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Norman,
OK -- Kota Kiriyama knows about long journeys, whether they be from Japan to the United States or from Buffalo to beyond Dunkirk. He came to America nearly two decades ago to pursue his dreams. Now that he’s realized some of them on the water -- notably four Bassmaster Classic appearances, another one forthcoming in February 2009 and his recent emotional $100,000 victory in the BASS Empire Chase – he wants to share those dreams with others, and in conjunction with sponsor Bass Cat Boats he’s found a unique way to make that happen.
On August 24, 2008, Kota will host the “Kota’s American Dream” tournament
www.kotaamericandream.com
on the Tone River near his home town in Chiba Prefecture.
“The whole concept is to offer people in Japan with dreams like mine an opportunity to come to America,” Kiriyama said. “It started when I was talking to Rick Pierce of Bass Cat. I told him that I was living my dream, but a lot of people with dreams can’t make them happen.” Together, they came up with the idea for the event.
The winning team will travel to the Bass Cat National Team Championship on Bass Cat’s dime. The tournament will occur this November in Columbus, Mississippi.
“This is the second year that I am doing this,” Kiriyama said. “Last year was a different format. This year it is an open team tournament for the first time.”
He expects approximately 100 teams to enter.
The day before the tournament, Kota will provide demo rides in a 20-foot Bass Cat Puma for anyone who cares to try out the ride that enabled him to win at Erie. “Everything had to be perfect conditions at that event. The boat, the engine, the weather. I had no problems at all.” Everyone who takes a demo ride will be entered in a raffle for some of the tackle that he used to conquer Erie.
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