The GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro is just around the corner, and it’s going to be entirely new for me since I won’t be competing for the first time in my career.
It is the greatest event in bass fishing and something I would encourage anyone who follows the sport to experience firsthand.
I’ll be there working for sponsors, visiting with fans and helping with Bassmasters TV at the Classic Outdoors Expo, arguably the greatest outdoors show where anglers see the latest products and can follow the Classic Coverage.
The Classic Expo has become so big and popular that many tackle companies use it to introduce new products for the coming year.
As always, B.A.S.S. will make the Greenville TD Convention Center the place to be, offering unprecedented activities and Classic coverage when the weigh-in isn’t underway.
My wife Sherry and I wanted to do our part as well, so we partnered with our participating sponsors to launch the “KVD’s Fan to Fame Challenge.”
Show goers who register will not only have chances to win numerous prizes, but the Grand Prize Winner will be given the Classic opportunity of a lifetime.
All avid bass anglers have dreamed of winning the Classic, and our contest Grand Prize Winner will get to see what that’s like firsthand. In addition to winning thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes from participating companies, the lucky winner also will get a private meet-and-greet and backstage guided tour with me during the last-day weigh-in.
As a four-time winner, I know that there is nothing more exciting than the final weigh-in at the Bassmaster Classic. The Grand Prize Winner will be my guest and get an up-close view of the drama and excitement as it unfolds.
But even if you don’t win the grand prize, chances are good that you will go home from the Outdoors Expo with sponsor swag or fishing gear.
Here’s how to make it happen:
When you arrive at the Expo, go to the “KVD’s Fan to Fame Challenge” booth on the main show floor and register with Brand Ambassadors who will be wearing a KVD replica jersey. You’ll be given a commemorative “Fan to Fame” lanyard and a hard card that’s your ticket into all of the drawings.
From there, you can go to each of the eight participating sponsors’ booths where you will find a “Fan to Fame” display and an ambassador who will use your hard card to register you for the daily prizes.
Those sponsors include Bass Pro Shops/Nitro, Quantum Fishing, Strike King Lures, Mercury/MotorGuide, Humminbird Electronics, Plano Tackle Systems, Huk Performance Fishing Wear and Toyota Trucks.
In addition, each of those companies will be giving away limited numbers of swag to those who check-in at their booths. For example, Strike King will be giving out bags of KVD Perfect Plastics to the first 500 fans that check-in each day. All of the participating sponsors have their own unique giveaways to fans who register.
And that’s not all. We will be giving away great prizes and gear throughout all three days of the Expo.
It’s our sponsors’ way of helping make the Classic Expo a great experience for all the fans and to showcase new products that they’ll have on display.
And remember, you must register at all eight booths to be eligible for the Grand Prize that includes the VIP backstage experience with me and thousands of dollars of the best and latest gear from our sponsors.
You can get all the information about the prizes, participating sponsors, their locations and details for our “Fan to Fame” promotion at www.kevinvandam.com.
Kevin VanDam’s column appears weekly on Bassmaster.com. You can also find him on Facebook and Twitter.