BRP’s Steve Laham Inducted into IJSBA Hall of Fame

Honored for role in developing PWC industry

BRP’s Steve Laham was recently inducted into the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) Hall of Fame for his role in developing the personal watercraft (PWC) industry.

Scott Frazier, IJSBA managing director, noted Laham had a strong positive impact on the sport starting in the mid-1980s and for the next 20-plus years.

“Steve Laham and his Team Butch’s dealership and race support was one of the early pillars of this sport,” says Frazier. “Laham had a big impact on the sport. He was one of the true pioneers and leaders with vision that carried the sport to mainstream popularity.”

Laham has been a prominent figure in the PWC industry for the past 32 years, in particular for Butch’s Jet Ski Shop in Grand Rapids, Mich., one of the earliest PWC performance shops that used racing as its primary promotional tool. Laham recruited and employed many of the biggest names in PWC racing. Team Butch was a constant championship contender and winner of multiple national and world IJSBA championships. Under Laham’s leadership, Butch’s became one of the top two largest Sea-Doo product dealers in North America for 10 consecutive years. He pioneered mail-order PWC performance parts marketing before he moved onto multiple management positions within BRP in 1999. Still at BRP, he is now vice-president of Sales, Marketing and After-Sales for Evinrude outboard engines in North America.

“BRP could not be more proud to have our own Steve Laham inducted to the IJSBA Hall of Fame,” says Yves Leduc, vice-president – general manager, North America division. “Steve has played a significant role in the development of PWC racing and the industry as a whole and continues to make meaningful impact on the powersports and marine industries. He now brings that competitive drive to BRP’s Evinrude outboard engine business.”

The IJSBA inducts individuals into the Hall of Fame who have had substantial impact on the sport. The 2011 induction took place in conjunction with the PWC World Finals event that took place in Lake Havasu City, Ariz. in October. 

“My favourite aspect of joining this elite IJSBA Hall of Fame fraternity, and frankly the past 32 years of being involved in the PWC industry, is that I still enjoy going out on a Sea-Doo watercraft,” says Laham. “I have never stopped enjoying the water, this sport and the recreation it brings me and my family.”