BRADENTON – In less than a week, Superleague powerboats will race down the Manatee River, fireworks will explode high above the Riverwalk skyline, bands will perform, and other race-themed activities will converge along the Bradenton-Palmetto shorelines for the Bradenton Area Riverwalk Regatta, taking place this Saturday. Here's what you need to know about the event.
Boat Racing:
A field of 12 “pilots,” including several from Florida, will compete, exploding from 0-100/mph in less than four seconds and hitting four-plus G’s in the course turns. The Regatta will kick off Superleague’s 29th season. Racing starts with time trials and qualifiers leading up to the always “heart-stopping frenzy to the finish” championship. Among the competitors are two drivers from what is widely considered the first family of powerboat racing – the Rinkers from nearby Tampa – Rob Rinker the defending 2-time Tour F2/SST 200 Champion and defending national champion and brother Ashton, who is consistently in the overall top three of the class. Two other Floridians, Jeff Reno, Okeechobee, tour top five and Rob Di Nicolantonio of Lakeland will also race.
Qualifying runs starting around noon will precede the championship races, which are set to take place between 1 and 5 p.m. Additionally, a “Dry-Pit” area will be set up most of the day at the Regatta Pointe Marina in Palmetto to provide fans an up-close look at these explosive watercrafts.
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Since 1986, Superleague has conducted over 138 racing events, coast-to-coast. Over the past 23 years, the series has raced on two continents and in four countries. Brighthouse Sports Network will be airing the championships on tape-delay broadcast throughout Florida.
Powerboat Superleague is a member of and sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association (APBA) the recognized authority (since 1903) in the United States for amateur and professional boat racing.
Jet Ski Racing:
Hydro-Cross Jet Ski: Top-tier, high-performance jet skis will rip and roar through the Manatee River as one of the featured water events. Spectators will be treated to some high-speed, full-contact, fiberglass warfare from 12 pilots from all over the nation, including world champion and Bradenton native, Troy "The Slugger" Snyder, during the Action Kawasaki/Yamaha Hydro-X Challenge.
Racers will compete for the Florida Winter Championships and Mayor’s Cup from 2-3 p.m. Throughout the day, in—between F-2 races, jet skiers also will perform demos, stunts and attempt Guinness World Records at the Regatta Pointe Marina in Palmetto.
As part of the Hydro-Cross activities, Manatee County’s own Jonathon Brockhoff’s Top Gun Flyboards will be integrated among the Hydro-Cross performances.
Other events:
World Champion BMX Stunt Show: Chris Clark, an internationally renowned stunt cyclist, will bring his free-wheeling repertoire of tricks to the Bradenton Area Riverwalk Regatta. Clark, who has entertained thousands at events such as the Gravity Games, Vans Warped Tour, New York's Times Square Parade and Olympic Games, will perform six shows throughout the day.
Each 30-minute performance is a display of balance and agility as he maneuvers his bike and body over custom-built ramps and obstacles, displaying the skills he has acquired in his years of national and international competition. Spectators are often asked to join in, with Clark using them as “living obstacles” to jump over and around—all within the trust of his acclaimed talents.
Following each show, spectators have the opportunity to meet Clark, get free autographs and merchandise, and enter to win his bike valued at over $3,000.
Xpogo: A group of high-flying extreme professional athletes will bounce to heights as high as 10 feet on “suped-up” pogo sticks. Extreme Pogo, or XPogo, is relatively new, but emerging fast thanks to its pulsating entertainment value. Through specially fabricated sticks, ruggedly durable and capable of incredible air lift, riders jump, flip, bounce and crazily, but skillfully, perform explosive maneuvers. Since its debut over a decade ago, the sport has gained international momentum and acceptance with national championship events from Hong Kong to Beijing and Rome to Rio.
In recent years, performers such as Nick Ryan, CEO and co-founder of XPogo, and his partners Fred Grzybowski and Nick McClintock, have made it their mission to perpetuate the sport around the world.
Some of XPogos pro athletes were born and raised in Bradenton, and are thrilled to bring the best that Xpogo has to offer to their hometown.
The five 20-minute shows will be in the format of the Xpogo Stunt Team, doing high-energy thrill shows. The tricks-with-sticks sport is zany and pulsating and the pros latest and wildest stunts inside of the sport, with portions of the show including High Jump, Best Trick, Audience Integration, Flip Finale, and more.
“Restaurant Row:” With event organizers expecting an attendance of up to 100,000 people, food vendors have planned accordingly. Several Bradenton area restaurants will be providing food and beverages at the inaugural event and donating a portion of the proceeds to charity.
All of the locally-owned businesses participating in the event are independent restaurants and will donate 10 percent of their proceeds to the PACE Center for Girls in Manatee County. Another 20 percent will go to the City of Bradenton to help offset the cost of city services for the event, according to John Horne, owner of the Anna Maria Oyster Bars.
The restaurants participating are Anna Maria Oyster Bars, Big Cow Creamery, Darwin’s, "Fair Fare" Food, J&J Barbecue, Riverhouse Reef & Grill, Tarpon Pointe Grill, SoMa Diner, Demetrio’s Pizza, Mountain Comforts Coffee, Poppo’s Taqueria, Sugar Cubed, Smoothie King, Cedar Reef Restaurant, Pier 22, Yacht Sea Grille and enRich. The Crewe of De Soto is handling beverage sales.
Jefferson Starship: Following the F-2 races, iconic rock band, Jefferson Starship, will headline as part of its 40th anniversary tour from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Main Stage on the Riverwalk.
Featuring Paul Kantner and David Freiberg, Jefferson Starship continues to rock its way through the entertainment world by performing the powerful music and lyrics that has delighted fans for four decades. It also is the 50th anniversary of Jefferson Starship forefather – Jefferson Airplane – founded by Kantner.
Expect classic rock hits such as Sara, Miracles and Jane which still remain popular tunes, crossing all genre and generational lines.
Other musical acts will take the stage beginning at 11 a.m. and will include local stars like American Idol finalist Sam Woolf and The Western Sons.
Zambelli International Fireworks: The day will conclude with a fabulous finale of Zambelli International Fireworks Spectacular, arguably the most recognized name in pyrotechnics, will provide the fireworks extravaganza at the climax of the Bradenton Area Riverwalk Regatta.
Zambelli International, headquartered in New Castle, PA, and regionally based in Boca Raton, FL, has been dazzling audience for more than a century with its industry-leading and innovative fireworks presentations. From major productions to private displays, the company launches more than 2,300 shows annually, leaving lasting impressions on audiences worldwide.
The Riverwalk Regatta show, which begins at approximately 6:30 p.m., differs from blasts in the area’s past as it features a dynamic musical choreography to accompany the shell sparkle and pageantry. Crowds can hear the music through speakers set up along the Riverwalk or tune-in to station 106.5 CTQ which will simulcast the score.
Details:
The day-long Riverwalk Regatta is all free and runs to 6:30 p.m., culminating in a uniquely choreographed firework spectacular by Zambelli International. In addition to the above attractions, there will be a food festival and kid zone with activities geared toward younger attendees. The Green Bridge connecting Palmetto and Bradenton at U.S. 41 will be closed for the entire day and residents should expect traffic congestion. The De Soto bridge, which connects the two cities via U.S. 301 will be open.
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