After winning the modified class race at the Inflatable Powerboat World Championships held in France last month, Chad Romans plans to snatch the Pro-stock title next year.
Romans and co-pilot Candice Hatting dominated at the world champs, before Romans went on to win the China Motorboat Open three weeks ago, where the most decorated international pilots were vying for the top honours.
“I’m very happy with what Candice and I achieved this year. All the effort we put in has paid off. Now our goal is to win the Pro-stock class and I would like to win a world title in that class,” Romans said.
There’s three classes in inflatable powerboat racing, Prostock class, Pro-class and the modified class. Romans won the Pro Class in 2013 and 2015 alongside his then-co-pilot Kyle Kuum. He said his lifetime dream was to snatch a world title in all three classes.
“The only class I haven’t won is the Pro-stock class, so that’s the goal and I think I have enough time to prepare because the next world champs are in 2020.”
The inflatable powerboat season kicks off again in February and Chad will take some time off to be with his family.
The season will commence with the first national race in Gunubie and at Orient’s Harbour, with dates yet to be announced. “There are going to be five nationals for the year and I’ll have to finish top three in the country in order to be selected to represent the SA team that will be competing at next year’s world champs in each class. I’m looking forward to racing at home, it’s a nice way to start the season in our new class.”
He said the thing he missed most about home was the food. “It’s very nice to be back home, eating some South African food after eating Chinese food for two weeks.”
He encouraged anyone who was interested in inflatable powerboat racing to get hold of somebody like himself or Rowan Hawks, who’s the boat manufacturer in East London.
“Hawks would be a good help to everyone interested in this sport because we have helped guys get their head start.
“We’ve organised a couple of guys boats with good engines, but it all goes down to practicing during the weekend in nice weather.
“And people can come down to the East London Harbour behind the Orient Theatre or the East London Yacht Club to watch how we do things,” said Romans...