For many reasons, 10 of which are explained in this story, I think it’s safe to say that the behind-the-scenes changes that took place over the last year with the Desert Storm Poker Run in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., turned out to be a breath of fresh air. No offense to the previous powers that be—especially since the event is still in the family—but there were some noticeable differences in the poker run from past events, the most obvious of which was the new host venue, the London Bridge Resort.

Ten reasons the 2018 Desert Storm Poker Run was one of the best in the event’s 20-year history. Photos courtesy/copyright Jason Johnson and Jeff Helmkamp.

Of course the terrific weather helped, as did the 175 registered boats, many of which were remarkable pieces of machinery that made the trip to Arizona from as far away as Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas and Washington.

Overall, and I know I’m not the only one who thinks this, the vibe at the mid-April event was outstanding.

To read the full story, click the download link for the PDF of the March/April 2018 Speed On The Water magazine, and please share any feedback with us below, via email or on social media.