MINNEAPOLIS (June 30, 2004) - Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) has renewed its sponsorship as one of the official outboard engines of FLW Outdoors' premier tournament trails. BRP's Evinrude outboard-engine brand has been a part of the FLW Outdoors sponsorship team for more than 20 years, unquestionably realizing the value of the sport and its continued growth.
The outboard-engine manufacturer sponsors the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, EverStart Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart RCL Walleye League and Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail. Through these tournament trails, Evinrude reaches a large, outdoor-minded audience of more than 52 million Americans who fish.
"Through FLW Outdoors, we are able to have a presence in front of enthusiastic anglers nearly year-round, and anglers are one of our most important markets," said Roch Lambert, BRP executive vice president, product development, sales and marketing, North America. "As a sponsor of FLW Outdoors, we're able to communicate directly with serious amateur anglers as well as professionals who rely on our engines during competition. We count on their feedback to help us continually improve the best outboards on the market."
Evinrude outboards can be seen on specially designed Ranger boats used during televised rounds of competition at FLW Outdoors events. Evinrude also participates in the Family Fun Zone at all Wal-Mart FLW Tour events and is publicized through the wide spectrum of media maintained by FLW Outdoors, including the "FLW Outdoors" television program, FLW Outdoors Magazine, prominence on flwoutdoors.com, signage at tournaments, and inclusion in tour promotional and public relations materials.
Evinrude-sponsored anglers have long been dominating competitors on various FLW Outdoors tournament trails. In fact, Team Evinrude pro Dan Morehead of Paducah, Ky., earned the FLW Tour's coveted Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year title in 2003 and was featured on special-edition boxes of Kellogg's Corn Flakes.
In 2003, Evinrude partnered with EverStart Batteries to introduce the largest-ever co-angler contingency award. The award, known as the "Ultimate Fishing Package," included a 2003 Evinrude 225-horsepower, high-output outboard engine with direct injection rigged on a Ranger 520DVX bass boat. The package was complemented by a Minn Kota trolling motor, and all the systems were powered by EverStart Marine Batteries.
"FLW Outdoors offers Evinrude endless contact with professional anglers who are in a race to get to the perfect fishing spot during a tournament and who depend on their motors to get them there. The feedback Evinrude receives from these anglers is priceless," said Irwin Jacobs, chairman of FLW Outdoors. "Evinrude knows the value of its long-standing sponsorship of FLW Outdoors and is committed to growing the sport of fishing. We are grateful for their continued support, and we look forward to working with them to continue growing the sport."
Evinrude and Johnson® outboard engines, including Evinrude direct-injection and Evinrude E-TEC technologies, are designed, built, distributed and marketed by BRP. BRP also manufactures and markets Rotax® engines and karts, Ski-Doo® and Lynx® snowmobiles, Bombardier* ATVs, and Sea-Doo® watercraft and sport boats. Visit www.Evinrude.com or Johnson.com for more information.