SUDOKU

44th Annual World Championship Watercross Race

On July 16th through 18th, 2021, the International Watercross Association (IWA) brought the 44th Annual World Championship Watercross Race to Grantsburg, Wisconsin. Billed as the “fastest show on H2O”! This unique event proved to be a hit after being forced to take a pause last year. The 44th Annual was an amazing show, with crowds cheering on racers as they sped across the top of Memory Lake on snowmobiles.

Both racers and race fans showed up from all over, in spite of unseasonably high temperatures and despite the year-long Covid break, all of the old East-Coast/West-Coast rivalries were renewed. The normally leftturning East-Coasters, had to turn right for this West Coast event. The fans came to find out who would be the fastest and take the championship home.

The racers didn’t disappoint the crowds. IWA President, Shawn Zurn, and his Team organized the three-day event featuring over 160 races with over 70 racers. There were a lot of splashes, some crashes, and some hard-fought victories, featuring Drag, Oval and even vintage snowmobile race classes, which made this a spectacular event.

For this issue’s Scene It, we take a deep dive into the 44th Annual World Watercross Championship Race as seen from behind the lens of Angie Marczak’s camera.

#34 Kael Richards battles it out in the first turn with Chris (Chubs) Erzar #987.

The # 176 of Krista “The Fox” Maki-Zurn flying across the water on her pretty pink sled. Don’t let the pretty pink fool you; she is as tough as nails. #17 Jon Dufour going in for the pass on #8 Cody Lankner. Racer #524, Scott Martinson is a Paraplegic, but that hasn’t stopped him from being a strong competitor over the years of his racing career.

#221 Dan Honeck bringing the tip of his sled up as he races around the corner.

Matt Czeczok #357 passes the #3 of Chet Atkinson.

Shawn Zurn #76 (riding the #292 of Cassie Wood) is not only the IWA President, but also a strong competitor on the water. Close Racing between #14 of Blake Higgins and #209 of Justin Mackedanz.

Aaron Lundeen # 86 (riding the # 36 sled of David Fischer) takes the win for the 800 Drags World Championship title.

A fan favorite, Rachel O’Brian #707 signing autographs. Hot weather didn’t stop these fans.

Watercross racers watching the action! Packing lanes for the next race.

Teddy Laurie # 663 and Shawn Zurn # 76 (riding the # 292 of Cassie Wood) holds nothing back.

#113 Stephen Cofiell doing a little happy dance on his victory lap for Sports Open Ovals World Championship Title

#208 of Steve Stockbridge brings home the checkered flags for 2 World Championship Classes: Semi Pro Open Ovals and Semi Pro Stock Ovals. Rachel O’Brien #707 flying across the water.

David Fischer #36, winner of two World Championship Titles, Pro Stock Ovals and Pro Open Ovals celebrates with a bunny hop on one of his victory laps.

What a moment to remember as this father / son duo win 1st place in the drags for the Grantsburg World Championship. Kolten Laurie # 763 is only 14 years old, and it is his first year of racing. He walks away with a 1st place in the 600 drags, and shortly after, his father Teddy Laurie # 663 walks away with a 1st place in the MOD drags.

Results

2021 Grantsburg, Wisconsin.

Pro Open Ovals 1st David Fischer 2nd James Marietta 3rd Tommy Parolisi 4th Nick Mattila 5th Chris Erzar 6th Austin McCurdy 7th Kael Richards 8th Bryan Zuccaro 9th Ian VanVickle 10th Karry Simpson

Semi Pro Open Ovals 1st Steve Stockbridge 2nd Bryan Boyle 3rd Rachel O’Brien 4th Richard Nimmo 5th Bradley Barrette 6th Jake Neurer 7th Jake Mackedanz 8th Matt Czeczok 9th Teddy Laurie 10th Ben Eastman

Sports Ovals 1st Stephen Cofiell 2nd Dan Fox 3rd Erika Whitaker 4th John Fox 5th Scott Martinson

Pro Stock Ovals 1st David Fischer 2nd Shawn Zurn 3rd Justin Mackedanz 4th Teddy Laurie 5th Tommy Parolisi 6th Rachel O’Brien 7th Aaron Vowles 8th Richard Nimmo 9th Jake Neurer 10th Blake Higgins

Semi Pro Stock Ovals

1st Steve Stockbridge 2nd Bryan Boyle 3rd Matt Czeczok 4th Aaron Strom 5th Ben Eastman

Mod drags 1st Teddy Laurie 2nd David Fischer 3rd Karry Simpson 4th Aaron Lundeen 5th James Marietta

800 drags 1st Aaron Lundeen 2nd Brad Barrette 3rd Steve Stockbridge 4th Ben Merriman 5th Matt Ledin

600 drags 1st Kolten Laurie 2nd Jake Bradshaw 3rd John Fox 4th Brad Maslow