Powerboats go full-throttle in the waters off Lido Beach

By Ian Swaby
| 10:15 a.m. September 16, 2024

YabbaDabbaDoo of Reddick, Florida, with JD Ivines and Steve Adams, makes a leap from the water.

Sarasota
Neighbors

This year's Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix by P1 Offshore marked the event's 40th year, and the race, held Sept. 14-15, showcased some dedicated participants.

Steve Kildahl of Sarasota has been in all 40 races, while his 33-year-old son Stephen Kildahl has been racing since age 16.

Although Stephen Kildahl now lives in Fort Myers, the father and son still enjoy racing together through their family-operated team Scott Free Racing.

"It's just been a part of my life forever, and we do it as a family. Our whole crew is a family, and it's just an exciting sport," Stephen Kildahl said Sept. 16. "You're going fast on the water, tt's thrilling, and the competition's tough. I'm a big motor sports fan, so I enjoy doing it."

With about 60 competitors coming from Florida and beyond, the race is the second longest-running U.S. powerboat race after the Key West Championship.

On Sept. 15, boaters were dealing with conditions Stephen Kildahl said were challenging and "pretty bumpy" compared to what is typical in Sarasota.

Their Boatfloater.com Mod V boat also saw its carburetor flood, although they were able to get it restarted.

Amid the challenges of racing, the team's family dynamic keeps them working together.

"Being a father and son, we have that trust factor," Stephen Kildahl said. "So there's a lot of times we don't need to communicate. We just know what each other needs to do."

Team Defalco of Bronx, New York, with Billy Moore and Mike Falco, speeds by the shores of Lido Beach.

Jackhammer of Springfield, Illinois, with Reese Langheim and Julian Maldonado, prepares to go head-to-head with Hammerheads / Fly SRQ of Bradenton.

651 Ivey Racing / Dees Nuts / Fl Yacht Support of Stuart, Florida, with George Ivey and Mike Sadlon, makes its way along the course.

Speed Marine of Brick, New Jersey, with Kyle Miller and Jay Wohltman, makes a leap from the water.

El Bandidio Tequila / Sunprint of New Port Richey, Florida with Steven Fehrmann and Steve Miklos, passes by a boat of P1 Offshore staff.

Androgenix Advanced Health and Wellness Center of North Palm Beach, Florida, with Pete Riveiro and Chris Uzzolina, undergoes a wipeout.

Androgenix Advanced Health and Wellness Center of North Palm Beach, Florida, with Chris Uzzolina and Pete Riveiro, prepares to be towed to shore, after experiencing a wipeout.

Monster Energy / M CON of Wathena, Kansas with Myrick Coil and Tyler Miller, speeds along the course as a helicopter makes a pass.

Dirty Money Racing / Powerhouse Recycling of Stuart, Florida, with Brit Lilly and Bill Pyburn, glides over the water.

TunnelVision of Pasadena, Maryland with Michael Mccolgan and Rob Bryant; XINSURANCE of Niles, Michigan with Brit Lilly and Randy Kent; and YabbaDabbaDoo of Reddick, Florida with JD Ivines and Steve Adams line up at the start of a race.

A P1 offshore staff member heads across the waves.

Bronx Phantom / Bronx Phantom Marker 1 Marine SRQ of Sarasota, with Vincent Winoski and Rob Winoski, is on the tail of TunnelVision of Pasadena, Maryland, with Michael Mccolgan and Rob Bryant.

Tunnel Vision of Pasadena, Maryland, with Michael Mccolgan and Rob Bryant, approaches a buoy on the course.

Boatfloater.com of Sarasota, piloted by father and son team Steve Kildahl and Stephen Kildahl of the Sarasota team Scott Free Racing, makes a turn on the course.

Stephen Kildahl, who grew up in Sarasota, has been racing since age 16 with his father Steve Kildahl.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.