In what appears to be, for many in the Watercross race family, a surprise announcement, Nauti Water Racing announced that they have “acquired the assets of Jet Jam Racing and Full Throttle Watercross.”
The announcement was made by Nauti Water Race Promoter and Race Director Justin Smith Saturday Night on Nauti Water Racing’s Facebook page and later to the Nauti Water Instagram account. No mention of the acquisition was found on the organization’s website (although, on an unrelated note, Nauti Water does seem to have announced their first race for the 2024 season on their website – The Watercraft Journal will follow up on this story in the coming week!)
According to the social media announcement of the acquisition, the “strategic move solidifies Nauti Water Racing’s position as a leader in the exhilarating world of Jetski racing and further expands its reach within the industry.”
Jet Jam races took place primarily in Arizona and California. Full Throttle WaterX races in 2023 all took place in California. Nauti Water’s 2023 tour, the Mid America WaterX Championship, mostly took place in Texas, with some races in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.
Smith states that Nauti Water will be working, with the acquisition of Full Throttle and Jet Jam, to “create … even more thrilling and competitive IJSBA sanction events.”
“Jet Jam Racing and Full Throttle Watercross have built remarkable legacies in the sport, and we are determined to take them to new heights. This is an important step towards our vision of revolutionizing Jetski racing and elevating it to unprecedented levels of excitement and professionalism,” Nauti Water Racing CEO Terry Hiebert stated in the announcement, expressing his gratitude to the fans of the two race organizations and adding, “Rest assured, we will continue to provide you with the thrilling races and unforgettable experiences you have come to expect, while also introducing new innovations and initiatives that will redefine the sport.”
As with many initial announcements of significant news, many questions are left unanswered by the Nauti Water release on the acquisition of the Jet Jam and Full Throttle race series, and The Watercraft Journal has requested an interview with Nauti Water leadership to find out those answers for our readers, and will update this story as soon as we have more information.
On Sunday afternoon, Deegan Newton, Full Throttle WaterX owner/director, posted a link to the Nauti Water announcement on the Full Throttle Facebook page, with the added comment, “Don’t be alarmed, we aren’t going anywhere Stay tuned, there is a lot more involved in this than what is said in this press release. This is going to be awesome, I promise!”
Newton added, in a post to the Full Throttle Facebook group, “There is a lot more to this that is going to be unveiled in the coming days. Please stay tuned. As for 2024, we aren’t going anywhere. This is going to be the same full throttle product you have all come to love and expect, but with an added twist and ADDITIONAL support from Nautiwater Racing. Once again, we aren’t going anywhere and I will still be involved as race director for the 2024 season!”
The Watercraft Journal has also requested an interview with Newton.
WCJ did note that, in a November 15 post on the Jet Jam Racing Facebook page, it was announced that Jet Jam Racing owner and operator Monte Hughes would be “stepping back from event promotions.” The announcement stated that Hughes would “stay close to the community, continue his work as a professional PWC mechanic, and support the sport where he can.”
There have been no updates to the Jet Jam Facebook page since that post, nor have there been any announcements on the organization’s website.
Read the full Nauti Water Racing announcement below:
For Immediate Release:
Nauti Water Racing Acquires Premier Jetski Racing Series: The assets of Jet Jam Racing and Full Throttle Watercross
December 1, 2023- Nauti Water Racing is thrilled to announce its recent acquisition of the Jet Jam Racing assets and Full Throttle Watercross. This strategic move solidifies Nauti Water Racing’s position as a leader in the exhilarating world of Jetski racing and further expands its reach within the industry.
Jet Jam Racing and Full Throttle Watercross have established themselves as prominent racing series, attracting top-tier athletes and passionate fans from around the world. Nauti Water Racing aims to create an even more thrilling and competitive IJSBA sanction events.
“We are extremely excited about this acquisition and the opportunities it presents for Nauti Water Racing,” said Terry Hiebert, CEO of Nauti Water Racing. “Jet Jam Racing and Full Throttle Watercross have built remarkable legacies in the sport, and we are determined to take them to new heights. This is an important step towards our vision of revolutionizing Jetski racing and elevating it to unprecedented levels of excitement and professionalism.”
The acquisition of the Jet Jam Racing assets and Full Throttle Watercross will allow Nauti Water Racing to leverage the strengths and expertise of all three organizations. This collaboration will result in enhanced event experiences, expanded race calendars, and increased exposure for Jetski racing on a global scale.
“We are grateful to the loyal fans, sponsors, and athletes who have supported Jet Jam Racing and Full Throttle Watercross over the years,” added Hiebert “Rest assured, we will continue to provide you with the thrilling races and unforgettable experiences you have come to expect, while also introducing new innovations and initiatives that will redefine the sport.”
Nauti Water Racing’s acquisition of the Jet Jam Racing assets and Full Throttle Watercross marks a significant milestone in the world of Jetski racing. With their combined expertise and resources, these premier racing series are poised to push the boundaries of the sport and captivate audiences like never before.
For more information about Nauti Water Racing and its upcoming events, please visit www.nautiwaterracing.com or follow them on social media @NautiWaterRacing.
@Jettribe Mid America Watercross
Name: Justin Smith
Title: Race Promoter
Email:[email protected]
