It’s one of the reasons why the Shugrue’s family of restaurants is a major sponsor of the event. “Desert Storm fills the restaurants with high rollers who spend money and tip well,” said Nichols. He explained that so many of the local businesses are either seasonal or dependent on the performance-boating community that it’s important that the high rollers who own the big exotic vessels make the annual pilgrimage to the Arizona desert for the run. “My major goal for Desert Storm is to give back to the Havasu community because they get overwhelmed by the performance-boating community,” said Nichols.
While the speed and spectacle of the run make it a surefire hit with the locals in the host city of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., event owners Jim Nicholas and Jim Russell have always had a different goal.
Image Above Courtesy of Tommy Gun Images For the past dozen years, the Desert Storm Poker Run has grown into one of the most popular performance boating events around the country.ĭesert Storm draws the cream of the crop of boats, including some of the fastest in the world.
