JACKSON, WY (BRAIN)—In Hawaiian culture, the concepts of "luau" and "party" are often blended, resulting in graduation luaus, wedding luaus, and birthday luaus, but not bowling luaus. And that could be because nobody had thought of a bowling luau…or not…either way, Kona is thinking of it now.
What started 10 years ago as 20 people enjoying a casual evening of mini-golf at a dingy course in Anaheim, California has turned into a 350 person industry reunion in Las Vegas at a world class facility. Perhaps the only constant is that it has always been about raising money for International Mountain Bicycle Association (IMBA) advocacy programs.
The 10th Annual Kona/IMBA FunRaiser will take place at Interbike on Thursday, September 27 starting at 8:30 p.m. at the world-famous Orleans Casino Bowling Center. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $60,000 for IMBA-related advocacy programs.
This year’s theme: A Bowling Luau…look up Luau and put together your best traditional Luau costume, or, be the first on your block to define traditional Bowling Luau attire.
After three years and $30,000 going to the IMBA/Kona Dirt Jump grant program (http://www.imba.com/resources/grants/kona_fr_grant.html), this year Kona has dedicated the money raised from the Buck-A-Bowl event will go to support a new program that Kona will announce next week.
“More and more opportunities are available now with over 30 Dirt Jump Freeride grants distributed around North America,” said Kona king pin Mark Peterson. “Now that we have the Bowl-Your-Own program local grassroots organizations can take up the fundraising themselves and put it where it needs it, whether its dirt jumps, XC or educational programs.”
There will be a DJ rocking the house, luau drink specials, and as always, cheap beer. Bring Your Own Poi.
Space is limited. To register your team, contact Kona king pin Mark Peterson at (360) 366-0951 or mp@konaworld.com.
