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Mystic Powerboats at Lake of the Ozarks Shootout 2024

September 29, 2024

Lake of the Ozarks Shootout

For some people, Lake of the Ozarks is best known for its role in the popular Netflix series Ozark, but for the boating community, it’s famous for something far more thrilling: the annual Lake of the Ozarks Shootout.

This event draws boat enthusiasts, manufacturers, and owners from around the country, all gathering to push their vessels to the limit and celebrate the world of performance boating.

This August, the 36th edition of the Shootout took place, and the Nautical Network team had the pleasure of joining our longtime partners, Mystic Powerboats, for the action-packed weekend. Our goal? To capture every moment, from the speed runs to the social gatherings, and enjoy the days on the water alongside the Mystic family.

In this article, we take a look back at this year’s edition of the event, delve into the history behind it, and share some of the incredible moments we caught through our lenses.

History of LOTO Shootout

The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, now a beloved annual tradition, has a history stretching back over three decades. It started in 1989 as a simple, local competition for boat owners to test whose vessel was the fastest. But as the years passed, the event grew—attracting more participants from outside the region and, eventually, major manufacturers and brands eager to join the excitement. Today, it’s a national festival celebrating speed, boating, and community, with thousands gathering to witness the action.

The five-day-long event unfolds in a series of lively gatherings and on-water activities. It kicks off with a street party on Wednesday, Thursday consists of boating during the day and Performance Boat Center party at night and Friday invites boating during the day and Camden on the Lake party at night. By Saturday and Sunday, the real thrill begins as boats of all shapes and sizes take turns racing down a nearly mile-long stretch of water at top speeds, aiming to clock their fastest run past the speed-tracking boat.

Building Brand Culture

For many performance boat brands, the Shootout is not just a showcase but a key opportunity to strengthen relationships with their communities. We had the pleasure of joining Mystic Powerboats this year, a familiar name at the event. They use it as a chance to bring together owners from across the region, hosting social gatherings and creating unforgettable experiences—whether participating in the high-speed runs or enjoying the atmosphere from the sidelines, Mystic’s presence each year builds a unique culture of belonging among owners.

Mystic’s founder, John Cosker, has his own legacy at the Shootout, having piloted the legendary American Ethanol—a custom-built Mystic boat owned by Don Onken and family—to multiple record-breaking wins. This year marked Cosker’s 10th consecutive Top Gun victory, reaching a breathtaking 221 mph and adding another chapter to his Shootout history.

This Year’s Edition

Representing Nautical Network, team members Austin Tompkins and Sean O’Donnell spent three days at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, capturing every moment and sharing the experience with our virtual audience. Their days averaged five hours of on-the-ground coverage—from documenting the festive social gatherings and stunning boats on the water to the high-speed shootout runs.

 

Austin took the lead on filming all of Mystic Powerboats’ activities throughout the event, covering everything from early-morning social breakfasts to exclusive owner mixers at elegant venues and, of course, the main attraction—the Shootout itself. Meanwhile, Sean focused on live mobile content, ensuring that our followers could experience the energy of the event in real-time across all our channels.

 

As we sat down with them to discuss the event, their excitement was very clear. Mystic Powerboats brought over 15 boats to the Shootout, including the debut of their 52-foot center console equipped with an XL Cabin Layout as well as quad Mercury 600 V12 outboards. The lineup also featured two 52 CCs, multiple M4200 and M3800 center consoles, and their show-stopping outboard cats—the C4000 and C3800.

 

”It’s hard to put into words what the Shootout is like if you haven’t been,” Sean shares. ”Nowhere else will you find this many high-performance boats gathered together, not to mention in the middle of Missouri. It’s unreal to see hundreds of powerboats cruising by in one place.”

 

Special thanks to John Cosker and the entire Mystic team for hosting us at this year’s edition. We’re already counting down the days until next year’s Shootout!

LOTO Shootout 2024

Through our cameras

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