Photo Courtesy RonnyMac.com
As we get ready to flip the calendar page and dive into September, it almost feels like we’re in World Finals Countdown as the IJSBA website begins to fill up with a steady stream of press releases about vendors, sponsors, exhibitors and, most recently, tentative race schedules.
Recapping all the news from the past six weeks:
On July 21, IJSBA announced a rule update and clarification for Stock Class Rules for four-stroke powered watercraft.
Rule: “RAS.7.2 The original electronic control unit may be reprogramed so long as it does not offer any additional inputs or outputs than the original unit, and it must connect with the original connections. No additional sensors may be added (e.g., exhaust gas temperature, detonation sensors, etc.). Engine temperature sensors may be disabled.”
Clarification: IJSBA’s position is that a microchip may be changed so long as it is a like for like microchip. A competitor may remove an ECU microchip and replace it with a microchip with different programming. The microchip must be the same as OEM and be placed into the OEM ECU. IJSBA makes no distinction if an ECU is reprogrammed by sending a code to the chip or replacing the chip with the same chip with different coding. (effective immediately)
On July 30, IJSBA made the official announcement of the inaugural Personal Watercraft Owners Convention at the 2024 Short Block Technologies WGP-1 World Finals. This annual convention serves to provide enthusiasts with an environment to meet and greet key industry figures, persons integral to the evolution of the watercraft, and some individuals who have helped shaped the culture of thes sport. Workshops and presentations will educate about and demystify PWC technology. This convention is free to attend and will take place during the Pro weekend of the World Finals: October 12 & 13. The first convention will have four discussion groups: General PWC, Vintage Ski, Vintage X2, Sea-Doo X4/XPL. Presentations are planned for the following subjects: how impellers work, ecu reprogramming, intake grate, footwear ergonomics, and history of Personal Watercraft. Speakers will include Glen Bothwell (former competition manager of IJSBA), Art Chambers (Sport Class World Champion, Sea-Doo Team Manager), Scott Frazier (IJSBA President), Bill Scott (Works H2O/Oakley), Kyle Kennedy (Worx Racing USA/DASA), and more.
On August 4, and updated on Aug. 7, IJSBA announced the tentative race schedule for the World Finals (The Watercraft Journal will detail the schedule once more finalized schedules are released)
On August 5, IJSBA announced that Greenhulk will be the title sponsor for the inaugural Personal Watercraft Owners Convention
On August 7, IJSBA released a finalized class list for the World Finals.
On August 12, IJSBA announced The Arizona PWC Enthusiasts club as the first PWC club to sign up as a participant in the Greenhulk.net PWC Owners Convention.
Also on August 12, IJSBA announced that, beginning August 15, 2024, they would be processing requests for invitation letters and other support documents for those travelers who need these types of resources to secure visas and other permissions to enter the United States for the 2024 Short Block Technologies WGP-1 World Finals. From August 15 through September 1, IJSBA will be able to provide a 48 hour response period. After September 1, a quick response time can no longer be guaranteed. Please submit any such requests as soon as possible by emailing [email protected].
On August, IJSBA announced RECOVER 180 As The Official Hydration Sponsor of the 2024 Short Block Technologies WGP-1 World Finals
And most recently, on August 22, IJSBA released a tentative daily schedule for the World Finals, as follows:
Sunday, October 6
Junior Program
Junior Slalom
Monday, October 7
Practice for all Monday/Tuesday classes
Classes Racing:
Novice Ski Stock
Novice Runabout Stock
Amateur Women Ski Lites
Master Ski GP
Amateur Runabout Rec Lites
Amateur Veterans Ski Lites
Amateur Ski Four Stroke Lites
Amateur Ski Modified 1100
Novice Runabout 1100 Stock
Tuesday, October 8
Last Chance Practice: Ski, Runabout, Sport
Amateur Ski Lites
Amateur Runabout1100 Stock
Sport Spec
Pro Am Veterans Runabout Limited
Masters Ski Modified 1500
Runabout Naturally Aspirated
Expert Ski Modified 1500
Amateur Veterans Ski Stock
Amateur Runabout 1100 Stock
Amateur Women Ski Stock
Wednesday, October 9
Pro Am Runabout Limited
Junior Ski 10-12 Four Stroke Lites
Junior Ski 13-15 Four Stroke Lites
Pro Am Ski Modified 1500
Amateur Runabout 1100 Limited
Expert Veterans Ski GP
Expert Runabout 1100 Stock
Expert Ski Modified 1100
Thursday, October 10
Pro Am Ski Lites
Expert Ski GP (Qualifying, Moto 1)
Pro Am Runabout Superstock
Masters Ski Stock
Junior Ski Modified 1100
Pro Am 1100 Stock
Expert Runabout 1100 Superstock
Friday, October 11
Amateur Freestyle
Pro Sport GP
Pro Am Ski Four Stroke Lites
Expert Ski GP (moto 2, 3)
Pro Am Ski Stock
Pro Am Runabout 1100 Open
Women’s Runabout 1100 Stock
Pro Am Runabout Limited
Junior Ski 13-15 Modified 1100
Slalom
Awards for all completed classes
Saturday, October 12
Runabout Endurance Moto 1
GP Ski Qualifying Moto 1, Moto 2
Pro Am Women’s Ski Modified
Pro Freestyle
Pro Am Runabout Stock
Vintage Ski
Junior Ski 10-12 Stock
Junior Ski 13-15 Stock
Runabout GP Qualifying/ Moto 1
Under Bridge Night Show
Slalom
Sunday, October 13
Endurance Runabout Moto 2
Grandmasters Ski Stock
Pro GP Ski Moto 3, Moto 4
Pro Runabout GP Moto 2, Moto 3
Pro Am Women’s Ski Stock
Pro Freestyle
Vintage X2
Junior Ski 10-13 Lites
Junior Ski 13-15 LitesA
Awards
(Note that this is a daily schedule, not the run order for each day)
Also, the following have been verified as vendors for the trade show portion of the 2024 Short Block Technologies WGP-1 World Finals:
Short Block Technologies
Blowsion Kustoms
Jettribe
Yamaha Waverunners
HydroTurf
VP Racing Fuels
Anderson Powersports
Works H2O Designs
Watercraft Superstore
RideNow Powersports
Sound Waves PWC Audio
Kawi Performance
Worx Racing
SOLAS
Bomber Eyewear
PJS
Jetstar
Lee Stone Revolver
High Speed Industries
Western Power Sports
FLY Racing
RonnyMacc Photography
Blacktip Motorsports
Tasco Gloves
Moto-Option
Recover 180
Adonis Impellers
IMS Shirt Werx
Fast Powersports
Arizona PWC Enthusiasts Club
Save Body Beach
Stubby’s Red Wagon BBQ
Mr. B Lemonade and Burgers
PZA Pizza
Marnies Nachos
Scoops Ice Cream
Freeze-dried Sweets
Cometic Gasket
Klotz Synthetic Lubricants
MotoOption/East Coast Watercross
Kawi Performance
