POST FALLS - A Post Falls man will represent the U.S. in an international event this May - at 140 miles per hour.

"Our boat has a 1,400-horsepower jet turbine engine out of a helicopter," said Ross Schlotthauer, 37, of Post Falls. "I was on the bank many times in the first two years I raced."

Schlotthauer has adapted well to racing.

The owner of Burly Products, a welding and fabrication firm in Post Falls, Schlotthauer will represent the U.S. at the 2014 World Jet Boat River Marathon Race in Mexico May 3-11. He will be the driver aboard Bat Outta Hell, while 40-year-old Chad Yackel of Spokane Valley will be the navigator.

The two will be the lone U.S. team, competing against 40 teams from Canada, New Zealand and Mexico.

"We plan to go down to win," said Schlotthauer, adding that this will be his first time competing at the world event.

Schlotthauer has been riding an international wave on different levels. His company built the boat that won the Mexican championship last year.

Schlotthauer said winning medals and trophies are nice. The payoffs for being a race's overall Unlimited winner, which can range from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on the race, are a good boost to help cover preparation and travel costs.

But the best prize, Schlotthauer said, is seeing a boat you've built perform well. The world race will be 100 miles each day for 10 days, so there's a lot to be said for well-constructed boats.

"We enjoy the challenge of getting a boat to perform," he said. "We spend most of the year working on our boat. This is a marathon event, so the winner typically isn't the guy with the fastest boat, but the most reliable boat."

Schlotthauer said his worst crash was in 2011 on the Salmon River.

"I flipped the boat over and it sank to the bottom upside down with us in it," he said. "We swam out with no injuries."

Following the race in Mexico, the U.S. series has two more races, including the Race the Joe! event in St. Maries on Memorial Day weekend, May 23-25.

Schlotthauer and Yackel lead the USA 1 Jet River Racing Series after winning both the Overall and Unlimited classes at the Salmon River Jet Boat Race in Riggins last weekend.

They now have their sights set on their first U.S. and world title.

"We believe we are positioned well to do both this year," Schlotthauer said.

St. Maries race coming up

The Race the Joe! jet boat race will be held on the St. Joe River at St. Maries on Memorial Day weekend May 23-25. There will be a free show and shine on May 23, followed by fireworks at dusk. Racing, held May 24-25 along the 25-mile course from the Idaho Forest Industries Landing to the Calder Bridge, can be viewed from the river bank for free. Twenty-five teams are expected to compete.