- December 21, 2024
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This year's Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix by P1 Offshore marked the event's 40th year, and the race, held Sept. 14-15, showcased some dedicated participants.
Steve Kildahl of Sarasota has been in all 40 races, while his 33-year-old son Stephen Kildahl has been racing since age 16.
Although Stephen Kildahl now lives in Fort Myers, the father and son still enjoy racing together through their family-operated team Scott Free Racing.
"It's just been a part of my life forever, and we do it as a family. Our whole crew is a family, and it's just an exciting sport," Stephen Kildahl said Sept. 16. "You're going fast on the water, tt's thrilling, and the competition's tough. I'm a big motor sports fan, so I enjoy doing it."
With about 60 competitors coming from Florida and beyond, the race is the second longest-running U.S. powerboat race after the Key West Championship.
On Sept. 15, boaters were dealing with conditions Stephen Kildahl said were challenging and "pretty bumpy" compared to what is typical in Sarasota.
Their Boatfloater.com Mod V boat also saw its carburetor flood, although they were able to get it restarted.
Amid the challenges of racing, the team's family dynamic keeps them working together.
"Being a father and son, we have that trust factor," Stephen Kildahl said. "So there's a lot of times we don't need to communicate. We just know what each other needs to do."