International training course for Aquabike World Championship to be held in Negombo

Amagi Aria, Negombo, are the proud hosts of the international training course for Aquabike (jet ski) racing, which will take place from 16-23 June at the hotel premises and the Negombo lagoon. The training course is conducted by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) – the world governing body for all powerboating activities. It is fully recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is a member of the Association of the IOC Recognized International Sports Federations (ARISF) and of SportAccord.

Having successfully won the rights to host the opening round of the H20 racing International Aquabike Championship in March 2019, the Lanka Powerboat Association (LPA) will enter a team of trained racers into this prestigious event for the first time in Sri Lanka. The international training course will prepare trainers, racers, and officials for the development of Aquabike Racing in Sri Lanka and The Maldives, in hope of receiving honours at the main event next year.

The Aquabike World Championship is the most acclaimed and prestigious international series promoting personal watercraft in a competitive racing environment and one of the fastest, most spectacular, demanding, and entertaining sports on water. Each round of the Aquabike World Championship is four days of breathtaking action, entertainment, and spectacular night shows. It is an event that combines speed, skill, artistry, adrenalin-fuelled, non-stop action, and improbable feats of artistry and acrobatics. The opening round of the World Championships will take place from 22-24 March, 2019 in Colombo and continue on with races in Europe and China. The final stages of the Championship will be held in UAE.

The course consists of both theoretical and practical modules and will be carried out by International UIM Training Commissioner John Puddifoot. Once the participants successfully complete the course, they will be awarded with an International Racing License and will be UIM and LPA Ambassadors to promote and train jet ski racing in Sri Lanka and The Maldives.

The training course will commence on 16 June at Amagi Aria for four complete days. On 23 June, all newly-trained riders will take part in a racing event, followed by the official award ceremony.

Amagi Aria Hotel in Negombo will be the only base for an international training course in Sri Lanka. “Amagi Aria has been credited the rights to this platform by the Union Internationale Motonautique and we are excited to be the focal hosts for jet ski training in racing and riding, especially since we strongly believe that such efforts can give prominence to the development of sports tourism in Sri Lanka”, said General Manger – Operations and Marketing for Amagi Hotels Renuke Coswatte.

He went on to state: “Our commitment to this partnership will not only be on a location provisional basis, but also in all aspects of maintaining and positioning jet ski racing in Sri Lanka; we will be providing learners and riders with required safety specifications, detailing and promotions through our individual efforts on a long term basis. We look forward to bringing in more events on an international scale in the future”.

Amagi Aria will make this event an opportunity for the public as well; so that guests too can enjoy the energetic experience. On 24 June, Amagi Aria will host a fun day for families and individuals, where guests of 10 years and above can participate in the mini-teaching sessions for jet ski riding and racing. For more information, please call 0703569143.