The SBT P1 AquaX Kissimmee/St. Cloud Grand Prix at the weekend, the opening event of the P1 AquaX USA race season, saw Eric “The Eagle” Francis makes an impressive comeback by taking victory in the Pro Endurance class.

When asked what happened to reignite his fire, Eric replied: “After coming off a year of not racing when Covid hit, I was not up to par mentally or physically last year and it took 2021 to get my head back in the game and back in racing mode.”

Young Tory Snyder performed consistently over the two days to take second place ahead of Brian Baldwin.

Proving that age is only a number as he celebrated his 59^th birthday, Enrique Chia was victorious in the Amateur 300 class. Joe Johnson suffered some mechanical issues but finished high enough in his first two races to finish second, followed by Todd Czarcinski.

Sam Nehme dominated the Am 200 racing on both days. Isiah Washington was able to fend off Melvin Canals to finish in second place.

The Jr Enduro class made its debut on East Lake Toho with Colombian rider Mariana Perdomo finishing on top of the podium. She was unable to catch Gavin Russo in the opening race but came back in style by winning the next two races. Aged 14-15, the riders competed for 20 minutes in each race on a modified AquaX course.

Sea-Doo was excited to announce a partnership with Australian Formula 1 driver, Daniel Ricciardo last week as Ricciardo was in Miami for the 2022 Formula One Grand Prix. While there, he and Sea-Doo filmed a video (attached below) featuring a uniquely-equipped new RXP-X 300.

The unit itself is very clearly a slightly modified 2022 model in Sea-Doo’s premium Triple Black livery with unique touches, including metallic aqua fairings, carbon fiber inlays on the hood, and two-tone mats and seats. Raised “Sea-Doo” emblems adorn the hood as well.

In a piece by Joshua Dowling, WatercraftZone extrapolates that the Sea-Doo RXP-X 300 featured in the video is actually a 2023 unit, citing little evidence than the yellow and green accents on the side mirrors and handlebars.

Sea-Doo itself added to the speculation with social media posts stating, “The next level of high performance arrives this August” as brand ambassadors left coy posts on their feeds stoking the flames.

While we at The Watercraft Journal don’t know anything concrete about this watercraft except what can be observed, it’s worth noting that no physical differences from the current RXP-X available today – including the “300” call out on the console and the one-piece sponsons – are visible.

Sea-Doo’s description at the bottom of their YouTube video doesn’t give anything away either:

“We’ve partnered with F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo to bring a fresh Sea-Doo perspective on the world of high-performance watercraft. Bold, unique, with an attitude that commands the water – just like the people who squeeze the throttle. We couldn’t be more excited for what’s coming next! Stay tuned!”

A grinning Ricciardo had this to say at the end of his speedy test ride, “This thing is sooo good.” And that’s pretty much all we’re going to get. It does bear noting that Sea-Doo has a pattern of providing notable celebrities with customized watercraft – in 2019, BRP gifted chicken wing enthusiast DJ Khaled with a tropical-themed GTX with similar fanfare.

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Sea-Doo came out with a list of some of their favorite destinations to ride. Starting with Canada, Bruce Peninsula in Ontario topped the list with its gorgeous scenery and Five Fathom National Park at the mouth of Georgian Bay. It would make for a great place to take your GTX, since it’s built for touring.

This area is known for its pristine waters of the Great Lakes. If you’re looking for a more active area, check out Temiscouata Lake in Quebec. This is for the water sports enthusiast. It is the place to zip around on your Spark or have some fun towing a tube with your Wake Pro. You can even find a quiet spot for fishing.

If you’re looking for fun on the water in the United States, the Florida Keys top the list of favorite destinations. We don’t need to discuss them because we all know what’s up with the Keys. If you want to head north, Torch Lake in Michigan has been compared to the Caribbean Sea. It has 48 public access points located around its 41 miles of shoreline, making it super accessible to PWC.

The area is also known for its massive fourth of July gathering. The last place we’ll hit is Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. This place has it all, excellent fishing, beaches, two state parks, and plenty of room for watersports. It’s a mecca for the Sea-Doo rider. Check out the article for the areas we didn’t cover. There are some gems on the list.

“The best laid plans of mice and men…” so the saying goes. Unfortunately, the 2nd annual Lake Powell PWC Fishing Tournament scheduled for this May 14th, 2022, was forced to cancel at the last minute due to a sequence of extraordinary circumstances. Working together with Sea-Doo to give away a brand-new 2022 Fish Pro Trophy as the grand prize, both Up Lake Adventures and BRP have vowed to make the 2023 Lake Powell Fishing Tournament all that more impressive.

What that does mean is that this year’s event must be has been postponed for the calendar year. Up Lake Adventures’ president Bob Reed told The Watercraft Journal, “Due to the low water levels at Lake Powell and the challenges of launching and retrieving vessels it causes, [as well as] the price of fuel […], we’ve decided to postpone the Lake Powell Fish Pro Tournament until 2023. So stay tuned! We are going to do it then and it will be an amazing opportunity.”

Lower than hoped-for rainfall and an increased rate of usage has Lake Powell at dangerously low water levels, making launch and retrievals difficult. Images show the water levels below the bottom of the cement ramp itself. Moreover, radically increasing fuel costs have priced would-be participants out from traveling across the nation to participate. Want to make the Lake Powell PWC Fishing Tournament an enjoyable experience for all, the decision to postpone was necessary.

As part of the Sea-Doo Inspired series, pro surfer Michele Bourez talks about life in Tahiti and how his Sea-Doo helps to make his life more productive and fun. Last year marked his 12^th year on surfing’s Championship Tour where he earned the nickname, The Spartan for his sculpted physique.

Bourez strives to do better every day, whether it’s his surfing or taking care of his family. He is also the second surfer from French Polynesia to make it on the tour. His home break, Teahupoo, is literally at the end of the road in Tahiti and is one of the most dangerous waves in the world. The wave breaks below sea level over a reef that has taken a lot of skin and a few lives. Bourez is a true waterman and Tahiti is an awesome place to be.

There is water everywhere, and Bourez makes good use of his Sea-Doo because it provides the versatility he needs for life in Tahiti. He can cruise through the many reef passes to quickly search for waves and easily carry his fishing gear for when he wants to wet a hook. There is room for his family as well. His Sea-Doo is a necessity in the Polynesian Islands, especially for a man who spends his days on the water.

It’s perfect for water safety when the big swells hit because of how quickly the ski can get in there to scoop up a surfer who wipes out at Teahupoo. Bourez also uses his Sea-Doo to teach his kids about the importance of taking care of the ocean. He says, “If we all do our part, the whole world will get better.”

The Radinn crew not only likes to go on adventures, but they also like to take adventures to others, so it was no surprise to learn of their meet up with the Surfgaarden team in Denmark. The Radinn group was there to make waves with veterans struggling with PTSD and to turn them onto the sport of jetboarding.

Surfgaarden is a rehabilitation center for veterans who are struggling with PTSD and Ocean Therapy is a main component in their rehabilitation. The center is in an area known as Cold Hawaii. It’s a great location for surfing because it picks up swells from storms out of the north. The Radinn crew brought boards and positive vibes to aid the veterans in their healing process.

Surfing requires 100% of your attention, which makes it the perfect medicine for veterans who suffer from PTSD. Riding waves is the perfect escape from a racing mind, so after a quick lesson on how to operate the Radinn Jetboards, about 15 veterans went out to ride in the inlet of Thisted. They got to forget about the bad and focus on the good.

The guys had a blast riding the Radinn Jetboards and program Manager Peter Emil said it was a dream come true for a lot of the veterans. They felt like superheroes zipping around on jetboards. He was stoked on the Radinn experience and that they are making these adventures possible for different groups of people. Check out the cool video that highlights the day of happy vets stoked on Radinn Jetboards.

 

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Big things are happening within BRP. They recently announced the expansion of its Manitou pontoon boat plant in Lansing, Michigan and will add manufacturing and warehouse capacity in St. Johns, Michigan. This will create close to 200 new jobs at its Manitou manufacturing plant in Michigan, nearly doubling its workforce.

Construction begins in April and with the aid of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), BRP received performance-based workforce training credits and grants. The package also includes workforce development support from local colleges and job creation incentives from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

BRP acquired Manitou in 2018 as part of its strategy to transform the customer experience and to bring forward thinking innovation to the marine industry. Check out the complete press release below for all the details:

BRP Inc. announces the creation of close to 200 new jobs at its Manitou manufacturing plant in Michigan, nearly doubling its workforce in the state. BRP will begin the construction in April to expand its existing Manitou pontoon boat plant in Lansing while adding manufacturing and warehousing capacity in St. Johns, Michigan.

With the assistance of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), BRP received performance-based workforce training credits and grants. The package includes workforce development support from local colleges, and Capital Area Michigan Works! (CAMW!), as well as job creation incentives from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

“BRP’s continued investment in Michigan underscores our state’s manufacturing leadership, the strength of our business climate and talented workforce,” said Quentin Messer, Jr., CEO of the MEDC and President and Chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund. “This project is a win for the Lansing region and for the entire state. We are grateful to the Governor and legislative leadership for their continued support of the Michigan Business Development Program that makes these projects possible. We appreciate the efforts of LEAP and our other local partners. We look forward to working with BRP as it grows and provides greater opportunity for our friends and neighbors statewide.”

“When fast-growing, worldwide companies, like BRP, choose to expand in the Lansing region, it speaks volumes about our region’s ability to compete internationally,” said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP). “Our robust business support system, world-class engineering talent pipeline and culturally rich communities are winning the day once again. Of course, projects like this are possible because of great partners, including the MEDC, LCC, CAMW!, Watertown Township and city of St. Johns. Congratulations to all!”

“The strong, sustained demand we have seen for our products is a testament to their durability and quality. BRP has continued to grow its marine portfolio with strategic acquisitions of world class brands like Manitou, Alumacraft, and Quintrex, and expanding their production capacity,” said Karim Donnez, Senior Vice President, Marine Group, BRP. “As with all our products, we are committed to gaining market share in this sector and we rely on Michigan’s highly skilled and experienced workforce to continue helping us in achieving our goals.”

BRP acquired Manitou in 2018 as part of its strategy to transform the customer experience, and bring game-changing innovation to the marine industry. The company is actively looking for candidates to fill positions in the Lansing region, including welding, assembly and fabrication, engineers and engineering technicians. For more information about open positions, visit Manitou’s website.

BRP announced its commitment to take corporate social responsibility further with the launch of its new CSR25 program. The company has set its sights on becoming the industry leader in corporate citizenship. The CSR program is made up of three pillars, which are environment, social, and governance.

They want to reduce their carbon footprint by electrifying each of its product lines by the end of 2026. BRP also wants to develop a more inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong. They have begun a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion journey. BRP is also launching an enhanced Code of Ethics. BRP reminds us that these are forward-thinking goals and initiatives, and nothing is guaranteed.

Read the complete press release below:
BRP Inc. announced its commitment to take corporate social responsibility (CSR) even further with the launch of its new CSR25 program. It includes more ambitious environmental targets than ever before, concrete initiatives, and sets goals for 2025 and beyond. It also reflects BRP’s intention to be the industry leader in corporate citizenship.

“We are very proud of our CSR25 program, which stretches the boundaries of our commitment to create a stronger future for our employees, our dealers, our customers and all of our stakeholders,” declared José Boisjoli, President and CEO. “Not only does it align with our strategy and industry best practices, it also sets high objectives that reflect the growing environmental and social concerns of our communities. We look forward to the enthusiastic participation of all our employees around the world in ensuring that our efforts are successful. Our board of directors and executive management team are fully dedicated to ensuring we make tangible progress and track our results on a regular basis.”

BRP’s CSR25 program fosters value creation around three main pillars: Environment, Social and Governance. The responsibility of each of them has been assigned to senior executives who leverage their expertise to ensure the program’s objectives are achieved. They specifically focus on

BRP’s employees, communities, operations and products and are broken down as follows:

• Reduce the carbon footprint relating to products and operations
  In 2021, BRP took an important step towards reducing the carbon footprint of its products with the announcement of a $300 million investment over the next five years to electrify each of its existing product lines by the end of 2026. BRP aims to have 50% of its units sold as electric by 2035. Furthermore, it has set the target of launching new electric products and new models that emit less CO2 than their predecessor. As such, BRP recently confirmed its first EV models with the upcoming launch of an all-electric lineup of Can-Am motorcycles.
  On the operations side, BRP targets making its facilities carbon neutral and reaching zero waste to landfill by 2030. It also aims to reduce CO2 emissions from its supply chain by 25% by 2035.
• Ensure a positive and sustainable impact in communities and the daily lives of employees
  BRP reiterates its commitment to invest 1% of pre-tax profits in community support by 2025.
  Also, the Company is increasing its efforts to empower all riders in the powersports community to ride responsibly through the new BRP Responsible Rider program. It aims to encourage riders to focus further on safety, riding etiquette and the environment.
  To foster an even more inclusive culture where everyone feels they belong, BRP has embarked on a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) journey. The Company has established a diverse DE&I Council which is comprised of employees from various backgrounds and workplaces and led by two senior executives who will implement a strong action plan. Specific DE&I employee resource groups are also being formed to reach targets.
• Continue to make sound strategic decisions, maintain high ethical standards and conduct operations in a sustainable manner.
  Under its Governance pillar, BRP is also announcing the upcoming launch of an enhanced version of its Code of Ethics. The intention is to further mobilize and empower its employees and other stakeholders in maintaining and displaying high ethical standards and behaviors across all of BRP’s activities.

Sandy Vassiadis, Vice-President, Global Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility added: “As a global leader in powersports vehicles, propulsion systems and boats, we are dedicated to reinventing how we move people in a more sustainable way and caring for our communities. The program we are launching today reflects our commitment to lead by example and inspire our industry to play an active and engaging role in creating a brighter future for all. We look forward to rallying our complete network around our CSR initiatives and promoting eco-responsible practices.’’

For full details about BRP’s CSR25 program and its initiatives, please visit the Corporate Social Responsibility section of our website.