Breaking a spell of deep south showers and thunderstorms, the American Jet Sport Association rolled into Chattanooga, Tennessee, last weekend, May 30 – June 1, for the third and fourth rounds of the 2025 Southern Summer Series, and along with the almost-perfect weather, they brought with them plenty of energy, a well-laid-out track, a well-thought-out game plan, and plenty of wire-to-wire motos.
The Watercraft Journal was on scene for both the Saturday and Sunday Pro Shows, and managed to steal a prime spot for photos on the back stretch, with a perfect shot of the final turn for both inside and outside splits, as well as the (optional) log jump.
Not only did the location give WJC an optimal spot for race shots, it highlighted the countless advantages of Chester Frost Park, in Hixson, Tenn. on the outskirts of Chattanooga – including ample parking, beautiful location, plenty of room for race rigs, plentiful attendance from local food vendors, and a convenient grassy shoreline for spectators (with the only drawback WCJ observed begin the extremely rocky, unstable footing at waters edge, which caused a few stumbles for not only WCJ editor Waters, but several riders as well.)
The weekend hosted a sizable contingent of spectators — both race-connected families and friends as well as local and area residents who were drawn to the event by a pleasantly (and, by PWC racing industry standards, an unusually significant) local promotional effort, with billboards and local advertising by AJSA and event title sponsor Mountain Motorsports. The event also boasted approximately 80 race entries in more than a dozen classes from somewhere in excess of 50 racers.
While the weekend’s races matched up some of PWC racing’s top names in the sport, it put an even brighter spotlight on AJSA’s continued effort to grow the sport and promote youth and less-experienced racers. (Be sure to catch WCJ’s post-race interview with AJSA’s Jonathan McCready later this week for more on their focus on young riders and the future of the sport.)
Coming off of the Southern Summer Series’ opening weekend in early April in Guntersville, Alabama, this past weekend’s motos ratcheted up some of the high-profile battles that geared up in Guntersville, as well as brought some new head-to-head challenges to bear that will play out over the coming three weekends of racing (six rounds) before the season finale – the U.S. Open in Macon, Georgia the last weekend of August.
The final tally after Rounds 1 and 2 in Guntersville showed what promises to be a season-long battle between four Yamaha-mounted young racers in the Jr. – Ski Intermediate 1050cc Stock (8-15yr) class, with a finishing order of Cameron Spooner (1), Charlie Adams (2), Cooper Smith (3) and Kylie Meier (4). The Chattanooga rounds followed up on that early-season battle, with, in order, Spooner, Adams and Meier finishing the weekend on the podium.
The Pro Ski 1050 motos followed up some serious head-to-head competitions in Guntersville with continued competitive motos that highlighted the high-caliber of racing from results leaders Deven Farthing, Matthew Richuk, Sophie Francis, Teagan Hill, Jimmy Wilson, Jeb Zarzour and and Jax Rowe, with Farthing continuing his powerhouse season on the top step of the podium all the way through.
Another ski class where the competition is heating up is the Ski 1500 (A/B Stock), where Harrison Reeve, Ethan Wilson and Taylor Parker finished 1, 2, 3 for the weekend after some hard-fought motos.
WCJ caught up with Wilson after the races on Sunday to talk about the race site and the AJSA series, as well as how he got involved in the sport and what keeps him coming back.
WCJ: How long have you been racing with AJSA?
Wilson: This would be my third year. I’ve been with them almost since the beginning (of AJSA). I raced their first race in Macon.
WCJ: How old are you, and when did you start racing?
Wilson: I’m 21. My first year I raced with IJSBA and then raced with AJSA the following year, so I’ve been racing about four years.
WCJ: What got you interested in the sport?
Wilson: One of my best friends used to race, so I bought a ski and we raced together and then he got out and its just one of those things I’m just not ready to give up and I’m very competitive so I’m looking forward to moving up to the next level and get more competition.
WCJ: What are some strong points of racing the AJSA series, and are there any drawbacks?
Wilson: AJSA has a really good family aspect. Everyone is really nice to each other and willing to help each other out. It’s a great community. The only downside I see to AJSA is that the fact that it’s not a (IJSBA) World Finals qualifier, which is kind of a big deal for the east coast, because we have to go to Texas or Louisiana or someplace like that to race with IJSBA to be able to go to World Finals, but it’s a great association to race with and get experience and get practice for World FInals and they’ve always got really good turnout, so its always rail to rail racing all the time with 7 to 8 on the line each time.
WCJ: How did it go this weekend out there on the course?
Wilson: I had a little trouble on Saturday, with the rough water and couldn’t get my boat to hook up, but today I rode a lot better and it was a lot quicker race and I came out second overall for the weekend, which was not exactly what I was hoping for but still better than being last!
WCJ: What keeps you coming back even after a weekend that doesn’t turn out exactly like you hope?
Wilson: Just the competitiveness. I always am looking for that next step and I’m kind of to that point now where I’ve been in 1500 stock fo the past 3 years and always kind of been in the top 1-2-3 spots so hopefully next year maybe moving up into the Pro Ski on a GP1, so its really just the competitiveness that keeps me coming back every time.
WCJ: What’s your plan for the next race?
Wilson: Really just going to tweak some stuff on my boat and try and get the turning down and get everything hooking up right, and then see how we do in North Carolina.
WCJ: What would you say to someone who might be interested in beginning PWC racing?
Wilson: Come on by the tent; we’ll let you ride one and you’ll be hooked for life. You’ll never not want to ride again!
WCJ: Is there anyone you’d like to mention or thank?
Wilson: Just my sponsors. And I want to thank my parents for supporting me and helping me get to where I am.
In Sport class action, all eyes were on the Sport Spec class where Saturday and Sunday were mirror finishes, with Jaxe Rowe (1), Treyton Smith (2) and Morgan Allen (3) taking the podium spots for the weekend, while in Jr. Sport Spec (12-15), it was a continued competition between Haley Smith, Pierce Baucom, Colt Meyer (who, in one of the best race-number picks I’ve seen in my time covering races, wears the #45), and Caleb Tracey.
Over in the Runabout classes, in the Pro Runabout 1100 class, Jonathan McCreary and Brian Baldwin continued their clash on Saturday, with Balwin taking the win in both motos, but ceding the races on Sunday as he returned home early with fellow racer and race legacy Kayden Baldwin for Kayden’s birthday celebration.
For complete individual moto and overall results from Chattanooga, as well as the Guntersville results and season standings, visit the AJSA Race Ready results and standings boards
The AJSA’s next stop will be at Isothermal Community College in Spindale, NC, on July 4-5.
