Watercraft racers set for finals

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      Eleven local watercraft racers are among more than 1,700 qualifiers competing this week in the 18th International Jet Sports Boating Association Skat-Trak World Finals scheduled through Oct. 17 in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
      Participants from 37 nations converged on the Crazy Horse RV Resort & Campground at Lake Havasu on Sunday to compete for individual gold in the world's largest and most prestigious personal watercraft race.
      Leading the group of local racers are Henderson's Rob Flores and Tracy Kohl. Flores, a two-time International Jet Sports Boating Association Expert Ski national champion, will be racing in the Pro Ski class, while Kohl returns in the Pro-Am Women Ski class after sitting out last year. Kohl is a three-time Pro-Am Women Ski qualifier for the World Finals.
      Las Vegas' Matt Gondini is the other local in a Pro class, having qualified in Pro Runabout 1200.
      In the Expert division, John Gondini of North Las Vegas, will be racing in Expert Runabout 785 SS.
      In the Novice division, Las Vegas' Steve Fitzen (Novice Ski SS) and Danny Brown (Novice Sport Ltd.) are entered. In the Novice Veterans Ski SS class, Henderson's Joe Barber has qualified along with Fitzen, Greg Matta and Derrick Timney of Las Vegas.
      Brian Horner of Henderson rounds out the local field, competing in the Amateur Runabout 1200 Stock class.
      Staged in Lake Havasu since 1982, the World Finals is the premier personal watercraft racing event in the world and boasts more than $120,000 in cash and contingencies. World championship titles will be presented in 33 different classes for novice, expert and professional riders from across the globe.
      Highlighting the finals will be championship battles for seven professional titles for men and women riders. Novice events opened the event Sunday through Tuesday, followed by Expert competition today through Friday. The world's best Pro personal watercraft riders meet Saturday and Sunday, including the battle for the coveted International Jet Sports Boating Association Nation's Cup to the country that produces the highest results by its athletes.
      Admission today is free. General admission tickets for Thursday and Friday will be available at the gate for $10 each, while tickets for the Pro racing days Saturday and Sunday will be $15 each. A four-day general admission pass will be available for $35 each and children 12 and under will be admitted free.
      Pit passes are available for $25 per day. A four-day super pass, good for general admission and pit access, is available for $60 each. Grandstand seating will be in the aquatic arena at the Crazy Horse RV Resort & Campground. Officials are expecting a record event-week crowd of more than 40,000.
      Ancillary events will include the Jettrim Ramp Jump presented by Wamilton's Customs, the Go-Ped World Finals, the Miss World Finals Swimsuit Competition and the IWA Snowmobile Exhibition.
      The 1999 Skat-Trak World Finals will be televised internationally on ESPN2 as a one-hour special scheduled to air Nov. 28 at 9:30 a.m.
      Those interested in the Skat-Trak World Finals can call (949) 598-5860.