Upon its official introduction, many outside of The Watercraft Journal were shell-shocked at the base MSRP of $32,499 for Yamaha’s all-new 2026 CrossWave. The segment-breaking jet-driven 4-seater features an unmatched 310-liters of storage, a full wrap-around deck ideal for fishing, and full deck customization by added seating, cooler attachments, trolling motor, etc. (pushing the price tag closer to $40K).
Industry commentators saw the CrossWave as a segue between Yamaha’s personal watercraft lineup and FSH center console fishing vessel – an entry few enthusiasts and dealers asked for. Rather, the CrossWave exists to intentionally disrupt Yamaha’s long-standing reputation as a performance watersport brand – an unwanted reputation that placed Yamaha Motor Corp. USA in the political crosshairs for decades.
Seeking to rid itself of its youthful audience, Yamaha’s legal team pushed corporate to jettison it’s “less desirable” client base for a more mature – and frankly, cash flush – buyer. So following the CrossWave’s introduction, Yamaha has moved forward with the proposed plan to scale-up the WaveRunner product line for a more “sophisticated” buyer with its all-new PuttWave personal watercraft.
Internal research found that Yamaha’s desired clientele are less interested in high energy watersports and prefer instead to “a morning playing the back nine” and “taking a nap.” True to form, Yamaha set about developing a PWC that would exceed these desires, providing a waterborne USGA-approved putting green featuring the two most common types of peat; sphagnum moss peat and reed sedge peat.
Riding on a 32-foot-long by 16-foot-wide NanoXcel hull, the PuttWave is powered by Yamaha’s naturally-aspirated 1.9-liter 4-cylinder four-stroke producing 200-horsepower on pump-gas 87 octane.
Backed by a 155mm pump, the PuttWave can reach a peak top speed of 8.3 miles per hour. Not bad, considering the deck’s 777-square feet of soil weighing 1,948-pounds and the 1,100 hull together puts the craftat 1.5 tons.
As mentioned, Yamaha took great care to replicate a true PGA-level putting green. Following USGA guidelines, the base sand layer is a composite of silica minerals including quartz, feldspars and other minerals.
A subsurface drainage system includes two drainage pipes made from corrugated polyethylene (PE) to drain off excess moisture; a small sand trap is filled with high purity silica sand for fast drainage and resistant to compaction.
“Now listen up,” Yamaha media spokesman, Thurston Howell III told The Watercraft Journal, “we can no longer cater to the whims of these youthful buyers with all of their tattoos and six-sevens. Dealers cannot be expected to finance these high risk individuals working two or three jobs just to afford a studio apartment. The future of Yamaha is in boomers.“
The 2027 PuttWave will be the spearhead of Yamaha’s new “BUILT FOR BOOMERS” marketing campaign beginning in late summer 2026. Its launch will also coincide with Yamaha Motor Corp. USA’s new Groundskeeping Supplies & Accessories Catalog offering lawn perforation tools, seeds and resupplies.
You can view Yamaha’s official announcement of the 2027 PuttWave and groundskeeping catalog HERE.
If you’ve ever fought a crowded boat ramp on a Saturday morning—or wrestled with a trailer in reverse while an audience gathers—you’re going to appreciate this one.
A new lineup of portable electric mini jet boats from Vector Water Craft is aiming to simplify the entire boating experience… by removing one of the biggest headaches altogether: the trailer.
Instead, these compact electric-powered jet boats are designed to fit in the back of a pickup (or “ute,” as they say in Australia) or a large SUV. Pull up, unload, drop it in—and you’re on the water.
A Different Take on Entry-Level Boating
The newly launched Mini Jet Boat (MJB) range includes seven models, covering everything from single-seat playboats to two-seat recreational platforms. Power outputs range from modest 15kW setups all the way up to performance-focused machines pushing over 70kW.
Top speeds? Reportedly approaching 60 km/h (around 37 mph), with run times up to roughly two hours depending on how hard you’re pushing it.
That puts them in an interesting middle ground—not quite a PWC, not quite a traditional small boat, but something borrowing from both.
We’ve been watching electric slowly creep into the marine space for a while now, but most of it has leaned premium—foiling boats, luxury tenders, big-dollar tech demos.
This feels different.
This is electric aimed at convenience first—not range, not status, not even outright performance. Just: make it easier to get on the water.
It may not be a direct competitor to today’s PWCs, but it’s definitely playing in the same sandbox—quick, fun, accessible time on the water. And if this kind of grab-and-go boating gains traction, it could push the broader market to rethink everything from transport to setup. In that sense, this isn’t just a novelty—it’s a small glimpse at what the next evolution of entry-level riding might look like.
The 2026 East Coast Watercross tour is locked in—but not without a last-minute curveball.
Race Director Shawn Dudek confirmed that a planned stop in Buffalo has officially been pulled from the schedule after extensive efforts to make it work behind the scenes. Despite strong local backing, including support from the Buffalo Sports Commission and key partners, rising late-stage costs ultimately forced the event off the 2026 calendar.
The good news? It’s not gone for good. Dudek says discussions are already underway at the state level with eyes on bringing Buffalo back in 2027.
In the meantime, the tour rolls forward with five rounds—blending proven venues with a new addition and a renewed push toward growth.
Laconia kicks things off with built-in momentum
The season opens June 5-7 in Laconia, a staple stop that continues to grow year after year.
With racing set along the Weirs Channel and the always-popular pit party returning to NASWA Resort, the opener once again benefits from its proximity to Laconia Motorcycle Week—giving racers and fans plenty of reason to stick around beyond race weekend.
Kittanning brings a new riverfront venue
Round 2 heads to Kittanning on June 26-28, marking one of the tour’s newest stops.
Built around a river course similar in feel to Lock Haven, the event is shaping up as a full-on community festival. Local support, food vendors, and a Friday night gathering at the Mariner Restaurant are all part of the plan, as ECW taps into an area already familiar with motorsports on the water.
Lock Haven returns to fill the gap
With Buffalo off the table, Lock Haven slides into Round 3 on July 10-12.
The riverfront venue proved itself last season, offering natural amphitheater viewing and a strong local turnout. The weekend will once again feature a pit party at Haywood’s On the Green, keeping the laid-back, racer-first vibe intact.
Shawn Dudek
Plattsburgh remains a cornerstone
From July 31 through August 2, the tour returns to Plattsburgh—a longtime favorite that continues to deliver some of the most unpredictable racing conditions on the schedule.
Now approaching a decade on the tour, Plattsburgh remains a key stop, with the city actively working alongside organizers on logistics like camping and updated local regulations. The fan-favorite The Cabana Beach Bar will once again anchor the off-water action.
Sylvan Beach closes with national exposure
The season wraps August 28-30 in Sylvan Beach—and it’s shaping up to be a major one.
The finale will be co-sanctioned with Pro Watercross, allowing racers to earn points in both series as part of the Road to Havasu. On top of that, CBS Sports will be on-site capturing national television coverage, putting both the racing and the Region 8 community in the spotlight.
With support from partners like Hebeler’s and the iconic Harpoon Eddie’s backdrop, Sylvan Beach is once again positioned as a marquee stop.
Bigger changes beyond the schedule
While the venues tell part of the story, the bigger shift may be happening across the sport itself.
All International Jet Sports Boating Association-affiliated promoters are aligning around a new four-moto format, giving racers more track time under a single weekend entry. ECW will also implement full transponder timing at every round—bringing a more professional, consistent scoring system across the board.
The introduction of a national high points system, along with exclusive use of the number one plate for champions, signals a broader push toward unifying competition nationwide.
Behind the scenes, continued collaboration with Pro Watercross, expansion of youth racing through initiatives tied to Nauti Water Racing, and increased media production from Digital Wave Productions all point to a sport that’s evolving quickly.
Momentum heading into 2026
Even with Buffalo sidelined, East Coast Watercross isn’t slowing down.
If anything, the adjustments have sharpened the focus—tightening the schedule, strengthening partnerships, and building toward a bigger picture that extends well beyond a single season.
Five rounds. New energy. And a clear sense that 2026 is less about holding ground—and more about pushing forward.
If there’s one thing you can count on as race season starts to crack wide open, it’s this: the performance world doesn’t sit still. And just as the buzz builds from early-season showdowns like the East Coast Watercross Winter Series and Pro Watercross’ Round 1 in Orange, Texas, rolling straight into a major kickoff weekend with IHRA St. Pete Season Opener, the aftermarket is hitting the throttle right alongside it.
Yesterday, RIVA Racing dropped word of a fresh round of performance upgrades aimed squarely at the already potent 2024-and-newer Sea-Doo 325 horsepower platforms—and these aren’t mild tweaks.
Turning Up the Boost on 325 Powerplants
Leading the charge are new supercharger upgrade options built around RIVA’s “XX-Charger” platform:
Both are designed to extract more from the factory 325hp setup—pushing harder on airflow, boost efficiency, and ultimately, power delivery. For riders already flirting with the upper edge of stock performance, this is where things start to get serious.
Stage 3 Kits Step Into the Spotlight
Alongside the charger upgrades, RIVA also released Stage 3 Performance Kits tailored for:
If you’ve been around the performance scene for more than five minutes, you already know what that “Stage 3” label implies—this is well beyond bolt-on curiosity. These kits are typically engineered as complete performance ecosystems, where airflow, fueling, and boost all work together to transform how the ski behaves on the water.
Right On Time for a Season Gaining Momentum
The timing here isn’t accidental. As race calendars start filling up and riders shift from winter tinkering to full-send weekends, products like these land right at the time of year when “maybe I’ll leave it stock” quietly turns into “how far can I push this thing?”
More To Come
We’ll be reaching out to RIVA Motorsports and the crew at RIVA Racing to dig deeper into what these upgrades really mean—how they change the power curve, what kind of gains riders can realistically expect, and where they fit into different riding styles, from closed-course aggression to straight-line speed.
For now, one thing’s clear: the 325 platform just got a whole lot more interesting.
And with the season ramping up fast, don’t expect things to slow down anytime soon.
This year, the RIVA booth (Booth 1093) will be waterside at the 2026 Palm Beach International Boat Show. (Photo courtesy of the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County)
This year, the RIVA booth (Booth 1093) will be waterside at the 2026 Palm Beach International Boat Show. (Photo courtesy of the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County)
As South Florida slides back into full-on riding weather, RIVA Motorsports isn’t wasting any time meeting riders where they are — both at one of the country’s biggest boat shows and back home in the showroom.
In a video posted March 24, Deerfield Beach’s own Gus Guarda put out the call ahead of the Palm Beach International Boat Show, inviting riders and would-be buyers to stop by Booth 1093, right along the water, as the five-day event kicks off.
And if you’ve ever tried to picture your next ski or boat from behind a screen, you already know why that matters.
This is hands-on territory.
RIVA is bringing a full spread — from Yamaha jet boats to the increasingly popular Sea-Doo Switch — along with a lineup of personal watercraft from both Yamaha Motor Company and BRP. It’s the kind of setup that lets you walk dockside, climb aboard, and actually feel the differences instead of guessing at them.
And that’s really the point.
Because choosing a watercraft isn’t just specs — it’s stance, layout, comfort, and how it hits you when you’re standing next to it in the sun.
Can’t Make The Show? They’ve Got You Covered
Not everyone’s making the trip to Palm Beach — and RIVA knows it.
Back in Deerfield Beach, the parts department is running six days a week, stocked with everything from riding gear to performance upgrades. That includes hard goods like wetsuits and life vests, alongside aftermarket parts from RIVA Racing and OEM accessories.
One of the more unexpected additions? Smart AI eyewear from Oakley — a nod to how quickly tech is blending into the riding experience.
For the DIY crowd, it’s the kind of place where you walk in needing one part… and walk out with three upgrades you didn’t know you needed.
Service Season Is Officially On
If there’s one theme running through all of this, it’s timing.
The weather’s turning. The water’s calling. And that means one thing: your ski better be ready.
RIVA’s service department is now fully in season mode, working the tri-county area and offering a timely incentive — mention the code Lucky 10 when scheduling, and you’ll get 10% off service.
It’s a small nudge, but a smart one.
Because nothing kills the first ride of the year faster than finding out something isn’t right after you’ve already launched.
Quietly One Of The Better Deals Going Right Now
And then there’s the showroom.
Tucked into all of this is a rotating set of manager’s specials, including nearly 60 new 2025 models currently listed with discounted pricing. One standout: a 2025 Sea-Doo GTX Limited 325, marked down just over a thousand dollars from retail.
It’s the kind of early-season incentive that tends to disappear once demand catches up with the weather — which, if this week is any indication, won’t take long.
Two Ways To Catch RIVA Right Now
You can find RIVA Motorsports this week in two very different settings:
On the water at Booth 1093 during the Palm Beach International Boat Show
Or back in Deerfield Beach, where the doors are open, the service bays are running, and the shelves are stocked
Either way, the message is the same:
The season’s here. Time to get moving.
For more information on RIVA Motorsports’ current inventory, service scheduling, and parts availability, visit their website or contact their Deerfield Beach location directly.
There are sponsorship announcements… and then there are the ones that feel like a signal.
The Progressive Insurance logo landing on the Monster Energy Yamaha Farthing Racing Team isn’t just another decal on a hull — it’s the kind of partnership that hints at where the sport is heading next.
Led by multi-time world champion Dustin Farthing, Farthing Racing has spent decades building one of the most recognizable and consistently competitive programs in personal watercraft racing. Now, with Progressive officially joining the effort for 2026, the team adds a brand that carries serious weight not just in insurance, but across the broader motorsports landscape.
And the timing isn’t accidental.
With the debut of the IHRA Pro Watercraft Series looming, the sport is stepping into something new — a fresh structure, new venues, and a push toward a bigger national spotlight. Partnerships like this don’t just support a team; they help validate the direction the entire industry is trying to go.
Progressive’s presence will stretch across the full Farthing Racing program — from racecraft and transport rigs to team gear and digital media — with on-site activations expected throughout the season. In other words, this isn’t a quiet logo placement. It’s a full-on integration.
For Farthing, it’s a natural fit.
Progressive has long been involved in motorsports, backing athletes and teams that live in that intersection of performance and precision. That aligns cleanly with what Farthing Racing has built: a multi-rider program running factory-supported Yamaha Motor Corporation equipment, backed by Monster Energy, and carrying a résumé stacked with national and world titles.
But beyond the résumé, this is about momentum.
The addition of a partner like Progressive reinforces something riders and insiders have been feeling for a while now — that personal watercraft racing is quietly building toward a larger stage. More structure. More visibility. And, increasingly, more attention from brands that don’t just dip a toe in, but commit.
We’ll get the first real look at the partnership when Farthing Racing rolls out at the Monster Energy St. Petersburg Grand Prix, kicking off the 2026 IHRA season in St. Petersburg, Florida.
And if nothing else, it’s another reminder that the coming season isn’t just about who wins on the water — it’s about how big this sport is about to get.
See full press release below:
Progressive Insurance Joins Monster Energy Yamaha Farthing Racing Team
Kennesaw, GA — March 2026 Progressive Insurance has officially signed on as a partner of the Monster Energy Yamaha Farthing Racing Team, marking a major addition to one of the most successful and recognizable programs in professional personal watercraft racing.
Led by multi-time world champion Dustin Farthing the Monster Energy Yamaha Farthing Racing Team has been a dominant force in the sport for decades. The new partnership with Progressive Insurance represents a significant step forward as the team continues to expand its racing efforts and build momentum heading into the inaugural season of the IHRA Pro Watercraft Series.
Progressive Insurance, one of the most recognized names in motorsports sponsorship and insurance services, will be featured prominently across the Farthing Racing program, including race equipment, team apparel, transport vehicles, and digital media throughout the 2026 racing season along with on site activations.
“Bringing Progressive Insurance into our program is a huge moment for our team,” said Dustin Farthing, team owner of Farthing Racing. “Progressive has a long history of supporting motorsports and performance-driven athletes, and having a brand of that caliber aligned with what we’re building at Farthing Racing is extremely exciting. We’re proud to welcome them to the team and look forward to representing them on the water all season.”
Farthing Racing competes aboard factory-supported equipment from Yamaha Motor Corporation and is backed by global energy drink brand Monster Energy. The team fields multiple elite racers and has earned numerous national and world championship titles across the sport’s top classes.
The addition of Progressive Insurance further strengthens the team’s already impressive partner roster and underscores the growing momentum within professional personal watercraft racing.
“As the sport continues to evolve and expand globally, partnerships like this help elevate the entire industry,” Farthing added. “We’re excited to work with Progressive and showcase their brand to fans and racers across the country.”
The Monster Energy Yamaha Farthing Racing Team will debut the Progressive Insurance partnership at the opening round of the 2026 IHRA Pro Watercraft Series season, beginning with the Monster Energy St. Petersburg Grand Prix in St. Petersburg, Florida.
With a renewed lineup of partners, riders, and equipment, Farthing Racing enters the 2026 season with one clear goal continuing its championship legacy while helping drive the future of professional personal watercraft racing.
If you’ve ever loaded up a truck bed for a ride day, you already know the moment.
Everything looks good when you leave the house — skis strapped down, gear packed, fuel cans lined up nice and neat.
And then you hit the first corner.
That neat row of tall race fuel jugs? Not so neat anymore.
They slide. They tip. They bang into each other. And suddenly you’re wondering if you’re about to smell fuel before you even get to the ramp.
It’s one of those small, constant headaches in the personal watercraft world — especially for riders who run support trucks loaded with gear.
That’s exactly where Strapinno’s Ratcheting Cargo Bar quietly makes a lot of sense.
At a glance, it’s simple: an adjustable, heavy-duty cargo bar designed to lock into place across a truck bed, SUV, or hatchback. But in practice, it’s doing something a little more important — it creates a solid, physical barrier between your gear and chaos.
Adjustable from 44 to 74 inches and built from alloy steel with a 1.25-inch diameter tube, the bar is designed to brace tightly against both sides of your vehicle. Once set, it can handle up to 330 pounds of load — more than enough for the kind of gear most riders are hauling to the water.
But what stood out to us wasn’t just the specs — it was how it’s being used.
In one clip shared online, the bar is positioned across a truck bed to secure a row of tall race fuel containers — the same style most PWC riders rely on for long days at the lake or race site. Instead of relying on straps or hoping they stay upright, the cargo bar locks them in place, keeping everything exactly where you left it.
Where this gets interesting is in the details.
Unlike traditional cargo bars that stop tightening once you hit the ratchet limit, Strapinno adds a rotatable stopper that lets you fine-tune the pressure even after it’s locked in. That means you’re not stuck between “too loose” and “over-tightened” — you can dial it in exactly where it needs to be.
The embossed finish also helps resist corrosion over time, which matters more than you’d think when your gear is constantly exposed to water, fuel, and the general wear-and-tear of weekends at the ramp.
Is it a flashy upgrade? No.
Is it the kind of thing you notice every single time you haul gear? Absolutely.
Because sometimes the difference between a smooth day on the water and a frustrating one starts long before the engine ever fires — it starts with how well your gear makes the trip.
The roar of engines, the thrill of competition, and a vision years in the making are converging on the waters of St. Petersburg, Florida. In little more than 60 days, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Pro Watercraft Series has gone from concept to reality, and the first national tour race, set for March 27–29, promises to be a landmark event for watercraft racing.
A Racer-First Vision Takes Shape
The IHRA Pro Watercraft Series wasn’t born out of a desire to simply add another name to the roster of race organizations. From the beginning, the goal has been clear: build a championship that prioritizes racers, creates opportunity, and elevates the sport as a whole.
Dustin Farthing, the driving force behind the series, reflects on the momentum: “In less than two months, we’ve pre-registered over 130 racers for the first event, and the excitement continues to grow daily. This is more than registration — it’s belief in a new vision. It’s a future taking shape in real time.”
That momentum has only continued to build. As of this week, 148 racers are pre-registered for the St. Petersburg Grand Prix, an impressive number for a first-year series still a week away from its opening gate.
The philosophy behind IHRA is straightforward: structure, professionalism, and transparency. Every decision, from leadership appointments to contingency programs, has been made with the racers’ experience at the forefront. This is a series where consistency and support are not just buzzwords — they’re the foundation.
Racer-Led Leadership and National Infrastructure
What sets IHRA apart is its racer-led governance model. The series isn’t run in isolation by corporate hands; it’s built from within the community. Key figures such as Brad Bohat and Jaymi Lee Bohat lead scoring, race operations, and administrative functions, ensuring that racers’ perspectives guide every operational decision.
Alongside them, Guy Greenland, a veteran of three decades in event planning, ensures each race weekend runs like clockwork. Regional promoters like Billy Champion and others across the country help knit a national racing fabric, connecting local talent with premier events.
IHRA currently has multiple regional promoters aligned across the United States, including organizations like Great Lakes Watercross, HydroDrags, and other established race promoters — all working together to build a more unified national structure for the sport.
The result is a professional, cohesive series that feels big without losing touch with the racers who power it.
From St. Petersburg to Lake Havasu, every race is meticulously organized, with attention to hospitality, pit setup, and fan experience. Farthing emphasizes the importance of treating every competitor like a VIP, noting that city support, festival collaborations, and a keen focus on logistics all contribute to elevating the sport.
Yamaha, steady-on hyping the IHRA premier race weekend
Momentum and the National Tour
The 2026 IHRA National Tour is stacked, and the energy is palpable. Pre-registration numbers surged as soon as entries opened in February, with riders and teams from across the globe securing their spots. The tour spans five major stops — St. Petersburg, New Orleans, Lake of the Ozarks, Sheboygan, and Williamsburg — culminating in the Lake Havasu World Cup, a marquee event that will feature a $75,000 purse.
Across the full season, the IHRA Pro Watercraft Series will distribute over $250,000 in total prize money and contingency programs, including $37,500 per national tour weekend — placing it among the largest combined payouts in the history of professional PWC racing.
Each stop offers not just racing, but an experience — food, fan engagement, merchandise, and sponsorship activations are all part of the weekend. The Battle of Williamsburg, for example, unites IHRA, Great Lakes Watercross, and the American Jet Sport Association in a celebration of watercraft racing that brings regional and national talent to a single starting line.
Farthing has repeatedly emphasized that this is just the beginning. While the schedule and locations provide the stage, it’s the racers who make it legendary. With early lineups already reflecting some of the sport’s top talent, the series promises fierce competition and unforgettable performances.
Supporting the Sport and Its Competitors
One of the defining elements of IHRA is its commitment to giving back to racers. Contingency programs from partners like Bullett Racing and Mountain Motorsports put real value into the hands of competitors, rewarding dedication and performance.
That list continues to grow. Industry partners including Fast Powersports, Pro Watercraft, RIVA, AP Designs, Unlimited, 100%, and Broward Motorsports are all stepping in to support the series — offering equipment giveaways, product support, and additional incentives throughout the season. Additional programs are expected to be announced leading into the opening rounds.
From juniors climbing the ranks to seasoned pros competing for the World Cup, IHRA has created a platform where participation and excellence are incentivized.
The Mountain Motorsports E-Ride Pro SR giveaway is a standout, offering racers the chance to walk away with a brand-new electric dirt bike at the season finale in Lake Havasu. Programs like this, alongside traditional prize purses and recognition, underscore the series’ philosophy: if you power the sport, you deserve to benefit from it.
This approach extends beyond financial incentives. From technical support to event communication, the IHRA team is accessible, responsive, and deeply invested in building a sustainable and enjoyable competitive environment. As Farthing puts it: “We’re building this series for the racers and for the future of the sport. We’re just getting started, and the momentum is only going to grow.”
Global Perspective, Local Roots
While the tour is national in scope, the IHRA is building a foundation that can reach international competitors. Organizers are currently expecting riders from approximately eight countries to compete at the Lake Havasu World Cup, with additional international participation likely as the season progresses.
Interest is already building from Europe, Asia, and South America — signaling that the series’ reach could extend far beyond U.S. waters in its very first season.
At the same time, the series maintains strong local connections, leveraging regional promoters and community support to ensure each event feels accessible and exciting for teams and fans alike.
This dual focus — global ambition with local grounding — is what gives IHRA its distinctive identity. It’s not about a single race or a single winner; it’s about creating a cohesive, enduring championship that racers can trust, sponsors can invest in, and fans can follow with excitement.
Dustin Farthing during his early years in professional watercraft racing — part of a career that has evolved from a young, engine-obsessed racer into one of the driving forces behind today’s IHRA Pro Watercraft Series
Looking Ahead
With Round 1 in St. Petersburg just a week away, the energy is electric. Racers are securing their classes, sponsors are activating, and the IHRA team is performing final walkthroughs to ensure everything from pit layouts to hospitality is dialed in.
Farthing’s gratitude is clear. “This community has stepped up in a way I could never have imagined. Friends, family, sponsors, partners, racers — it’s because of all of you that we’ve built something this strong, this fast, and this exciting in just 60 days.”
And perhaps more importantly, there’s a growing sense that something larger is taking shape.
“What we’re seeing right now is the sport coming together in a way it hasn’t in a long time,” Farthing said. “Racers, sponsors, and promoters all believe in the same vision — building something sustainable that rewards the athletes and grows the sport globally.
“For years the sport has been fragmented across different organizations and regions. What IHRA is doing is bringing those pieces together into one structured national platform where racers, promoters, and sponsors can all grow together.”
For those watching from the sidelines, the message is simple: the IHRA Pro Watercraft Series is not just coming — it’s here, and it’s redefining what professional watercraft racing can be.
Whether you’re a seasoned competitor, a fan, or a sponsor, the series offers a platform built on professionalism, opportunity, and respect for the sport. And with the national tour underway, the world will be watching as history unfolds on the waves of St. Petersburg, New Orleans, Lake of the Ozarks, Sheboygan, Williamsburg, and Lake Havasu.
For those wanting more, Today We Wrench goes one-on-one with Dustin Farthing, diving into his racing roots, business journey, and the vision fueling IHRA’s push into professional watercraft racing.
Monster Energy Flips Chicago River Green for St. Patrick’s with Spectacular Jet Ski Show
Photo credit Monster Energy / Tyler Reardon
Monster Energy Flips Chicago River Green for St. Patrick’s with Spectacular Jet Ski Show Photo credit Monster Energy / Tyler Reardon
Emerald Takeover – World-class talent meets one of America’s wildest traditions
Chicago doesn’t do subtle on St. Patrick’s Day.
Every year, the city turns its river a glowing, impossible green — a decades-old tradition that draws massive crowds, shuts down streets, and transforms downtown into something closer to a festival than a holiday.
But this year, right in the middle of that controlled chaos, the script flipped.
Instead of boats and barges owning the water, two of the sport’s most recognizable names showed up and turned the Chicago River into a riding surface.
Backed by Monster Energy, P1 AquaX World Champion Tory Snyder and freestyle phenom Coy Curtis dropped into the freshly dyed river at Wolf Point — not for a demo in a closed course, but for a full-send exhibition in one of the most public, unpredictable venues imaginable.
And that distinction matters.
Monster Energy Flips Chicago River Green for St. Patrick’s with Spectacular Jet Ski Show Photo credit Monster Energy / Tyler Reardon
Because Snyder isn’t just a show rider. He’s a proven race force, used to speed, precision, and tight competition lines. Watching him thread a high-performance Sea-Doo RXP-X through the confined bends of the Chicago River — surrounded by buildings, bridges, and thousands of spectators — gave the moment a different kind of weight. This wasn’t just about flash. It was about control.
Then Curtis took it somewhere else entirely.
Monster Energy Flips Chicago River Green for St. Patrick’s with Spectacular Jet Ski Show Photo credit Monster Energy / Tyler Reardon (PRNewsfoto/Monster Energy)
Known for pushing the ceiling of freestyle progression, Curtis treated the river like a competition run — launching into backflips, 360s, and corked rotations on his TC Freeride setup as if the skyline wasn’t looming overhead. The contrast was unreal: trick riding at a level you’d expect in a purpose-built freestyle venue, happening in a river most people associate with tour boats and taxis.
That collision — elite-level riding meeting a completely non-traditional environment — is what made it land.
Because the Chicago River on St. Patrick’s Day isn’t designed for this. It’s crowded. It’s unpredictable. It’s a place where the audience didn’t come expecting a jet ski show… which is exactly why it worked.
For a lot of people on those riverbanks, this wasn’t just entertainment — it was their first real look at what modern PWC riding can be.
And for those already in the sport, it hit differently.
You know what it takes to ride at that level. You know what it means to put a world champion and one of freestyle’s most progressive riders into a space like that and just let them go.
By the time Snyder and Curtis wrapped their runs — joking about renaming it the “Monster River” — the moment had already done its job. It didn’t replace the tradition. It amplified it.
The celebration rolled on afterward, spilling into the streets along Columbus Drive with Monster’s parade presence and the usual St. Patrick’s Day energy. But the highlight wasn’t on the pavement.
It was in the water.
Because for a brief moment, the Chicago River stopped being a spectacle.
It became a stage.
And for two riders at the top of their game, it was showtime.
If you’ve spent any time browsing the inventory at Broward Motorsports Jupiter, chances are you’ve seen the usual dealership essentials: new units, service specials, parts, and accessories.
But tucked quietly into the navigation menu is something we hadn’t really noticed before — a surprisingly active blog packed with PWC tips, comparisons and rider advice on the Broward Motorsports Jupiter website.
The team at Broward Motorsports has been steadily publishing articles since early 2024, dropping new posts once or twice a month covering everything from maintenance advice to new model overviews. Some entries focus on broader powersports topics — after all, Broward sells everything from motorcycles to ATVs — but a big chunk of the content is squarely aimed at personal watercraft owners.
Posts range from practical tech pieces like overheating prevention and break-in myths to buyer guides comparing entry-level machines and highlighting new model releases. For newer riders especially, the blog reads almost like a quick-hit knowledge base — short articles that answer the kinds of questions riders usually end up Googling at midnight.
Their answer highlights two of the most accessible machines on the market — the playful and ultra-lightweight Sea-Doo Spark and the more aggressive freestyle-inspired Yamaha JetBlaster.
The blog breaks down the differences in straightforward terms. The Spark wins the entry-price battle with a starting point around $6,999 and a famously lightweight hull that makes it incredibly playful on the water. The JetBlaster steps things up with Yamaha’s TR-1 engine, more fuel capacity, and a ride personality aimed a little more at riders who want to push harder and play rougher.
It’s the kind of comparison that’s especially useful for newer buyers trying to figure out where to start — lightweight fun versus a little more power and range.
But the real takeaway isn’t just that one post.
It’s that there’s a steady stream of information hiding in that blog section, covering maintenance, riding tips, buying advice and new model highlights — the kind of content many riders end up searching for eventually.
And the Jupiter store isn’t the only one doing it.
Broward Motorsports has been expanding rapidly in recent years, and several of its locations now maintain their own blog sections as well. That means there’s likely even more rider tips, buyer guides and technical advice scattered across the broader Broward network.
So consider this our official notice: we’ll probably be dropping in on a few more of those blog pages in upcoming editions to see what other nuggets of rider knowledge we can dig up.
Because sometimes the best riding advice isn’t hidden in a service manual — it comes from the knowledge, experience and passion of the racers, riders and industry insiders who don’t just work around PWCs… they live and breathe them.
Backed by a 155mm pump, the PuttWave can reach a peak top speed of 8.3 miles per hour. Not bad, considering the deck’s 777-square feet of soil weighing 1,948-pounds and the 1,100 hull together puts the craft at 1.5 tons.
Led by multi-time world champion 
