East Meets South – ECW Inaugural Florida Race An “Against-The-Odds” Success

They said it couldn’t be done. 

Well, you know how that story goes… no adventure retelling ever starts that way unless the person in question went ahead and did it anyway.

And that’s exactly what Shawn Dudek and East Coast Watercross did this past weekend, hosting a solidly-successful and widely-supported Watercross race on Lake Alfred, Florida –  despite being told multiple times over the past several years by many in the PWC race industry that it would never work. 

The Watercraft Journal caught up with Dudek on the road shortly after the completion of the race site teardown to talk about the motivation behind the race, his thoughts on the event, and the possibility of future ECW Florida excursions. 

But first, since this is, after all, a WCJ race recap article, let’s get down to brass tacks and talk about checkered flags and podiums. 

Held as two individual race events, each counting toward qualifications for IJSBA World Finals in Havasu, winners for each class were awarded at the end of each day of racing, with those who competed in races on both days now qualified to take part in the 2025 World Finals. 

On Saturday, results highlights included
Cameron Spooner (YAM)  taking 1st in the Junior WX1050 class with two first place motos, followed by Mac MacClugage (YAM) in 2nd and Kylie Meier (YAM) in 3rd.

In the Pro Am WX1050 Class, Deven Farthing (OTH) took 1st, Sophie Francis (YAM) claimed the second podium spot, and Erik Gruenwald (YAM) took 3rd. 

In the Pro Am Runabout 4 Stroke Class, Tory Snyder (YAM) aced both motos to take 1st, Juan Lezcano (SEA-DOO) took 2nd and Jason Russo (SEA-DOO)  took 3rd. 

In the ProAm Ski GP Class, Jimmy Wilson (KAW) nailed down a first place finish, winning both motos, with Deven Farthing (OTH) taking the second podium spot and Brayden Sebben (KAW) taking 3rd. 

In Pro Am Sport GP, Haden Skellet (YAM) took the day with first place finishes in both motos, Tory Snyder (SEA-DOO) took 2nd and Glen Jung (OTH) took 3rd. 

And in ProAm Sport Spec, Haden Skellett (YAM) took 1st, Deven Farthing (YAM) took 2nd and Kayden Baldwin (SEA-DOO) secured the 3rd place finish. 

On Sunday, results highlights included
Mac MacClugage (YAM) taking 1st in the Junior WX1050 class, followed by Cameron Spooner (YAM) in 2nd and Cash McClure (YAM) in 3rd.

In the Pro Am WX1050 Class, Sophie Francis (YAM) took 1st, Haden Skellett (YAM) claimed the second podium spot, and Deven Farthing (YAM) took 3rd. 

In the Pro Am Runabout 4 Stroke Class, Juan Lezcano (SEA-DOO)  took 1st, Tory Snyder took 2nd and Bobby Cardone (SEA-DOO) took 3rd.

In the ProAm Ski GP Class, Jimmy Wilson nailed down a first place finish, winning both motos, with Christopher Landis taking the second podium spot and Brayden Sebben taking 3rd. 

In Pro Am Sport GP, Haden Skellet took the day with first place finishes in both motos, Tory Snyder (YAM) (SEA-DOO) took 2nd and Johnny Smith (OTH) took 3rd. 

And in ProAm Sport Spec, Kayden Baldwin (SEA-DOO)  took 1st, Bill Beers Sr. (KAW) took 2nd and Johnny Smith (OTH) secured the 3rd place finish. 

Complete results can be viewed on the ECW Facebook page

Dudek said that, while the work that went into planning, staging and hosting the Lake Alfred race was extensive, it was something he has been mulling over and working toward for a long time.

The racer turnout – roughly 70 entries each day, was even more impressive when you took into consideration the weather and road conditions that many racers from Region 8 traveled through to get to the race, Dudek said.

He said that the turnout from Florida racers was also higher than he expected.

Dudek talked about the process of finding the location for ECW’s inaugural venture into Florida.

He talked a bit about the design of the course, including the use of a joker buoy, which kept racer strategy at play throughout the weekend as a key component of the results.

When pressed for what races stood out to him over the weekend, Dudek was quick to give credit to the juniors.

He also mentioned the ProAm Sport Spec class as a highlight of the weekend.

WCJ asked Dudek about the significant buy-in the race got from not only racers, but sponsors and supporters, with a number of donations of purse money, raffle items and other contributions, including a free tune donated by Cabrera Motorsports, which was won by Jimmy Wilson, who turned around and gave the prize to a young racer.

He added that that type of support from racers is important, and shows the level of interest in closed course racing making a return to Florida. He also said the effort put into putting on high quality events is key, and a large part of that is the event crew.

He said the event also gave him the opportunity to test out some procedures, equipment and ideas that he plans on implementing in the ECW 2025 race season.

Although the event was run under IJSBA sanction and rules, Dudek talked about the special allowances made for the WX1050 races.

He again spoke of the high level of support from everyone involved and the amount of positivity, and mentioned the success of the livestream.

WCJ closed out the interview asking Dudek if, given the success of last weekend’s race, he plans on instituting an actual ECW Winter series in Florida.

Stay tuned to WCJ for more from the ECW 2025 Tour and any new information on an ECW Winter Series as more details become available.

All photos courtesy Kirsten Hasty.

Dudek finished off the 2025 Lake Alfred Race Weekend with a recap post of his own: