Desert Storm Poker Run Registration Closing Today

With 130-plus high-performance center consoles, catamarans and V-bottom sportboats signed up so far, the Anderson Powersports Desert Storm Poker Run presented by KICKER Marine Audio set for April 24-27 has a way to go before reaching last year’s 260-plus boat total. And time is running out as, per an announcement from the organizers, registration officially closes today.

Presenting sponsor KICKER Marine Audio is returning to Desert Storm this year with a poker-run card stop and various displays. Photos by Jeff Helmkamp copyright Jeff Helmkamp Photos.

There will be no on-site sign-ups, according to the 26th annual Lake Havasu City, Ariz., event’s website.

All four centerpieces of the event—KRUSIN’ 4 A KAUSE on Wednesday, the Thursday Desert Storm Street Party in downtown Lake Havasu City, Friday’s massive poker-run and the Saturday morning top-speed shootout—are returning for the 2024 version. So, too, is Illinois-based speedonthewater.com contributing photographer Jeff Helmkamp, who started photographing the event in 2016.

The Saturday morning top-speed shootout is among the highlights of the four-day event.

Helmkamp, who shoots events across the country each year for speedonthewater.com, describes Desert Storm as one of his favorite events to capture.

“After 2016, I shot mostly for speedonthewater.com,” he recalled. “I like being out on the water there—shooting from water level is the best way to capture the desert scene. The last couple of years, I have been part of the Wozencraft Insurance Agency crew. Hanging out with Devin Wozencraft and his business partner Tanah Kinsey and getting to meet all the people they know is crazy-fun.

“And last year, I got to the poker run with the Performance Boat Center crew—Performance Boat Center is one of my sponsors,” he added. “That was a great day.”