It may be half a world away, but even here in the US, you can feel the tension mounting and the excitement ratcheting up a notch or two as the GP#1 World Cup 2024 gets ready to kick off some of the most competitive racing of the year.
With more than 3,000 athletes from 40 nations converging on Jomtien Beach in Pattaya City, Thailand, the first races of this annual season-capping event are just days away. Amateur Championship motos are scheduled for Wednesday, December 11, through Friday, December 13, while the Pro races will be Taking place over the weekend, Saturday, December 14, and Sunday, December 15.
In addition, this year there will be four supporting events held during World Cup week, including the Global Jet Ski Showcase that will be held throughout the event, featuring leading manufacturers like Kawasaki unveiling their 2025 models for the first time. There will be Freestyle jet ski stunt performances, a Japanese Model photoshoot and new this year, a Bodybuilding on Jet Ski competition.
A full schedule of registration, practices, races and more can be found here, while the event promotional video can be seen here, with real-time schedule, rankings and results here and results throughout the week will be posted here, where you can also find results from previous years.
The final update of the racer’s list, released on Nov. 28 after the close of registration, shows the following US entrants, as well as an update on some well-known names from the international list of competitors.
In the Pro Ski Grand Prix race, we have In the Pro Ski Grand Prix Championship, we see Jimmy Wilson (#300/Factory Kawasaki), Sebastien Girello (#27/ GoFast USA), Ryder Wildeboer (#888/888 Racing), and Deven Farthing (#116/Farthing Racing) from the US, while top-name competitors include Tanawin Nolee (#4/Thailand/Flamingo Jet Ski Team), Quinten Bossche (#98/Belgium/QB1 Racing), Kevin Reiterer (#90/Austria/Flamingo), Jayden Richardson (#111/Australia/Fast Power Sports), and Raphael Maurin (#44/France/Pastorello Competition Kawasaki). Currently in the Jet Ski World Series rankings, after 2 rounds of 3, Reiterer is ranked as #1 while Wilson holds #2, but both with 101 points, followed up by Richardson, Girello, Bossche and Molee.
In Pro Sport GP, no US competitors are slated to race. Familiar international competitor names include Saly Ou Moeut (#77/Cambodia/Flamingo) and Simon Belcher (#111/UK/Handy Motorsport). Currently in the Jet Ski World Series rankings, Belcher holds #1 and Ou Moeut holds the #2 spot.
In Runabout 1100, there are no US entries, with Ou Moeut once again a familiar name in the race lineup, and holding 2nd in the Series, with Kasidit Teeraprateep (#T142/Thailand/FKT Concrete), who is also competing, currently holding 1st place.
In Pro Runabout GP, Tory Snyder (#110/Snyder Built) is the lone US entry, and will be competing against a lineup of nearly 20, including the top three ranking racers in the class in the World Series – Mohammed
Burbayea (Kuwait), currently 1st, Gyorgy Kasza (Hungary), currently 2nd, and James Bushell (UK), currently 3rd.
We will once again see Demi Morgan (#13/High Speed Industries) as the sole US competitor in Pro Freestyle, while Anthony Radetic (#22/GForce) is the sole US Competitor in Pro-Am Endurance Open, lining up against 33 competitors, including current Series 1st place holder Kylie Ellmers (#553, New Zealand/Flamingo) and Jean Bruno Pastorello (France), who is currently tied for second in the Series.
In Women’s Pro-Am Ski Modified, USA’s Sadie Marie Mir (#335/Brummir Racing/Jarritos Motorsports) and River Varner (#23/GoFast.US) will be competing against a number of top names, including Sophie Francis (#639/UK Francis Racing). Varner currently holds the #1 spot in the Series.
In Pro-Am Ski Stock, Wildeboer will race in his second class, competing against a lineup that include Series 1st and 2nd place racers Tanawid Molee and Tanawin Molee, both of Thailand and both racing for Flamingo.
In Pro-Am Runabout Stock, Snyder will compete in his second class, along with US competitor Tim Miller (#37/J Caldwell Racing), who is currently in 4th place in the class in the Series.
Other US Competitors include Jonathan Phan in Veterans Ski GP, Cooper Caldwell in Novice Runabout Stock, Andrew Juy Vo and Ty Smith in Junior (13-15) Ski 4 Stroke Lites,
You can read the full GP#1 World Cup 2024 press release below.
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WGP#1 WATERJET WORLD CUP, WGP#1 WATERJET WORLD SERIES 2024 and WGP#1 WATERJET ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024
11-15 DECEMBER 2024, Pattaya City, Thailand
WGP#1 World Cup Ready to La
unch! A Tourism-Boosting Sporting Spectacle: Five Exciting Jet Ski Events Await from December 11-15 in Pattaya
The stage is set for the WGP#1 World Cup 2024, a premier jet ski championship to be held from December 11-15 at Jomtien Beach in Pattaya. The event promises a vibrant showcase of five world-class beach sports activities, including the Jet Ski World Championship, freestyle jet ski stunts, the unveiling of a new jet ski model for the first time globally, a photoshoot featuring four Japanese models, and a unique bodybuilding-on-jet-ski competition. Registration is now closed, with an impressive turnout of 3,000 international participants as anticipated.
Mr. Srong Teinthong, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, expressed his commitment to elevating Thailand’s global reputation in water motorsports, aiming to position the country as the leader in the high-speed water sports domain. He emphasized that the “world’s best games can only be experienced in Thailand,” highlighting the synergy between sports and tourism promotion.
Key Announcements from the Press Conference
In a joint statement by Mr. Jakkapad Klongpayaban, advisor to Minister Srong Teinthong; Ms. Jirawadee Khunsap, Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT); Pol. Gen. Dechnarong Sutthicharnbancha, President of the Jet Ski Association of Thailand; Mr. Paisan Udomkulvanich, Deputy Chief Business Officer at PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc.; and Mr. Phatiyuth Jaiswang, Acting Director-General of MCOT Public Company Limited, the following highlights were revealed:
• International Participation Success: The tournament achieved its target of attracting 3,000 athletes from 40 nations by the registration deadline on November 22, 2024. This milestone reflects WGP#1’s relentless efforts in global outreach, solidifying its reputation despite global economic challenges.
• Minister’s Vision: Minister Srong Teinthong lauded the WGP#1 World Cup as a pioneering sports brand for Thailand, particularly in terms of Intellectual Property (IP) development. He emphasized the importance of nurturing Thai talent to compete on an international level and promoting the event as a catalyst for tourism and sports industry growth.
Event Details
• Amateur Championships: Scheduled for Wednesday, December 11, through Friday, December 13.
• Professional Championships: Taking place over the weekend, Saturday, December 14, and Sunday, December 15. Competitions run from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM daily, with dedicated spectator stands and convenient parking facilities near the venue.
Four Supporting Activities
1. Global Jet Ski Showcase: Held throughout the event from December 11-15 (10:00 AM–5:00 PM), featuring leading manufacturers like Kawasaki unveiling their 2025 models for the first time. The exhibit will also include discounted jet ski gear and accessories, with savings of up to 50%, and informational displays by PTT on their lubricant products.
2. Freestyle Jet Ski Stunts: A thrilling display of acrobatics on water.
3. Japanese Model Photoshoot: A live photoshoot featuring four Japanese models.
4. Bodybuilding-on-Jet-Ski Competition: Organized in collaboration with the Thai Bodybuilding and Fitness Association, this innovative competition promises to be a crowd-puller.
For more details, visit www.wgp1.com.
