the annual BBQ, Toughman competition where anyone could get into the ring, put on a pair of boxing gloves and see who was the last person standing. The boats are made entirely out of aluminum. The engines range in horsepower from 360 horsepower to a whopping 600-800 horsepower. There speeds range from mid 80’s to over 100+ mph. The safety features on these boats include 5 point racing harnesses, rollbars that are made out of chromoly steel, Some boats even use halon extinguishers, The drivers arrive on Friday to preview the rivers and look for the fattest race lines possible. They are not allowed to do this in their race boats though. The racers must use a personal boat or get a preview boat to run the course. Drivers must also try to remember where those fastest race lines were come Saturday. When the races get under way these jet boat racers must run a total of six legs. Three of those legs are downstream and three are upstream. The racers do not race each other rather they are racing a clock to see who can get the best time possible. The boats are started in one-minute intervals, with the fastest boats leaving the starting line first. Each driver that completes a full leg down river or upriver receives leg money on top of the overall prize money for place first, second, third, and so on. It’s quit a weekend to experience watching the race boats tear through the Salmon River canyon, The food, and the overall weekend events.

A video for your enjoyment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJKa5fxele4

Insiders View: Boat Performance: Behind The Scenes Video Series

Insiders View: Boat Performance: Behind The Scenes Video Series

Boat Performance: Behind The Scenes Video Series

A minor tweak here, an minor adjustment there, using proven theories that work through trail and error. A series of videos were created in giving boat owners an inside view of how minor adjustments here and there can enhance the performance of a boat. Not a ll boats are created equal or designed the same either. These videos talk about how just the bottom of the boat may look straight but with a long straight edge you would be surprised to learn that it is not usually the case. A lot of the tips and tricks of the racers trade also can be applied to your boat. For instance if the bottom of your boat is not completely straight you run the risk of cavitation allowing air to enter into your pump? We created these videos in hopes of giving viewers a little insight in how just minor adjustments can make a world of difference in the performance of a boats handling. You can watch the whole series of videos posted on YouTube. Here is where the videos are located:
http://www.youtube.com/racing16

Jet Boat Racing weekend on the Salmon River in Riggins Idaho!

The Salmon River lived up to it's reputation this weekend, It took what it wanted and gave up very little. Three boats sank two were recovered, And as of Sunday afternoon one was still at the depths of its grip. The family and I arrived at Riggins on Thursday afternoon, Along with Jesse, Lynn, Dave Provost his wife Heather and their son Brett. I was anxious to see what the river had in store for us this weekend. My brother-in-law Jason Mouser and his wife Candi with their daughter Haliegh would arrive on Friday afternoon. I hopped in the truck and began to scout the river for the best places to get some great footage. I ended up choosing Race Creek, The riffles located below the hotel(Salmon Rapids Lodge),and the nortorious Time Zone plus a little bit of Tight Squeez. Jesse was not driving this race so he headed to Race Creek to film glass wave. My brother-in-law Jason would go to Time Zone and film under the bridge. The boats looked good coming down and up from where I was from. Jeff Bradley#42 (Poor Boy Racing)was driving hard coming up from the Town Riffle. He got some serious air as he entered from below the hotel the set of riffles I was filming from. There was a long pause with no other boat in site. This is usually bad news since the boats are started at one minute intervals. Bad was the case for the Wocket#16(Raven Racing) the boat ended up doing a barrel roll/corkscrew and landed upside down in Time Zone. I was completely sickened when I heard this news of what had happened. I noticed that a helicopter was circling above what must have been Time Zone. I can't really put into words what kind of feelings were going through my head at the time. Everything just began to slow way down for me. I ended up jumping in my truck and raced to Time Zone, I ended up some how getting behind Jesse towing the trailer on the highway. I followed Jesse past lightning creek and into the pits at the lower end of the course. I entered a motorhome and saw Lynn who was still running on pure adrenalin. I asked if she was okay and she replied"Yea I'm alright just a little sore." I can't believe how close I came to losing one of the greatest mother-in-laws in the world!!, Or another good freind Dave Provost. These people do truely become your extended family over time. Jesse will elaberate more on this. I ended up filming legs 3 and 4 at Time Zone. The boats were catching some serious air while I was there. I ended up getting nozzled by either Brodie Miller or Dwain Longfellow on the downleg through Time Zone. I would like to thank the people from Coos Bay for lending me their sweatshirt to dry off my camera so I could finsh filming Time Zone. I lost audio on two boats though. Dwain caught some huge air, took a hard right, up the bank, off the rocks and back into the river, Never letting off the gas. Made some true believers of the 50 foot saftey area also! Jason ended up filming the first leg up of Time Zone. He got Richard Grant and his wife doing a 360 above Time Zone and pulling it off. Got their bearings and down through the riffle. Jason then moved upriver to the rough water below Race Creek. He got #55 Revelation hitting a green roller also making a hard right and striking the bedrock shelf. Coming to rest on the other side of the river and sinking in about four feet of water. The guys paddled most of the way across the river. Isitworthit took some impressive lines and made them stick. I got them on film when their luck ran out and hit a couple of good size rocks at Time Zone. I believe their was an onboard camera on the boat when this happened. I forgot the drivers and navigators names(sorry), But that fellow can drive and I have video to prove it!!!! Sunday I missed the first two legs of the race. I ended up going back down to Time Zone to film the final last two legs of the race. After that we headed for a bite to eat,said are goodbyes, And headed back to Oregon. It was great seeing Richard Grant his wife, Kirt Jewkes and his wife,I sure hope that Kirt is able to retrieve his boat back fromthe Salmon. Jim and Diana and kids. Most of these people I only talk to on the page. It was great to put a face with a name. I also got to meet James(Xerophobic) again and Dale (Whitey). The #16 (wocket) had the Salmon coming out of it all the way to Grant's Pass. I also got footage from begining to end on the recovery of the wocket. It might take sometime to make a video, Since I have 7 dvd's of footage. I will start by making the recovery video first. Man that was one heck of a weekend!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28njyl07if4