When the American Jet Sport Association (AJSA) announced that the final round of the Southern Summer Series would return to Sandy Beach Park at Lake Tobesofkee in Macon, Georgia, longtime riders and fans couldn’t help but smile. Once one of the Southeast’s most vibrant PWC racing destinations, “Tobo,” as it’s affectionately called, had fallen quiet in recent years. But over the weekend of August 30–31, the roar of engines and the cheers of spectators brought the lake back to life with the US Open of PWC Racing.
A Return to Tradition
Lake Tobesofkee has deep roots in personal watercraft history, once drawing some of the sport’s biggest names during its peak years. Its broad, accessible shoreline and spectator-friendly layout made it an ideal venue for families and fans. Though underutilized for nearly a decade, the site still carries a sense of nostalgia, and its revival for the AJSA’s final summer round felt like a homecoming for many.
“This is the kind of place where memories are made,” said one longtime race supporter while watching the heats unfold. “To see it back in action, and with so many new young riders, really shows how far the sport has come.”
Competition and Community Hand in Hand
The US Open drew a strong turnout from across the region, with stacked lineups in Pro, Amateur, and Junior classes. The racing itself was fast, close, and competitive, showcasing both veteran talent and fresh up-and-comers eager to prove themselves.
Yet amid the tight battles for holeshots and buoy turns, the weekend never lost its sense of warmth. Families filled the park with tents and coolers, younger siblings played in the sand between motos, and the AJSA community welcomed newcomers with the same open arms that have helped the series thrive.
That balance—fierce competition paired with a family-friendly vibe—has become the AJSA’s signature, and nowhere was it more apparent than in Macon.
Spotlight on Youth
One of the defining strengths of the Southern Summer Series has been its youth participation, and the finale at Lake Tobesofkee was no exception. From the youngest beginners to teenagers battling for Amateur titles, the presence of kids and teens on the starting line was a powerful reminder that the sport’s future is alive and well.
The AJSA has made youth racing more than just a token feature. By providing dedicated classes, support, and recognition, they’ve cultivated an environment where young riders not only learn the ropes but also feel like central figures in the broader racing family.
AJSA Building a Solid Base For Growth
Jonathan McCreary, who takes to the water in the Pro Runabout 1100 class as well as working on the line for AJSA and standing in as series spokesman, said the Macon race added in some procedure changes and new formats to add a extra level of competitiveness for the final installment of the 2025 Series.
“This is our big finale for the year and we wanted to kind of mix things up a bit,” McCreary told the Watercraft Journal. “It’s a little different format; the motos are structured a little different. To win this weekend, you’ve really got to earn it. You’ve got to be able to do everything good.”
He added that in addition to ratcheting up the battles for the U.S. Open, the emphasis of the weekend was also to put an exciting cap on the season-long points race.
“If the points race is tight coming into this race, there’s a lot of variables that you have to overcome to come out as a (season) champion,” he said.
McCreary stressed the welcoming attitude of officials in Macon, and praised the sites’ benefits.
“Macon is just very welcoming of having us here. They’re glad to have us they take very good care of us. They take good care of this beach for us and it’s a beautiful spot on a very clean, gorgeous lake with scenery that is just to die for,” he said. “We spent a lot of time at a lot of sites this year, which is great – you get to see a little bit of everything, and this is a great site to end the season.”
When asked if AJSA is considering adding surf racing to the lineup in the coming years, McCreary acknowledged that it is definitely a consideration.
“There certainly been some talk behind the scenes with AJSA’s admin who have been in contact with different cities and towns that may be interested in having us out to race in the surf, so I definitely wouldn’t it out,” he said.
When asked how the season went, overall, McCreary said it has been a good year for the AJSA, with continued emphasis on the family-oriented atmosphere as well supporting competitive racing in all divisions,
“This year has gone exceptionally smooth this year, and its that family environment; everyone is high-fiving and hugging when they come off the line, even if they’ve been beating and banging out on the track, and that’s a beautiful thing.”
When asked about the direction of the AJSA moving into 2026, and whether the AJSA popularity with the younger racers is intentional, McCreary pointed to the organization’s community-first approach.
“Certainly it is (intentional). The old guys like me are not going to be around on the circuit forever. If you’re not fostering growth, you’re doomed to fail,” he said. “You’ve got to have familles that are bringing the kids to be exposed to racing and learn about it, and then they want to get involved, and then their friends see them racing, and want to get involved, so you end up with a great junior and beginner and amateur program, which is important because, if you don’t have that, you can’t have a good pro program either.”
McCreary agreed that the youth participation only increases an already-vital emphasis on safety for AJSA.
“We have some of the best safety staff on the water at any given time, keeping an eye on everything, and throughout the course setup, if one of our more seasons safety officials on the water see something they don’t like, they take steps to amend it and make it so that we have safe courses that people can race in and not have to worry about getting run over by somebody because of a poor course design,” he stated.
He said that, although safety is a primary consideration, there is also a strong priority put on keeping things fresh and responding to racer input.
“You’ve got to adapt to your market – to what the racers want and what they’re looking for when they come to a race,” he said. “They want to have fun and that’s what we want to cater to. We want to make it so people go home saying ‘man, that was such a freaking fun time. We want to come back.'”
Building Momentum
The success of the US Open at Lake Tobesofkee capped off what has been a landmark summer for the AJSA. By pairing racing at a range of great venues with a clear focus on accessibility and youth development, the series has built not just events but a community that riders want to return to. Be sure to keep an eye on The Watercraft Journals posts in the coming days as we finish out our interview with McCreary, and talk to a few of the racers about their experiences with AJSA racing.
Results and Rankings
The US Open at Lake Tobesofkee delivered two full days of close racing across every division, with podium finishes earned through tight battles and breakout performances. Just as important as the event itself, the weekend also finalized the 2025 AJSA Southern Summer Series standings, crowning this year’s class champions after a summer of consistent competition. Full U.S. Open results can be found here, with a few highlight results listed below.
US Open Event Winners per Class
Pro Am Runabout 1000: Neal Orussa
Pro Ski 1050: Matthew Richuk
AR-1100cc Runabout Limited: Tyler Klimek
AR-1800cc Runabout Stock: Tyler Lester
AR – Up to 1200cc Runabout Open(2-Stroke Only): Raven Ward
Amateur Open Freestyle: Kyle Kreeger
Junior Freestyle: Guyver Santucci
Jr. Ski Futures: Kylie Meier
Jr. Sport Spec (12–15): Colt Myer
Jr. Ski Beginners (8–15): Carter Thompson
Jr. Ski Intermediate 1050cc Stock (8–15): Charlie Adams
Ski – 1050cc B Class Stock (Amateur): Caden Schilling
Ski – 1050cc C/D Class Stock (Beginner/Novice): Jason Forinash
Ski – 1500cc A/B Stock (Amateur): Harrison Reeve
Ski Open: Deven Farthing
Ski Vet (40+ yr) Stock 1050cc: Dustin Higdon
Ski Vet (40+ yr) 1500cc: Glenn Elliott
Sport GP: Talan Farthing
Sport Spec: Matthew Johnson
Season standing results can be found here.
With champions crowned and the season complete, the AJSA now turns its attention to 2026—building on the momentum of a successful summer and carrying the excitement forward into a new year of racing.
