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OPA National & World Championships 2015

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Races to be Broadcasted at the Englewood Beach Waterfest

Coverage of this years Races will be broadcast on Local Radio both days, November 20th and 22nd, on WENG AM 1530 and FM 107.5.

​​You may also view the Races Friday, November 20th, on Ustream.

​​Sundays Races, November 22nd, will be aired on WWSB TV ABC 7 on Comcast 7 & 431, Verizon Fios 7 & 507, Direct TV channel 40, Brighthouse 7 & 100, RokuTV, streaming video, www.wengradio.com and WWSB www.mysuncoast.com.
 

Friday, November 20, 2015

All Day Race Village open to the public
8am Course Buoy's set
8am Team Physicals - Race Village
9am Racer Meeting - Race Village
10:30am Medical and Dive team briefing - TBA
10:30am Patrol Fleet Briefing - TBA
10am Race Control Operational
10am Crane lift and Ramp operational
11:15am Race Patrol Fleet & Course Support Fleet on station
12pm RACE 1 (subject to adjustment)
​2pm RACE 2 (subject to adjustment)​
​4pm ​RACE 3 (If Necessary)​
7pm​​​ National Awards Ceremony - Race Village
Racers Celebration Gathering - TBA​


​Saturday, November 21, 2015

All Day Race Village open to the public
10am Racer Meeting - TBA
11am-4pm Swim / Dunker Recertification - Weston's wannaBe Inn
TBA​​ GPS Registration - GPS Trailer @ Race Village
11am​​​ Race Control Operational
11am-5pm Crane lift and Ramp operational
12pm-4pm Race Boat Testing
7pm Racers Meet & Greet - TBA


​Sunday, November 22, 2015

All Day Race Village open to the public
8am Course Buoy's set
8am Team physicals - Race Village
9am Racer Meeting - Race Village
9:30am Medical and Dive team briefing - TBA
9:30 Patrol Fleet Briefing - TBA
9am Race Control Operational
10am Crane lift and Ramp operational
11:15am Race Patrol Fleet & Course Support Fleet on station
12pm RACE 1 (subject to adjustment)
​2pm RACE 2 (subject to adjustment)​
​4pm ​RACE 3 (If Necessary)​
 
Sarasota County powerboat racers living a 'dream'

ENGLEWOOD - Ryan and Rick Krizen spent many a Fourth of July weekend during their youth watching powerboats whip through waves off Lido Beach.

Now, the Sarasota County brothers are making waves on the racing circuit.

The Krizens won the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival's Pro-Am 2 division last summer. It was their fifth race as the Knot Krazy Offshore Racing team.

“It was a dream come true,” said Ryan, 35, the 29-foot powerboat's owner and driver. “To get our very first first-place win in Sarasota was amazing.”

The Krizens hope to continue that success this weekend at the Offshore Powerboat Association and American Power Boat Association National and World Championships. The races, held in waters off Englewood Beach, start this afternoon and continue Sunday. Admission is $15 and can be paid for at the Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce.

The powerboat races, featuring many of the world's top racing teams, is the highlight of the area's inaugural WaterFest. Since October, the nonprofit Englewood Beach WaterFest Committee has held events showcasing water-related activities in Lemon Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

“We've been working for about 18 months,” said Elaine Miller, president of the committee and the Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce. “Now we can start partying and get some sleep.”

More than 25,000 RaceFest attendees are expected to over the weekend, committee vice president Ken Stead said. The races are today and Sunday.

“It's a first year event for us, but we're prepared,” he said. “We have adequate bus transportation for 50,000 people.”

“This is basically for all the marbles. It has stiffer competition because everyone is showing up to this one,” Ryan said. “It's neat to have something with status like that here in this area.”

More than 40 boats are slated to compete on both days, said Dee Ungarten, communications director for OPA Racing. Some of the vessels can travel faster than 130 mph.

The field includes fan favorite Miss GEICO Offshore Racing Team.

The Krizen brothers' Knot Krazy Offshore Racing team will pilot its red-and-white powerboat. It will be the brothers' sixth race since Ryan bought the boat and racing equipment for about $50,000 in 2013.

Teaming up was natural for Ryan and Rick. They grew up racing BMX bicycles and playing football and baseball together.

They compete in local races with a crew comprised of some of their most generous friends. The team name stems from Ryan's old moniker.

“Through high school they called me crazy Krizen,” he said.

Racing powerboats is the brothers' passion, but it's not their livelihood. Ryan is a manager at a pest control company, and Rick works as a waiter and mechanic.

Still, Ryan said he has aspirations to race full-time. Meeting professional powerboat racers has been a bit of a surreal experience.

“I am a fan who races,” he said. “I follow a lot of these guys online, so meeting them face-to-face is really neat. It's a bit of awe and saying 'holy cow.'”

His brother and throttle-man, 33-year-old Rick, said he plans to keep things light during the race.

“I might crack a couple jokes out there to keep the tension down,” he said.

The area's weather forecast shows anywhere from a 30 to 50 percent chance of rain throughout the weekend, but the races will go on rain or shine, OPA president Ed “Smitty” Smith said.

“Rain in the area won't stop us,” he said. “Bring an umbrella. We're going to be out there.”

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20151119/ARTICLE/151119598
 
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