Desert Storm Set To Return Under New Lake Havasu Ownership

By Becky Maxedon

Desert Storm, billed as the largest performance boating event in the Western U.S., has changed ownership and that ownership is local.

Two Lake Havasu City entrepreneurs, Steve Ticknor and Jim Russell, pooled their resources and skills to acquire the poker run and high-speed shoot-out from former owners Jimmy and Christina Nichols.

Desert Storm will be headquartered at Windsor Beach, Lake Havasu State Park, April 19-22, 2023, following the Lake Havasu Boat Show. According to a press release, the combination of these two events is a part of title sponsor Anderson Powersports’ “Launching Summer on the Lake 2023.”

Ticknor, originally from Oregon, has been living in Lake Havasu City for eight years and has been a part of several community nonprofits including being Past President of Lake Havasu City Rotary Club, served on the board of Havasu Community Health Foundation, the Veterans Court, and is currently executive director of the Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair. In 2018, he was honored as Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.

Steve Ticknor and Jim Russell are the new owners of Desert Storm. Photo courtesy Steve Ticknor

Jim Russell owns DSM Events LLC, of Lake Havasu City, the largest event production firm in the tri-state area, according to a press release. Credited with the production of more than 100 events of his own, he has contracted to more than 400 events of others during the past three decades in Havasu.

“Steve and Jim are very excited to be involved with Desert Strom and want to keep it the world-class event that you have come to know and love,” the press release stated.

Information about event schedule and registration will be released soon.