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Special to the Press-Telegram

Ruing the day after the Catalina Ski Race is the Long Beach to Catalina & Back (LB2CAT) — often considered one of the oldest and most prestigious jet ski races in the world.

The LB2CAT includes PWC (personal watercrafts) that are about 13 feet long, with horsepower in the Pro-Am 300-400, producing speeds up to 90 mph, said Ross Wallach, director of RPM Racing. He said 40 to 50 teams from all over the U.S., New Zealand and Australia were registered among the five race classes.

The the 52-mile round-trip race begins at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, and takes about 54 or 55 minutes for the top competitors, Wallach said. The race also uses the same route as the Catalina Ski Race, with the best viewing areas at the Queen Mary and at Bluff Park.

PWC racers face challenges, such as water conditions, fog and other boats on the water, he said, with water being one of the primary issues.

“But like all endurance races, you gotta finish,” Wallach said.

Craig Waer will defend his six LB2CAT wins this year against competitors such as Mike Klippenstein, Christian D’Agostin and Mark Geer. Wallach said Waer was the favorite, but others posed a formidable threat.

“We’ll see what the Australians have to offer,” Wallach said.

It’s anyone’s race, he said.

“We’ve seen guys go down for a small part,” Wallach said. “That was it. His or her day was over.”

Five racing divisions will crown national champions, including Pro/Am Open, Vet/Master Open, Four Stroke Stock, Four Stroke Naturally Aspirated Open and Manufacturer’s Stock. At least $1,000 will be given to the top three overall.

For more information, visit www.rpmracingent.com or www.pwcoffshore.com.

Emily Thoton is a staff writer with Gazette Newspapers. She can be reached at [email protected].

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