Race the Joe begins today

ST. MARIES - Race the Joe kicks off today in St. Maries with world champion jet boat racers competing on 25 miles of the St. Joe River.

Today and Sunday race fans will see two days of action-packed racing on the St. Joe River from the Idaho Forest Industries Landing to the Calder Bridge and back, with several race legs along the way.

Jet river race boat teams will compete in one of five race classes based on engine size, speed and hull design. Spectators may watch the race for free from a riverbank with public access along the St. Joe River.

Current and past world champions from Canada, New Zealand and the United States are expected to compete.

Local driver Ross Schlotthauer of Post Falls and navigator Chad Yackel of Spokane Valley recently returned from competing in the 2014 World Jet Boat Championship in Mexico where the "Bat Outta Hell" team took second overall.

This weekend the U.S.A. team will once again challenge the same Canadian team that beat them for the world title. Both teams will be piloting turbine-powered jet boats reaching top speeds of 140 mph.

There will be several new teams from Idaho and Canada racing in the FX/FXV class which features jet boats at speeds of 70 to 75 mph.