If memory serves—and I have to admit it does less and less these days—the first “SkaterFest” happened and was spearheaded by Rich Luhrs, a true Skater catamaran aficionado. No stranger to the high-performance boat business—Luhrs built the successful Shadow Cat line for several years—Luhrs owns a 24-foot-long Skater, the classic model that for all intents and purposes put Skater founder Peter Hledin’s vaunted line on the map.

What started small has become something big. When SkaterFest kicks off Friday, August 29, as a compelling sideline to the The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, more than 30 Skater catamarans—and their owners—will be on display from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Camden on the Lake Resort. What’s more, there will be guest “seminars” from Hledin, Mike D’Annaballe of Sterling Performance, Bob Teague of Teague Custom Marine, Team Geico rigger Gary Stray and many others.

Hundreds of spectators are expected.

Coverage of the event will appear in Powerboat magazine, as well as on Boatermouth.com/speedonthewater.com. (You’ll find the links to those sites exclusively on offshoreonly.com when the stories appear.) I know because I am covering the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout for Powerboat and both web sites, and SkaterFest is one of the events I’m really looking forward to.