Pattaya is a city that thrives on its reputation for high octane adventure and great international sporting events. One of the most exciting annual sporting events that Pattaya hosts is the King’s Cup Jet Ski World Championship. The event takes place in the bay opposite Jomtien Beach and draws the world’s fastest jet ski races and throngs of crowds who pack the coastline to watch the exciting series of races. This year the event will take place from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 December, although there will be competitors on the water from the Wednesday taking part in practice runs and getting used to the course.
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For those new to jet ski racing, it is one of the most thrilling and dangerous water sports; the equivalent high power track motorcycling but with the unpredictability of the ocean surface thrown into the mix. The individual jet skis themselves are high performance watercraft specially developed for speed and manoeuvrability at top speed. {timg title:=”Menu” thumb:=”images/stories/srv/blog/small/jetski.jpg” img:=”images/stories/srv/blog/big/jetski.jpg” gal:=”gallery-content”} The Pattaya Jet Ski World Cup Grand Prix is the premier event in the international competitive jet ski tour and is fully licensed by the sports ruling body the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA). The King’s Cup always attracts the leading racers to Thailand. Many of the competitors are professionals who race for much of the year and Pattaya is the event they want to win. Each of the 32 nations that make up membership of IJSBA is allowed to enter a maximum of four competitors. There are different categories of competition with each race being limited to 18 participants.
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Last year’s King’s Cup was won by French jet ski ace, Steven Dauliach who has continued his good form throughout 2012, winning a host of major titles around the world. He returns again this year to defend his crown but is sure to face tough competition. Last year’s runner up , American Rick Sherker, also returns as well as the Japanese speed star Toshi ‘Samurai’ Ohara. Thailand will be well represented and the local team often do well, especially in some of the early race categories. This year the racing will be broadcast worldwide by ESPN Sports which will take Pattaya into the living rooms of people around the world. Pattaya in December is the perfect setting for jet ski racing. The weather is dependably consistent and provides good conditions for both competitors and spectators. The city is sure to impress with its quality shopping, restaurants and nightlife. The King’s Cup Jet Ski World Cup takes place 7-9 December at Jomtien Beach. |