In the boating world ten years is a lot of time. In ten years the industry can rise and fall, manufactures can come and go, friends can be made and lost, and events can be created and fade away. When an event in this industry can celebrate a decade of existence something is being done right and that is exactly the case with the Lake Powell Challenge.
Ten Years ago the folks at Antelope Point Marina got it in their heads that they wanted to produce an event to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research. Having never organized a poker run before and being that Antelope Point is located on the land of the Navajo Nation, the first ever Lake Powell Challenge was actually held on land and card stops were scattered throughout the Navajo Nation near Antelope Canyon. That first year a group of big hearted folks from the Marina and nearby Page, Arizona were able to raise about $5000 to aid in funding research for type one diabetes through JDRF, the leading organization in the fight for a cure.
A decade later the Lake Powell Challenge has long since moved from the sand to the water. The humble crew from Antelope Point Marina, tucked away among the red canyons of Lake Powell, has turned a small land-locked event that no one had heard of into one of the premier fund raising poker runs in the United States. What started out as a way to raise a few dollars for a good cause has become the largest third-party fund raiser for Juvenile Diabetes in the Nation... but how?
It's a simple formula really. The staff at Antelope Point believe in the Pareto Principle. The Pareto Principle is also known as the 80/20 rule or "The Law of the Vital Few". The principle states that 80% of the desired effects come from 20% of the causes. In other words, 80% of the funds raised at charity events comes from just 20% of the boating community. What the Lake Powell Challenge has done is cultivated a culture where the Vital Few (those 20%) of the boating community feel appreciated and welcomed. It's these Vital Few, the generous participants of the Challenge, that come together to such effect that this year the Lake Powell Challenge was able to raise more than $620,000 to benefit JDRF. That is more than $100,000 more than this event raised just one year ago!
The Lake Powell Challenge attracts about 80 registered boats each year give or take. While some events bring in upwards of 200 boats, the people behind the Challenge don't have a desire to build the participant numbers much more than they are. And why should they? Right now folks like Marina Manager Burl Griswold, Sales & Special Event Coordinator Megan Bobroski, and Restaurant Manager Roland Schebesta are able to provide 5 star hospitality to each and every one of the participants and are on a first name basis with almost everyone in attendance. Its this level of service and accommodation that sets this whole event apart from the other poker runs around the nation. If another event really wants to see what it takes to bring smiles to the faces of their participants they need look no further than the staff at Lake Powell Challenge.
Burl Griswold and Megan Bobroski of Antelope Point Marina
One of about 5 ice sculptures made by Restaurant Manager Roland Schebesta
Of course boating on Lake Powell may add to the smiles as well. If you've never made to haul to Lake Powell you really need to put it on your calendar for next season. Let's put it this way, if you had one week to live and you could choose anywhere in the world to go boating, you should choose Lake Powell. Yes, it's that good! Clear blue water, mild temps, red sandstone cliffs, and more than 2000 miles of shoreline, Lake Powell is a powerboater's dream come true. Stop thinking about it and go check it out... You'll be glad you did!
So, what does the next decade hold for the self proclaimed "World's Greatest Poker Run"? Only time will tell. Regardless, next year's dates have been marked off our calendar and will be for as many years as they'll have us. Here's to ten more years of great boating, awesome people, and huge money raised for a worthy cause!
For a full gallery of images from the Lake Powell Challenge click HERE
Words and Photos by: Tom Leigh (Tommy Gun Images)
Ten Years ago the folks at Antelope Point Marina got it in their heads that they wanted to produce an event to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research. Having never organized a poker run before and being that Antelope Point is located on the land of the Navajo Nation, the first ever Lake Powell Challenge was actually held on land and card stops were scattered throughout the Navajo Nation near Antelope Canyon. That first year a group of big hearted folks from the Marina and nearby Page, Arizona were able to raise about $5000 to aid in funding research for type one diabetes through JDRF, the leading organization in the fight for a cure.
A decade later the Lake Powell Challenge has long since moved from the sand to the water. The humble crew from Antelope Point Marina, tucked away among the red canyons of Lake Powell, has turned a small land-locked event that no one had heard of into one of the premier fund raising poker runs in the United States. What started out as a way to raise a few dollars for a good cause has become the largest third-party fund raiser for Juvenile Diabetes in the Nation... but how?
It's a simple formula really. The staff at Antelope Point believe in the Pareto Principle. The Pareto Principle is also known as the 80/20 rule or "The Law of the Vital Few". The principle states that 80% of the desired effects come from 20% of the causes. In other words, 80% of the funds raised at charity events comes from just 20% of the boating community. What the Lake Powell Challenge has done is cultivated a culture where the Vital Few (those 20%) of the boating community feel appreciated and welcomed. It's these Vital Few, the generous participants of the Challenge, that come together to such effect that this year the Lake Powell Challenge was able to raise more than $620,000 to benefit JDRF. That is more than $100,000 more than this event raised just one year ago!
The Lake Powell Challenge attracts about 80 registered boats each year give or take. While some events bring in upwards of 200 boats, the people behind the Challenge don't have a desire to build the participant numbers much more than they are. And why should they? Right now folks like Marina Manager Burl Griswold, Sales & Special Event Coordinator Megan Bobroski, and Restaurant Manager Roland Schebesta are able to provide 5 star hospitality to each and every one of the participants and are on a first name basis with almost everyone in attendance. Its this level of service and accommodation that sets this whole event apart from the other poker runs around the nation. If another event really wants to see what it takes to bring smiles to the faces of their participants they need look no further than the staff at Lake Powell Challenge.
Burl Griswold and Megan Bobroski of Antelope Point Marina
One of about 5 ice sculptures made by Restaurant Manager Roland Schebesta
Of course boating on Lake Powell may add to the smiles as well. If you've never made to haul to Lake Powell you really need to put it on your calendar for next season. Let's put it this way, if you had one week to live and you could choose anywhere in the world to go boating, you should choose Lake Powell. Yes, it's that good! Clear blue water, mild temps, red sandstone cliffs, and more than 2000 miles of shoreline, Lake Powell is a powerboater's dream come true. Stop thinking about it and go check it out... You'll be glad you did!
So, what does the next decade hold for the self proclaimed "World's Greatest Poker Run"? Only time will tell. Regardless, next year's dates have been marked off our calendar and will be for as many years as they'll have us. Here's to ten more years of great boating, awesome people, and huge money raised for a worthy cause!
For a full gallery of images from the Lake Powell Challenge click HERE
Words and Photos by: Tom Leigh (Tommy Gun Images)
