Magazine

Inside SOTW Mag: Boyne Thunder Bulls-Eye

ByJason Johnson October 20, 2019May 17, 2020

Poker run popularity ebbs and flows. What worked with a given participant’s schedule one season might not fit into the next one. Or that same poker runner might want to try something on the same summer weekend. And the possibility of “Been there, done that, taking a break this year” always exists.

Michigan’s Boyne Thunder Poker Run always attracts some remarkable boats. Photo by Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix

Even the mighty Boyne Thunder Poker Run in Northern Michigan, which turned 16 this year, is not immune to the whims and schedule conflicts of would-be participants. This year translated to the event taking seven months rather than seven minutes—as it did one year—to sell out all 120 slots.

That is what qualifies as an “ebb season” for Boyne Thunder, which remains a benchmark event for the poker run world. And Bob Alger, the chairman of the event’s steering committee, and his team were unconcerned.

That is the kind of perspective 16 years of success will bring.

“I’ve had a number of people ask me about that and, you know, there are so many events going on all over the country these days,” he said. “People don’t have to travel so far to get to one—they have choices. We hope to sell out every year, but we don’t necessarily expect to. This year took longer than it has lately and I think we have sold out for the past five or six years. But before that we were just happy to get what we got. We are grateful to have the event we have, and what it does for the community.

To enjoy the complete feature, click the download link for the PDF of the July/August 2019 Speed On The Water magazine, and please share any feedback with us below, via email or on social media.

Inside SOTW Mag: Boyne Thunder Bulls-Eye

Address

Quick Links