Admittedly, there still appears to be a significant amount of fracturing in the domestic PWC event scene, but the IJSBA is thrashing to draw together several regional promoters and groups to create a comprehensive, season-long competition series, be it closed course racing or freestyle.
In the case of the latter, the IJSBA has partnered with two mainstays in the Freestyle arena to flesh out a completely dedicated season to just Freestyle, which is something unseen in the US for many, many years. Running from April through late August, this duplicity of event coordinators forms a complete (although two separate series) season.
The first is a partnership between the Freestyle Personal Watercraft Association (FPWCA) together with IJSBA, who after its success in Europe is bringing its Freestyle-only tour to the US. Although comprised of only two separate events, the word “tour” is being used rather loosely.
Hailed as a West Coast Round and an East Coast Round, the first will be held on April 16th, 2016, in Lake Havasu City, AZ; with the second being on August 27th, 2016, in North Fort Myers, FL. The FPWCA does bring with it its own set of rules and classes which include:
2016 USFC classes are:
Freestyle 800: OEM hull and maximum engine displacement of 800cc
Freestyle 900: aftermarket hull allowed and maximum engine displacement of 900cc
Freestyle 1200: aftermarket hull allowed and maximum engine displacement of 1200cc
And exclusively for the USA, the FPWCA has introduced a new class: Freestyle Beginner Open wherein an aftermarket hull allowed and maximum engine displacement of 1200cc. This class is open to any competitor who never finished on the podium on the national level and/or never competed at World Cup/Championship/Finals.
But wait, that’s not all! Nestled in between those two spread-out dates is a whole new series put on by the legendary “Typhoon Tommy” Nuttal. Over the past decade, he has been “entertaining festival crowds at lakes and rivers all throughout the United States,” according to the IJSBA. This of course, is less of a competition series and more of a entertainment venue where Nuttal’s Typhoon Tommy Entertainment will place the very best Freestyle athletes in front of tens of thousands of spectators.
June 24-26 – Detroit River Days, MI
July 15-17 – Trenton, MI “Roar on the River”
July 30-31 – Oswego Harborfest, NY
Aug 5-7 – Pittsburgh Regatta
So if you’re looking catch some of the States’ best Freestyle action, 2016 is rife with exciting venues and top class competition. For more information for the FPWCA, visit official website: www.pwcfreestyleusa.com, and for Typhoon Tommy’s events, please visit www.jetskishows.com.
