PANAMA CITY BEACH — Panama City Beach has taken the first steps in developing an annual sports festival by hosting five events during a weekend in mid-May.
A professional volleyball and a watercross event will join baseball and softball tournaments at Frank Brown Park and the NPC Southern USA Classic bodybuilding competition as events being held in the city during May 14-16.
“It’s our hope that each year we can tack on another extreme sport,” said Richard Sanders, vice president of sports marketing for the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The SuperCup of Watercross will be a two-day event, May 15 and 16, in the Gulf of Mexico behind the Boardwalk Beach Resort. Comprising at least 30 classes, the SuperCup of Watercross is personal watercraft racing.
Panama City Beach will be the kickoff for the Upper Watercraft Promotions-International Jet Sports Boating Association National Tour.
“You guys have the season for it,” said A.J. Handler, the CEO Upstate Watercraft Promotions. “For us to start up north and in the middle of May, half the country still has snow.”
Handler said the tour has a NASCAR-esque following and features a circuit of about 200 competitors who travel the country.
Watercross has teamed with Extreme Volleyball Professionals to hold their events simultaneously.
The EVP will hold its Island event here, which features the tour’s 10 best women in a tournament on May 15.
“We’re more of getting into the extreme sports arena for us and combining it with sand sports,” Sanders said. “It’s the weekend in between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day when the business will be good for the destination.”
The NPC Southern USA Classic will be held at Gulf World on May 14 and 15.
