Like the annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, the Offshore Powerboat Association-sanctioned Lake Race on the Central Missouri waterway is something of an all-inclusive event. There’s a class for powerboats of pretty much all shapes and sizes in the annual OPA contest, which ran earlier this month.

Always a crowd pleaser at the Lake Race, the Pontoon class delivered close action (click image to enlarge). Photo courtesy/copyright Jeff Helmkamp/Helmkamp Photos.

Given the popularity of performance-oriented pontoon boats on the lake, it’s no surprise that the Lake Race has a class for these fan favorites. They don’t offer the roar or the speed of true offshore raceboats such as the Wake Effects and CMS that call the lake their home water, but as you can see from the Jeff Helmkamp photo above they race hard and even manage to look great doing it.

Related stories
Slideshow of the Week: Mauff Celebrates 60th, Enjoys First Lake Race
Alex And Ani Snatches Defeat From The Jaws Of Victory