Poker Run 2018 Lake Cumberland
March 28, 2018 0 The Lake Cumberland Thunder Run Turns 10 Although they admit it doesn’t feel like it’s been 10 years, the organizers of the Lake Cumberland Thunder Run in Kentucky have established a remarkable event in that span. In June, he hit the Lake Cumberland Thunder Run. With one event left on his season roster, Wozencraft’s 2018 adventure is almost complete. But even with seven happenings under his belt, he’s looking forward to the Lake Powell Challenge, where he’ll be joined—and share a houseboat with—speedonthewater.com co-publisher Jason Johnson. K9 units from Kentucky State Police assisted water patrol officers with enforcement on Lake Cumberland. Fish and Wildlife officers responded to a call on Lake Cumberland. Preparation by Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel for law and order proved effective for Poker Run weekend on Lake Cumberland.
As “Miss Powerboat Nation,” the captivating Brittany Dunn is the face of our humble high-performance empire. Brittany was our emissary at the recent Lake Cumberland Poker Run, with headquarters at State Dock Marina. We asked her about the festivities, and she filed the following report.
Poker Run 2018 Lake Cumberland Maine
Lake Cumberland was straight up Mardi Gras on the water—we’re talking off-the-hook wild. There were probably at least 120 boats participating in this 12th annual poker run, which is about what we’ve seen in previous installments. Sadly, a few regular attendees with bigger boats were absent this year, including Bill Pyburn of Florida, Mike Pierce of Louisiana and Bill Tomlinson in his turbine-powered catamaran My Way. We missed them, but the turnout was still pretty amazing. The DCB Powerboats crew was there with a houseboat, as well as Brett Manire and the team from Performance Boat Center,Joe and Wayne Schaldenbrand from Sunsation Powerboats (with their new 39CCX center console), and Mike and Angela Goldbaugh with their 36-foot Skater. Brett Manire also had the new Wright Performance catamaran on hand, and it really turned a lot of heads.
I had a blast, but with only a couple of days, it’s hard to get around and talk to everybody. I make my rounds, walking the docks or swimming at Harmon Cove (aka “Party Cove”), always trying to connect with as many people as I can. I love re-connecting with all of the regulars, but it’s also great fun encountering all of the new faces each year, and posing for selfies with everybody. And since it’s in Kentucky, everybody is super hospitable.
As usual, one of the highlights was the scene at Harmon Cove, which has to be the world’s largest raft-up, with thousands of boats coming together to create this massive convergence of power and camaraderie, containing everything from 50-foot speedboats, jon boats, pontoons, houseboats—every single boat you could think of. They call it the Gauntlet, and it happens virtually every normal weekend. So just imagine what it’s like when you add in all of the out-of-towners who come in for the poker run. It’s mind-boggling, and it’s a huge blast. It’s nothing but beads and Jell-O shooters and bottles of Fireball being thrown at you.
During the poker run, I was lucky to be invited to ride with Adam and Amy Carpenter of Michigan, who own the black 34CCX Sunsation, Discrete. I met them there two years ago, and we’ve stayned in touch ever since. When I mentioned that I was coming to Lake Cumberland again this year, they said, “Well, we call dibs—you’re running with us!” The Carpenters hung around with Billy Georgiou, who was there in his MTI center console, Megaflexin.
Craig Ford of Campbellsville, KY, was the big first-place winner of the poker run. He took the grand prize of $5,000 for his incredible hand—a king-high straight flush! Dwane and Wendy Hall of Black Lick, OH, were the second-place winners of $3,000, with their full house, and Chad Asbury of Augusta, KY, got a third-place win of $2,000 with a a high flush.
I can’t wait for next year’s poker run!
COMMENTS
As “Miss Powerboat Nation,” the captivating Brittany Dunn is the face of our humble high-performance empire. Brittany was our emissary at the recent Lake Cumberland Poker Run, with headquarters at State Dock Marina. We asked her about the festivities, and she filed the following report.
Lake Cumberland was straight up Mardi Gras on the water—we’re talking off-the-hook wild. There were probably at least 120 boats participating in this 12th annual poker run, which is about what we’ve seen in previous installments. Sadly, a few regular attendees with bigger boats were absent this year, including Bill Pyburn of Florida, Mike Pierce of Louisiana and Bill Tomlinson in his turbine-powered catamaran My Way. We missed them, but the turnout was still pretty amazing. The DCB Powerboats crew was there with a houseboat, as well as Brett Manire and the team from Performance Boat Center,Joe and Wayne Schaldenbrand from Sunsation Powerboats (with their new 39CCX center console), and Mike and Angela Goldbaugh with their 36-foot Skater. Brett Manire also had the new Wright Performance catamaran on hand, and it really turned a lot of heads.
I had a blast, but with only a couple of days, it’s hard to get around and talk to everybody. I make my rounds, walking the docks or swimming at Harmon Cove (aka “Party Cove”), always trying to connect with as many people as I can. I love re-connecting with all of the regulars, but it’s also great fun encountering all of the new faces each year, and posing for selfies with everybody. And since it’s in Kentucky, everybody is super hospitable.
Lake Cumberland Poker Run 2018 Pics
As usual, one of the highlights was the scene at Harmon Cove, which has to be the world’s largest raft-up, with thousands of boats coming together to create this massive convergence of power and camaraderie, containing everything from 50-foot speedboats, jon boats, pontoons, houseboats—every single boat you could think of. They call it the Gauntlet, and it happens virtually every normal weekend. So just imagine what it’s like when you add in all of the out-of-towners who come in for the poker run. It’s mind-boggling, and it’s a huge blast. It’s nothing but beads and Jell-O shooters and bottles of Fireball being thrown at you.
Lake Cumberland Poker Run 2018 Video
During the poker run, I was lucky to be invited to ride with Adam and Amy Carpenter of Michigan, who own the black 34CCX Sunsation, Discrete. I met them there two years ago, and we’ve stayned in touch ever since. When I mentioned that I was coming to Lake Cumberland again this year, they said, “Well, we call dibs—you’re running with us!” The Carpenters hung around with Billy Georgiou, who was there in his MTI center console, Megaflexin.
Craig Ford of Campbellsville, KY, was the big first-place winner of the poker run. He took the grand prize of $5,000 for his incredible hand—a king-high straight flush! Dwane and Wendy Hall of Black Lick, OH, were the second-place winners of $3,000, with their full house, and Chad Asbury of Augusta, KY, got a third-place win of $2,000 with a a high flush.
I can’t wait for next year’s poker run!