ST. JOHN, Wash. — The crazy idea of staging a jet sprint boat race in a wheat field in relatively the middle of nowhere proved to be not as nuts as dirt sounds.
Webb’s Slough in the tiny 599-person population inhabiting the community of St. John in Whitman County celebrates its 20th year Saturday, June 20.
To properly experience jet sprint racing one cannot do that from a television or computer screen, insists Amanda Webb, who with husband Matt, staged their first slough event in July, 2007.
“I want everybody to know, they should see this sport live and in person,” Webb wrote in an email. “It is incomparable to what you see on TV.”
In a matter of a few months 20 years ago the Webbs went from the prospect of a career as alfalfa farmers to now operating the longest standing sprint boat track in the United States.
It was just weeks before that first show that a former wheat field, turned to a crop of alfalfa, was excavated to be home of a jet sprint track.
The Webbs had never even seen a race before they literally uprooted the crop that was destined to feed their family.
Despite all that, “We’ve raised three children here and built a wonderful business,” Amanda Webb says.
The racing program features three distinct classes arranged by power who race against the clock in a serpentine race course. Following a series of runs in and around —and sometimes over islands — the quickest team wins.
Race fans can view in bleachers up front and close to the action, taking the chance of getting doused in an errant wave. Or they can take lawn chairs and view the racing from a series of tiered benches.
Looking back over the past 19 years, the Webbs have built more than just a race track.
“We are forever grateful for all that have been involved,” Amanda Webb said. “We’ve met some incredible people because of sprint boat racing and I wouldn’t change that for the world, but I’m glad we were young and crazy when we were given the idea to put a sprint boat track in our alfalfa field.”
If seeing the June 20 race does not fit into your schedule a second race take place, Aug. 29. Make sure to see a race at least once!
Visit www.webbsslough.com for more information.