They call it “The Big Three Powerboat Championships.” OSS, OPA and POPRA congregate on Destin and Fort Walton Beach, Florida, from November 5 – 12 to crown World Champions in three sanctions.
Apart from showing the best, fastest, and most sophisticated equipment in offshore powerboat racing, the championships also will be the world premiere of a technological feat that is unmatched in the industry.
Generously funded by AMF, and spearheaded by Kevin Cooper, himself an OSS Racer in the OSSVL class, the events will be broadcast live throughout the world.
Using high definition cameras on board of helicopters, in boats, and on shore, connected wirelessly to an on-shore studio, the races will be transmitted live:
- Worldwide via the Internet in cooperation with Offshoreonly.com
- To the Jumbotron at Hooters Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas
- To all Florida Panhandle Hooters locations
- Via Cox Channel Six to all Florida Cox Cable homes
The technology was successfully tested at the OSS & POPRA Nationals in Las Vegas. “What you have seen in Vegas was a proof of concept,” said Kevin Cooper on the phone from Las Vegas where he is clinching yet another deal. “Destin will be worlds apart. Better technology, much higher production value, no holds barred.”
According to current plans, the live broadcast will be a standard feature of all OSS races, with an ever growing list of broadcasters.