Here’s this week’s WCJ Weekly Racing Roundup, where we break down what’s happening across the major PWC race series, look back at recent results, and set the stage for what’s coming next on the water.
Best of the West Series
The 2026 Hot Products Best of the West Series continued to tighten up following Round 4, with several championship battles beginning to take shape as racers now turn their attention toward Round 5 at BlueWater Resort & Casino in Parker, Arizona on June 13-14.
Promoted by NautiWater Racing and RPM Racing, the western series continues to draw strong participation across junior, amateur, veteran and pro classes heading into the heart of the summer schedule.
One of the closest title fights currently sits in Jr. Ski 10-12 Lites, where Travis Billings holds a narrow seven-point advantage over Lincoln Schuyler, 173-166, while Chase Lynch remains within striking distance in third with 139 points.
The Jr. Ski 13-15 Lites category is equally competitive, with Mark Queen leading Tanner Haig by just 12 points after four rounds. Parker Toth currently sits third overall as the season approaches its midway point.
In Runabout GP/Open, Margus Keskula continues to lead the standings with 173 points ahead of Cesar Olivares at 166, while John Kennedy remains in contention with 144 points.
The Ski Expert GP class has seen Cooper Schexnyder establish himself as the current rider to beat with 209 points through four rounds. Thomas Boucher sits second with 161 points while Lucho Senestari rounds out the top three.
Meanwhile, Alain Wyss continues to control the Ski Expert Vet GP standings with 233 points, opening a sizable gap over Martie Wells and Todd Haig, who are currently tied for second at 175 points each.
Several other divisions remain extremely close entering Round 5, including Ski Pro Am Lites where Brice Chambers holds only a seven-point advantage over Ryan Poper, and Sport Spec where just 23 points separate the top three riders.
Registration for Round 5 officially opened this week, with organizers reminding racers that pre-registration discounts end Sunday, June 7 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Entries submitted afterward will incur a $25 per class late fee. Organizers also noted that no payment is required to pre-register.
Additional race information, current standings and event updates are available through the Hydro-Turf Best of the West Series public Facebook group.
American Jet Sport Association
The American Jet Sport Association is preparing to head to Knoxville, Tennessee for Round 2 of its Southern Summer Series, with racing scheduled for June 12-14 at The Cove at Concord Park.
AJSA officials opened registration last week while encouraging racers to pre-register early, particularly in traditionally smaller turnout classes where advance entries help organizers build stronger lineups and more competitive racing throughout the weekend.
The Knoxville event will feature AJSA’s four-moto race format along with SuperCourse competition, freestyle exhibitions, shoreline and boat spectating, and dedicated practice opportunities for both experienced racers and newcomers entering the sport.
The weekend schedule begins Friday with registration and practice sessions before racing shifts into full swing Saturday with motos one and two, followed by the opening freestyle showcase. Saturday evening will also include a live concert from The Deep Fakes, with additional freestyle action scheduled during intermission.
Racing resumes Sunday with motos three and four before the weekend concludes with more freestyle competition and the event awards ceremony.
AJSA also released an updated 2026 rulebook last week, including revisions to its public communications policy following feedback received after Round 1. Officials said the rewritten section, now titled “Public Communications and Professional Conduct,” was designed to clarify expectations regarding respectful communication while still allowing racers and teams to voice constructive criticism and disagreement without fear of disciplinary action.
On the water, several standout performances highlighted Round 1 competition earlier this season. Matthew Richuk opened the year with a win in Pro Ski 1050 ahead of Jeb Zarzour and Sophie Francis, while Schyler Tiedemann captured Amateur Open Freestyle honors.
In the junior ranks, Logan Fleming took the victory in Jr. Ski Futures while Pierce Baucom topped the Jr. Sport Spec 12-15 class. Kylie Meier also had a strong opening weekend, earning victories in Ski Womens Stock and Ski 1500 Stock Pro Am competition.
Additional Round 1 class winners included Jax Rowe in Sport Spec, Tyler Lester in SuperCourse Pro Am 300/200, Kelly Myhan in Pro/Am Runabout 1100 Limited, and Jonathan McCreary in AR 1100cc Runabout Stock.
More information on upcoming races, complete class results, and registration details can be found through AJSA Racing on Facebook and at ajsaracing.com.
HydroDrags IHRA Pro Watercraft Series
HydroDrags action under the IHRA Pro Watercraft Series banner hit Sunset Cove Amphitheater in Boca Raton, Florida, where promoter Billy Tew oversaw another round of speed-focused competition.
According to event notes shared May 26, the latest HydroDrags session produced a series of standout performances, with organizers reporting new speed benchmarks and multiple world records across several categories. Officials described the runs as being completed in significantly reduced time compared to previous benchmarks, with all results teched and confirmed on site.
The event continues to build momentum as part of the IHRA’s evolving HydroDrags format, which blends controlled drag-style racing with structured technical inspection and record certification under sanctioned oversight.
WCJ is scheduled to speak directly with HydroDrags showrunner Billy Tew ahead of the next coverage cycle, with a full interview and additional context expected early next week. Final results, official commentary, and expanded reaction from the Boca Raton session will be included in that report.
Wild West Watercross
The Wild West Watercross continues its 2026 season with momentum building out west following Round 2 at Camp Far West, held May 17-18, and attention now shifting toward Round 3 at Rio Vista on the Sacramento River.
Round 3 will mark the series’ debut at the historic Rio Vista venue, with organizers positioning the event as a major West Coast race weekend and festival atmosphere. Promotional material highlights a “Road to Sparks” storyline building through the season, with Rio Vista serving as a key stop ahead of championship rounds later in the year.
Round 2 results reflected tight competition across multiple divisions, with several classes producing close points battles heading deeper into the season.
In Ski Jr. 10-12 Lites, Travis Billings leads the standings with 240 points, ahead of Del Cox at 212 and Koltyn Gruenwald at 192, keeping the junior championship picture firmly in contention.
The Ski Womens Lites class also remains competitive, with Elif Baydar leading at 226 points, followed closely by Alexis Chen at 202 and Arianna Chen at 182.
Runabout NA saw Leonord Gibson set the pace with 226 points, narrowly ahead of Leilan Gibson at 216, while Kyle Celillo sits third at 202 as the field begins to separate slightly entering the next round.
In Ski Grand Prix, Patrick Parker and Harley Ritchie are tied at the top with 226 points each, setting up what could become one of the tighter championship fights of the season, with Anthony DeCarli remaining within striking distance at 182.
The Ski GP2 (1200) division is similarly close, with Erik Gruenwald leading at 212 points, just ahead of Ryder Bliss at 206 and Deegan Newton at 164.
Sport Spec sees Patrick Parker also leading that category with 240 points, followed by Brandon Curtis at 202 and David Garcia at 166, giving Parker a strong dual-class presence in the standings.
Additional class leaders include Nolan Glock in Run Whatcha Brung, Uncle Paul in Ski Stock, and Bryson Olson narrowly leading Ski 550 Modified in one of the closest margins of the weekend.
Full results and updated standings for all classes are available through Wild West Watercross official channels and wildwestwatercross.com.
PNW Water X Monster Watercraft Jet Ski Series
The PNW WaterX Monster Watercraft Jet Ski Series has officially launched its 2026 season, with Round 1 in Aberdeen, Washington on May 9-10 setting the tone for what is shaping up to be a busy Pacific Northwest campaign.
Organizers announced the series’ new official website went live on May 17, positioning PNWWaterX.com as a centralized hub for schedules, rider registration, standings, results, and ongoing news throughout the season. The update is aimed at streamlining access for racers and fans while providing a more structured view of the championship chase.
Round 1 opened the season with strong regional turnout as riders began collecting early points in multiple classes, establishing the first leaderboard trends heading into the summer stretch.
Attention now shifts to Round 2, scheduled for June 6-7 in Sutherlin, Oregon. The event marks the series’ return to one of its key regional venues and is expected to draw another competitive field as riders battle for positioning in the early championship standings.
A press release ahead of the Sutherlin round emphasized the continued growth of the series and the importance of the Pacific Northwest racing community, highlighting the course design and competitive structure aimed at testing both seasoned pros and developing racers.
With Round 2 approaching quickly, teams are now focused on refining setups and building momentum following the opening round in Aberdeen, where early season form began to take shape across the fleet.
Full schedules, registration details, and updates are available through official PNW WaterX Monster Watercraft channels and PNWWaterX.com.
PWC Sprint Racing
The new PWC Sprint Racing season is set to launch June 19-21 at Voice of America MetroPark in West Chester, Ohio, marking the opening round of the series’ sprint-focused race format built around tight courses, short motos, and rapid-fire competition.
Organizers confirmed that the West Chester Watercross Challenge will serve as the first round of the season, with multiple race classes scheduled across the three-day event. The lineup includes Ski GP3, Junior Sprinters (Ski GP3), and Sport Spec, with additional potential classes such as Ski Open, Sport Open, Vintage Ski/X2, 1100 Small Runabout (no log jump), and Intro to Sprint Racing.
Beyond the racing action, officials highlighted ongoing course preparation and safety development, including testing of a new course marshal boat ahead of the season opener to ensure racer safety across all events.
The series is also leaning into event atmosphere and branding, with “Winner” and “Iron Man” T-shirt awards featured at the podium—tagged with the slogan “Earned, never given,” and not available for sale, reinforcing their status as earned recognition rather than merchandise.
Adding to the production value, Aerial Flix from Orlando, Florida will be on-site covering both rounds of the West Chester Watercross Challenge, providing high-quality land and drone footage of the action throughout the weekend.
With a mix of sprint racing intensity, expanded media coverage, and evolving class structure, the opening round in West Chester is set to establish the tone for the new PWC Sprint Racing season.
East Coast Watercross
The East Coast Watercross is introducing a major championship format change for the 2026 season, shifting to a “best 4 of 5” scoring structure designed to give racers more flexibility across a demanding travel schedule.
Announced May 27, series officials confirmed that racers will now count their four highest-scoring weekends out of five total events toward the championship standings. The adjustment is intended to help offset rising travel costs, fuel expenses, and the financial strain associated with a full national-level race schedule, while still maintaining a competitive title chase throughout the season.
Under the revised format, competitors will be able to drop their lowest-scoring weekend, helping keep championship hopes alive even in the event of mechanical failures, travel conflicts, or missed rounds.
Series leadership also highlighted a significant media milestone for 2026, with the season finale scheduled to air nationally on CBS Sports in partnership with Pro Watercross, giving racers, teams, and sponsors a larger broadcast platform as championships are decided on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
The 2026 East Coast Watercross Tour will feature five IJSBA-sanctioned weekends, including the season opener set for June 5-7 in Laconia, New Hampshire. Organizers also noted continued support for the 8 Ball Cup payout program in the two-stroke 800 Runabout classes, with over $20,000 in prize money available.
With its revised scoring structure and expanded media exposure, the East Coast series enters 2026 with a format designed to balance accessibility for racers with a high-profile championship finale.
Liqui Moly Pro Watercross National Tour
The Pro Watercross has already delivered a fast-moving 2026 season, with four rounds in the books and championship pressure beginning to mount as the series heads deeper into the summer stretch.
Round 1 opened in Orange, Texas (March 6-8), followed by Round 2 in Sebring, Florida (April 24-26), Round 3 at Lake Havasu State Park (May 8-10), and Round 4 in Paris, Texas (May 22-24), forming a cross-country schedule that has tested both logistics and consistency early in the year.
Heading into the Paris round, series officials announced a significant championship rule adjustment aimed at easing travel pressure and reshaping title strategy. Under the updated format, only a racer’s top three scores will now count toward qualification for the National Finals in Lake Havasu City this September, where the finale will serve as a tie-breaker round and mandatory stop for championship contention.
The change immediately shifted the competitive landscape, effectively turning every remaining moto into a high-stakes sprint where racers can no longer afford to leave points on the table. With dropped scores now in play, consistency becomes less about survival and more about maximizing peak performance across select rounds.
Organizers noted that the adjustment was made in response to rising fuel costs and travel demands, particularly for independent teams traveling across long distances throughout the national tour. The goal, they said, is to keep the championship accessible while preserving intensity at the front of the field.
With Round 5 scheduled for June 19-21 in Lubbock, Texas, the series now moves into a critical midseason phase where championship contenders will begin to separate from the pack as the Road to Havasu intensifies.
Full standings, schedule updates, and event coverage are available through Pro Watercross official channels and prowatercross.com.
That’s a wrap on this week’s WCJ Weekly Racing Roundup. For more information on these series, plus updates from the Western Canadian Watercross Association, the latest from the IHRA Professional Watercraft Series, all the action at Nauti Water Racing and the Road to Havasu, along with wXGP and Great Lakes Watercross news, stay tuned here at The Watercraft Journal.
