Idaho’s rivers are about to become the ultimate racetrack.

In May, the state will host the 2026 World Championship Jet Boat River Race, a high-speed, international competition that will run across some of Idaho’s most iconic waterways — the Payette, Salmon, Snake and St. Joe rivers.

Local jet boat racer Doug Stowers, President of the USA Jet River Racing Association, said the sport has a way of pulling people in fast. “It’s really cool to watch, it’s very addicting, I have yet to find anybody that hasn’t watched it and instantly become addicted to the sport,” Stowers said.

Stowers and his wife, Jenny Grandjean, plan to compete — and they said their own path into racing started as something much more casual. A leisurely boat ride turned into a need for speed, and the husband-and-wife duo found themselves hooked on jet boat racing.

Stowers recalled what stood out most from their first race together. “The biggest thing for me is we finished that first race and to see the joy on her face,” he said.

Grandjean said she was nervous at first, but that didn’t last long once they got on the water. “When we decided to go out in a race, I was initially terrified and then as soon as we did kind of our first run up and down the river, I think that’s kind of when I said, well, this is going to work out I’m hooked at this point and you know, does this boat go faster?” Grandjean said.

Jet boat racing is international, with competitors from New Zeland, Canada, Mexico and the U.S. expected to go head-to-head. Last year, Canada hosted the world championship in Alberta and British Columbia. Now, it’s Idaho’s turn.

Stowers said Idaho’s variety of rivers is part of what makes it a standout host. “Idaho has so many different choices of types of rivers to run. We can race the Payette River and it has a certain style of whitewater or rapids or flat water and then after that we go up North to the St. Joe River, which is more meandering current sharp corners through forested area,” he said.

The event kicks off Friday, May 8, in Emmett, Idaho, with an opening ceremony at the Roadhouse concert venue.

Stowers compared the championship to the biggest stages in sports. “It’s an event that’s our Super Bowl or our Olympics, if you will, you know so come be part of it,” he said.

The USA Jet River Racing Association is a nonprofit that runs entirely on donations and sponsorships. For businesses interested in sponsoring the statewide event and for people who want to volunteer click here.

STATELINE, NV. – The Idaho Steelheads (33-13-4-0) defeated the Tahoe Knight Monsters (24-20-2-3) 2-1 in a shootout Wednesday night at Tahoe Blue Event Center. The Steelheads and Knight Monsters continue their three-game series on Friday with puck drop set for 8:00 p.m. MST from Stateline.

The game started off with a bang, as Ty Pelton-Byce dropped the gloves with Anthony Collins just after the opening faceoff, setting the tone for the level of physicality to be expected for the remaining 60 minutes. 

The Knight Monsters found the game’s first goal late in the first period, as Casey Bailey received a feed from Brennan Kapcheck and deposited it by Steelheads goaltender Jake Barczewski for his 22^nd goal of the season and a 1-0 Tahoe lead.

The Steelheads responded early in the second period, as Jeff Baum sprung Francesco Arcuri for a left circle chance that he used to beat Tahoe goaltender Cam Whitehead just 94 seconds into frame to tie the game 1-1.

In the third period things heated up, as both teams traded chances, and the special teams play ramped up. The biggest opportunity came on a five-minute major power play for Idaho, as Kevin Wall was assessed an elbowing major and a game misconduct for a hit on Jordan Steinmetz with 8:35 remaining in regulation.

The Steelheads couldn’t find the back of the net on their opportunity, however, and the game went to overtime tied 1-1.

In overtime the Steelheads had to kill off two minor penalties, staving off the Knight Monsters’ second-ranked power play to reach the shootout.

In the shootout, after goals from Francesco Arcuri and Mitch Wahl helped keep Idaho alive, Barczewski stopped Jordan Gustafson to begin the fourth round and set up the game-winning shootout goal by Liam Malmquist, who beat Whitehead up high to give Idaho the 2-1 win.

Idaho’s Jake Barczewski stopped 37 of 38 shots in the win, while saving two of the four shootout attempts he faced. Cam Whitehead turned aside 45 of 46 shots he saw in regulation, and one of the four shootout attempts he faced.

BOX SCORE

ICCU THREE STARS

1) Jake Barczewski (IDH, 37 saves, win)
2) Liam Malmquist (IDH, shootout winner, 4 shots)
3) Cam Whitehead (TAH, 45 saves)

Stay up to date with all things Steelheads on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Watch all Steelheads home games on FloHockey and KTVB 24/7 (Channel 7.2) and listen on the Steelheads flagship station 95.3 FM KTIK “The Ticket”.