2022 SBT P1 AquaX National Champion Profiles: Jay Finlinson


Image: David Landro per AquaX

More than fifty riders across three race classes went head-to-head in St. Petersburg, Florida, the final stop on the five-circuit SBT P1 AquaX National Championship. Riders vied for national titles and the chance to qualify for the Bahamas World Championship in November.

Jay Finlinson – 300 AM Enduro class (Yamaha GP1800 SVHO)
Jay is a 17-year-old Yamaha GP1800 SVHO rider and high school senior who lives on Lake Wawasee in Northern Indiana. Jay stared racing at just 12 years old, and is now sponsored by Ignite Racing Fuel, Sur-Trac Trailers, and Brian Baldwin.

Living on a lake allows Jay to get out on the water around four times per week, and he sticks to a 5-day split workout with cardio and training on his stand-up ski. Jay’s father plays a big role in his racing – providing support from many angles.

According to a P1 AquaX press release, Jay competed in the 200 AM class in the 2021 USA National Championship on a ski Brian Baldwin loaned to him and raced in Michigan City and St. Pete. Jay had never driven a supercharged ski until Michigan City and he describes it as “fast, really fast.”

At the age of 14, Jay won an IJSBA world title in 2019 in the AM 1100 Stock class and, finished third in the Pro-Am Ski Stock class at the IJSBA World Finals in 2021. He has also taken national championship titles in ProWaterCross.

He has traveled a lot over the last few years with racing: “Obviously the big one is driving to Lake Havasu. Most of the time I ride with my Dad in the truck and trailer, but sometimes I fly so that I don’t miss as much school.

It’s awesome visiting so many states and the AquaX World Championship in the Bahamas is going to be really cool. I never thought I would ever get to race there.”

Share this post

JD Brussels

A true Florida native, JD bought his first boat before he was old enough to drive. You can usually find him tinkering on one of his many projects, tearing up the ocean on his Ultra 310, or spending time out on the boat with his wife and 3 kids.

No comments

Add yours

No Thanks