BOCA RATON, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2021 / When COVID-19 put the world on hold for most of 2020, powerboat racing was no exception to the frequent and long-lasting shutdowns. As events from the 2020 Race World Offshore Key West Championships to the St. Clair River Classic Offshore Race were indefinitely postponed, racers had to reckon with how they would take advantage of this unexpected off-season.
World champion powerboat racer Hugh Fuller took this hiatus as a time to reset and refocus: "The shutdown of powerboat racing in 2020 was difficult because, just like with any other sport, it is important to keep up a consistent training schedule. Most of us were caught off guard, as was the rest of the world when most everything was shut down."
Below, Hugh Fuller shares his thoughts on the racing break, as well as the future of racing in a post-pandemic world.
A time to reflect
In order to ensure the safety of racers, teams, staff, and spectators, the 2020 powerboat racing season was paused in mid-March, with races not resuming until November. However, no one knew at the beginning that this break would span eight months, as no one could have predicted the impact of the pandemic on nearly every facet of life.
Having come straight from an extensive career in car racing, Hugh Fuller's life did indeed revolve around powerboats: training, racing, traveling, maintenance, and the list goes on. For the first time in his life, he was forced to take a break, and instead of pushing himself to his limit, he took advantage of this quiet time to refocus his priorities and reset his goals.
"I was fortunate enough to be able to enjoy a lot of this unexpected free time doing the things I love most: boating for pleasure and spending time with my loved ones," says Hugh Fuller.
The racing break was a fulfilling time for Hugh Fuller and many other racers, who were able to slow down and enjoy the ride instead of trying to make it to the finish line.
Moving forward
Once the 2020 season restarted in November, it was time for racers to hunker down and get serious once again about training, racing, and, most importantly, winning. The sport has picked up right where it left off, with the race schedule now jam packed for the foreseeable future in order to make up for lost time.
"Racers are ready to get back into the swing of things after the break," says Hugh Fuller. "I don't think anyone will ever take this sport, or any other sport for that matter, for granted again."
However, there is a bit of uncertainty about the future of powerboat racing around the globe. With regional and national lockdown restrictions still being implemented in light of spikes in COVID-19 cases, events in some countries are postponed for the foreseeable future.
While the immediate future of powerboat racing may be uncertain in some parts of the world, the spirit and fervour won't die down that easily.
Contact: Andrew Mitchell, [email protected]
SOURCE: Hugh Fuller