Waves And Wheels Road Show Coming To Desert Storm

For Waves and Wheels owner Justin Wagner and his crew, showcasing their wares at the three-day Desert Storm Poker Run is a hefty travel-and-time commitment. First, it’s an almost 3,000-mile journey from their home-base at Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Mo., to Desert Storm headquarters in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., and back.

Captured here in Key West, Fla., the Waves and Wheels Edition 39 Doug Wright Carbon demo catamaran will find a receptive audience this month in Lake Havasu City. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

Second, they don’t travel light—it’s not a road-trip involving two 20-somethings in a fast car driving nonstop and washing down beef jerky with energy drink. Counting Wagner, there are nine Waves and Wheels team-members making the trip to event, set this year for April 24-26.

Plus, they’ll be bringing a pair of 39-foot Waves and Wheels Edition Doug Wright catamarans, a six-door Ford F650 truck and a Peterbilt “Express” hauler—both of which also were heavily customized by the Waves and Wheels team—and one of the company principal’s “old-school cars,” though he has not decided which one just yet.

Waves and Wheels is bringing this 39-foot catamaran owned by Brian and Leslie Blount to Desert Storm.

All of that and more will fill the Waves and Wheels display during the Thursday Desert Storm Street Party from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. in downtown Lake Havasu City.

And Wagner wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I love the street party and being able to display and show off the work of my talented team,” he explained. “Our Waves and Wheels Edition Doug Wright program is growing faster than I expected, and the Desert Storm Street Party is the perfect place to show what we have going on. For me personally, it’s the perfect event to kick off the boating season. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The Waves and Wheels team displayed its built-out 36 Doug Wright catamaran and Raiden—its completely reimagined 50-foot Skater catamaran—during the 2024 Desert Storm event. Photos by Jeff Helmkamp copyright Helmkamp Photos.

But the effort involved is relative. Waves and Wheels is the title sponsor of the Shootout On The Strip Street Party and Display during the annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout in late August. Months of work by Wagner and company go into that incredible, mile-long display on the Bagnell Dam Strip.

“I have a lot less responsibilities at Desert Storm than I do at the Shootout,” Wagner said, then laughed. “So we really get a chance to enjoy the beautiful lake, the Colorado River and all the Desert Storm festivities.”