Here’s this week’s WCJ Weekly Racing Roundup, where we check in with the organizations, racers, and championship battles shaping the 2026 personal watercraft racing season. This week, IJSBA opens the door for a potential new World Finals class, several regional tours prepare for another busy race weekend from New York to Washington, and championship battles continue to tighten as the summer schedule heads toward its final stretch.

IJSBA Opens Entries for Potential Women’s Sport Spec World Finals Class
The International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) has opened a registration drive for a proposed Women’s Sport Spec class at the 2026 Short Block Technology World Finals. 

The announcement reflects the continued growth of women’s personal watercraft racing, with organizations across the country reporting larger Women’s Sport Spec fields throughout the 2026 season. Most recently, Wild West Watercross drew a 13-rider Women’s Sport Spec lineup at Topaz Lake, while other regional series have also seen increased participation in women’s competition.

According to IJSBA, the proposed class will become part of the 2026 World Finals if at least 10 racers submit prepaid entries. Competition would be held between Oct. 6 and Oct. 8 during race week, utilizing a three-moto format with the field capped at 18 competitors.

Racers interested in competing are encouraged to contact IJSBA and indicate their intent to enter. The 2026 SBT World Finals, the 45th consecutive running of the championship, will take place Oct. 3-11 at Crazy Horse Campgrounds & Resort in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

East Coast Watercross
The SBT East Coast Watercross Tour returns to action this weekend as racers head to Plattsburgh City Beach in Plattsburgh, New York, for Round 4 of the 2026 championship. Online registration remains open through midweek, with racers able to save on entry fees by registering in advance before checking in on site.

Series owner and Race Director Shawn Dudek also provided fans with a candid update following injuries sustained during the previous round in Pennsylvania. While continuing his recovery, Dudek said preparations for the remainder of the season are moving full speed ahead, with Plattsburgh kicking off an ambitious stretch of events that includes Avon Park, Florida, Norman, Oklahoma, the Sylvan Beach finale alongside Pro Watercross, and ultimately the World Finals in Lake Havasu.

The Plattsburgh course will feature the same popular layout used in 2025, including its split finish-line approach that produced several dramatic last-lap passes. Dudek noted that Lake Champlain’s conditions can vary from calm water to five-foot surf, making the venue one of the most unpredictable stops on the calendar.

Looking ahead, East Coast Watercross is already building excitement for its season finale at Sylvan Beach on Aug. 28-30. Sunday’s “Vintage Day” will encourage racers to dust off retro race gear from the 1980s and ’90s, while competitors who complete all five East Coast rounds this season will be entered to win a “Golden Ticket” providing free entry for one class throughout the entire 2027 season.

American Jet Sport Association Southern Summer Series
The American Jet Sport Association returns to action this weekend as the Southern Summer Series heads to Claytor Lake State Park in Pulaski County, Virginia, for Round 4 of the 2026 championship. Racing will take place July 31 through August 2, with organizers once again pairing high-level competition with a full weekend of activities designed to draw spectators and introduce new fans to the sport.

Saturday’s schedule features opening ceremonies beginning at 10 a.m., followed by closed-course racing, freestyle exhibitions, live music, food trucks, a vendor village, and even a virtual jet ski experience for families. Racing continues Sunday morning before the weekend concludes with an awards presentation and additional freestyle competition.

In the days leading up to the event, AJSA has also partnered with the Pulaski River Turtles baseball team for a community kickoff at Calfee Park, helping promote the race weekend while connecting racers with local fans. It’s another example of the organization’s continued emphasis on building relationships with host communities beyond race day itself.

That outreach will continue later this summer when AJSA brings an invitational watercross exhibition and freestyle demonstration to Chattanooga’s River Games and ChattaWake festival on August 14. Rather than serving as a championship round, the event will showcase personal watercraft racing to a broader audience along the Tennessee River.

The organization has also demonstrated its willingness to listen to competitors. Following racer feedback, AJSA recently reversed an earlier decision to make the Pulaski event a double-points round, returning instead to the standard championship format after determining the midseason change could unfairly impact racers who had planned their seasons around the original schedule.

PNW WaterX Monster Watercraft Series
The PNW WaterX Monster Watercraft Series is already turning its attention to Round 4 after a successful Apple Pie Jamboree in Pateros, Washington. Following two days of racing on July 18-19, series officials thanked racers, crews and fans for another strong turnout, with complete results now available on the PNW WaterX website.

Now the focus shifts north to Deep Bay Park in Oroville, Washington, where Round 4 will take place August 1-2. Registration recently opened, and, as was the case in Pateros, starting positions will once again be determined by the order racers register online, rewarding those who sign up early.

Beyond preparations for the next round, the organization is also highlighting one of the season’s more unique fan-driven traditions by asking followers to vote for the 2026 PNW WaterX “Most Improved Racer.” The eight-rider ballot recognizes competitors who have made significant strides throughout the season, giving fellow racers and fans an opportunity to celebrate progress alongside podium finishes. Nominees include Cassie Kennedy, Taylor Meliza, Rodolfo Mendoza, Hannah Mac, Lincoln Schulyer, Gabby Small. Kyle McLean and Levi Wheeler.

With championship battles beginning to tighten and another weekend of racing just days away, the Pacific Northwest series continues to blend competitive racing with community involvement as it heads into the second half of its 2026 schedule.

Wild West Watercross
Wild West Watercross completed Round 4 of its 2026 season last weekend at Topaz Lake on the California-Nevada border, where racers battled rough water, big air, and another strong turnout as the series continues its Road to Sparks championship campaign.

While organizers celebrated winners across a wide range of classes—including Harley Ritchie in Ski GP, Cesar Olivares in Runabout Open, Cody Mackie in Runabout 1100 Stock, and Ashley Deman in Women’s Sport Spec—the weekend also highlighted one of the series’ biggest success stories: continued growth in racer participation. Wild West noted that 13 riders took the line in Women’s Sport Spec alone, another encouraging sign for one of the fastest-growing divisions in regional watercraft racing.

Throughout the weekend, organizers also took time to recognize the people working behind the scenes, thanking longtime photographer Cliff Cassel for documenting the event while acknowledging the sponsors who continue to support the series. It’s a small gesture, but one that reflects the community-first atmosphere Wild West Watercross has become known for throughout the western racing scene.

With Topaz Lake now in the rearview mirror, attention turns to the season finale at Sparks Marina in Sparks, Nevada, August 21-23, where the remaining championship battles will be decided.

Hydro-Turf Best of the West Series
With the dust finally settling from Round 5 at BlueWater Resort & Casino in Parker, Arizona, the Hydro-Turf Best of the West Series has released its updated championship standings, giving racers their clearest look yet at the title battles heading into the final two weekends of the 2026 season.

Several divisions remain wide open. Cooper Schenyder has established a solid lead in Ski Expert GP, while Brice Chambers continues to pace the Pro Am Ski Lites field ahead of Ryan Poper. Poper, however, has responded by taking over the Pro Am Ski GP standings, where only a handful of points separate the top contenders. Other championship leaders include Cesar Olivares in Runabout GP/Open, Tanner Haig in Ski Mod 1100, Tony Parker in Sport Spec, Andrew Cecere in Ski 2-Stroke Limited, and Tate Cleverly in Runabout 1100 Stock.

The women’s divisions have also begun to separate, with Sophia Benson opening a commanding advantage in Ski Women’s Lites and Shainie Seidenberg leading Ski Women’s Stock 1500. Meanwhile, one of the season’s strongest junior performances continues to come from Travis Billings, who remains out front in Junior Ski 10-12 Lites.

Although competitors battled extreme desert temperatures throughout the Parker weekend, racers praised both the event and its organization. Nixon “Dog Father” Cole described Round 5 as “a scorcher,” crediting the staff for delivering a successful weekend despite the heat while noting his own championship hopes remain firmly on track.

With only two race weekends remaining, every moto now carries championship implications. The series returns September 18-20 at Mission Bay in San Diego before crowning its 2026 champions the following weekend, September 26-27, at Lake Havasu State Park in Arizona.

From world championship opportunities to grassroots regional battles, the 2026 PWC racing season continues to show the depth and diversity of the sport. While every series and organization faces its own challenges, the growing number of events, classes and opportunities available to racers is a positive sign for the future.

As summer racing reaches its peak, WCJ will continue tracking the stories, competitors and organizations helping move personal watercraft racing forward — both on the racecourse and throughout the communities that make these events possible.

After taking a bye week from our racing coverage last week, we’re back—and the international championship picture looks a lot different than it did just a week ago.

The UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship delivered one of its most dramatic weekends of the season at the Grand Prix of Hungary, where hometown heroes thrilled the crowd, championship favorites stumbled, and several title races were thrown wide open heading into September’s European Continental Championship finale in Vichy, France.

While some riders strengthened their grip on championship glory, others suddenly find themselves fighting to keep their title hopes alive with just one European round remaining.

Hungary Delivers Plenty Of Drama

The final day in Győr produced nearly everything race fans could ask for.

Hungarian rider György Kasza electrified the home crowd by snapping Jeremy Perez’s Runabout GP1 winning streak with a dominant Moto 2 victory before repeating the feat in Moto 3. But while Kasza celebrated on home water, the bigger story unfolded behind him as mechanical problems derailed Perez’s weekend and championship contender Samuel Johansson was sidelined after retiring from Moto 2.

Those setbacks completely reshaped the overall Grand Prix standings, allowing Pierre-Francois Savelli to emerge with an unexpected overall victory and tightening what had looked like a relatively comfortable championship race.

Elsewhere, reigning World Champion Estelle Poret endured a frustrating weekend filled with penalties, mechanical troubles and ultimately a DNS in the final moto, dramatically changing the complexion of the Ski Ladies GP1 championship.

Some Riders Continue To Separate Themselves

Not every championship tightened.

Belgium’s Quinten Bossche remains one of the sport’s hottest riders after completing another perfect weekend in Ski GP1. Through two rounds, Bossche has yet to lose a moto and now carries a perfect 150-point score into the championship finale.

Norway’s Benedicte Drange answered Estelle Poret’s dominant opening round with a flawless performance in Hungary, while freestyle standout Roberto Mariani returned to winning form with another spectacular display that reinforced his championship credentials.

Across the remaining classes, riders including Karl Joosep Steinberg, Mattias Siimann, Leo Kete, Jose Vainio and several junior competitors also left Hungary with valuable momentum as the European season approaches its conclusion.

Now The Focus Turns To France

The next stop is Vichy, France, where the final round of the 2026 UIM Aquabike European Continental Championship will take place September 4-6.

Following the dramatic events in Hungary, several premier classes remain very much undecided. Perez still leads Runabout GP1, but Savelli has closed the gap considerably after his breakthrough performance. In Ski Ladies GP1, Drange now leads with Jessica Chavanne still within striking distance after Poret’s difficult weekend. Even in Ski GP1, where Bossche has been nearly untouchable all season, the pressure will be on to complete a perfect championship run.

With European titles on the line across all twelve racing categories, Vichy promises to deliver one of the biggest weekends of the international racing calendar.

Looking Ahead

And speaking of international competition, the countdown is officially underway.

We’re now less than six months away from the 2026 WGP#1 World Cup in Pattaya, Thailand. In a notable scheduling change, the event will be held January 13-17, 2027, rather than its traditional December timeframe, giving racers around the world another major international event to circle on the calendar.

Our Weekly Racing Roundup returns Thursday morning, and as we move into the second half of the racing season we’d love to hear from race promoters, clubs and organizations around the world.

Has your series produced a breakout star? Is there a volunteer, official or racer who deserves recognition? Are you introducing new classes, announcing schedule changes or building toward a championship weekend?

If so, we’d love to help tell those stories. Reach out and let us know what’s happening in your corner of the racing world.

Official UIM-ABP Aquabike press releases from Hungary and the upcoming Vichy event appear in full below.

19 July, 2026
QUINTEN BOSSCHE, BENEDICTE DRANGE AND ROBERTO MARIANI CLAIM GRAND PRIX OF HUNGARY TITLES WITH CLEAN SWEEP OF ALL THEIR RESPECTIVE MOTOS
Pierre-Francois Savelli, Leo Kete, Mattias Siimann, Csongor Jászai, and Karl Joosep Steinberg among other riders to emerge victorious in Gyor
Sunday, July 19: Surprise results in the final Moto of the weekend led to unexpected victories in the Grand Prix of Hungary, alongside continued dominance in other categories that saw the likes of Quinten Bossche, Benedicte Drange, and Roberto Mariani leave Gyor with a clean sweep of all the available points.

European Continental Championship

The final Runabout GP1 Moto completely upended the final Grand Prix of Hungary standings, as Gyorgy Kasza repeated his pacey performance from Moto 2 to take the holeshot and then lead the rest of the race to victory. But attention turned to his main challenger and current European Champion, Jeremy Perez, who had won every Moto in Mira and had looked set to repeat that feat after his win in Gyor’s Moto 1.

But disaster struck for the Frenchman, as he battled issues with his exhaust system that made him slow from the eighth lap. Perez gradually fell behind, unable to reach his usual pace, and finished the race in twelfth place. His closest rival from Moto 1, Samuel Johansson, was unable to overcome the bike issues that forced him to retire in Moto 2, and therefore did not start Moto 3. These shock Moto 3 results have thrown the Championship standings wide open, after Pierre-Francois Savelli was rewarded for his consistent performances with the win in Gyor on 60 points, with Kasza, Perez, and Mattias Siimann coming behind him in that order, each on 56 points.

Quinten Bossche secured yet another win in Ski GP1 to ensure he remains completely unbeaten in this season’s Championship, claiming all of the available 150 points so far. The Belgian’s pace was far too great for any other competitors to come close, so the real battle was for the remaining podium places, with the next three riders crossing the finish line with only 2.08 seconds separating them.

Valentin Dardillat managed to hold onto second place throughout Moto 3 to secure his third second-placed finish in a row in Gyor and 66 points overall. After a tightly contested battle, Kevin Reiterer was able to overtake Jayden Richardson to take third place, with the Australian losing out on his third consecutive third place finish by just 0.31 seconds to come fourth in Moto 3, but still third overall in the Grand Prix of Hungary

Benedicte Drange took the holeshot and from there no one could stop the Norwegian as she stormed to her third Ski Ladies GP1 Moto win in a row to secure the Grand Prix of Hungary victory and the full 75 points on offer this weekend. As in the previous two Motos, Jessica Chavanne once again trailed Drange throughout the race to come second, meaning the current European Champion leaves Gyor with an extra 66 points to her name. Third place went to Jonna Borgstrom.

It was a weekend to forget for current World Champion Estelle Poret, who faced disqualifications, lap penalties, and recurring bike issues, the latter of which forced her to not even start Moto 3. Following her full haul of 75 points in Mira, she leaves Gyor with just 16 points more, giving her a mighty battle in Vichy to regain her place at the top of the Championship standings.

Roberto Mariani delivered another spectacular routine to win in Freestyle. The Italian’s sequence of acrobatic moves secured him 173 points from the judges, and the full 25 points for claiming the top spot. Massimo Accumulo had to settle for second place after an impressive performance of his own that saw him awarded 157 points from the judges.

In Runabout GP2 Justin Patzner flew off the start to claim the holeshot, whilst a slow start from Vaznys Domantas from pole position saw him drop down to fifth place. Patzner was unable to hold onto the lead his flying start gave him, as Linus Lindberg overtook the Hungarian on the third lap to take the lead. Lindberg then had to contend with a challenge to his own lead, as Mattias Siimann crept up behind him to reduce the gap to just 0.68 seconds by the fourth lap.

It took Siimann until the sixth lap to take the lead, and once he did, the Estonian immediately started building up a cushion between himself and the rest of the racing pack. His strong lead management saw him cross the finish line with a gap of 16.90 seconds. The Moto 3 win was enough to secure Siimann the Grand Prix of Hungary win on 67 points, although he still remains behind fellow Estonian Karl Keskula in the season’s overall rankings by just five points.

Daan Hoeke was finally able to secure a Ski GP2 Moto win after he delivered a dominant performance in Moto 3 to win the race by a margin of 20.88 seconds. His Moto win was not enough to claim the top spot in the Grand Prix’s overall standings, however, as Karl Joosep Steinberg managed to secure enough points by finishing fourth in Moto 3 to deliver him the Grand Prix of Hungary victory on 68 points to Hoeke’s 58 points.

Leo Kete took the holeshot and then led for the rest of the race in the final Ski GP3 Moto. Kete comfortably won with a 21.28 second lead to secure all three Ski GP3 Moto wins and assure him of the Grand Prix of Hungary win. The win, alongside his strong performances in Mira, puts the Slovenian well ahead in the overall standings on 147 out of a possible 150 points.

Csongor Jászai took the holeshot in Ski GP4 after a slow start from Dorijan Jakopanec saw him lose his pole position and fall back into third place. Once in the lead, Jászai immediately started to put distance between himself and the rest of the racing pack, extending his lead to almost five seconds after the first lap.

Jászai once again managed his lead well to comfortably finish first, this time with a 9.96 second lead. The Moto 3 win secured Jászai victory in the Grand Prix of Hungary on 72 points, well ahead of Jakopanec who came second on 62 points and third-placed Markus Erlach on 60 points.

Arti Molter was able to maintain his lead in the final Runabout GP4 Moto by the slimmest of margins, as Mattias Siimann pushed for the top spot until the very end, crossing the finish line just 2.48 seconds behind Molter. The Moto 3 win meant Molter did just enough to win the Grand Prix of Hungary by one point, claiming 65 points to Siimann’s 64.

Alizée Vanden-Blecken had another perfect set of results after securing her third Moto win in Gyor by a margin of 8.32 seconds. This puts her as the firm favourite to win the Runabout Ladies GP4 European title going into the final installment in Vichy, France.

In Ski Junior GP4, Marvin Bohuslav completed a hat-trick of Moto wins that saw the Hungarian claim first place in Gyor. However, since Bohuslav did not compete in the Grand Prix of Portugal, Francesco Mariani remains first in the overall Ski Junior GP4 standings on 141 points.

Junior World Championship

After back-to-back wins in Ski Junior GP3.2 for Noam Santos Bíró, Topi Järvenpää claimed an unexpected holeshot in Moto 3 to keep his hopes of winning the Grand Prix of Hungary alive. However, Bíró remained hot on his trail, just 1.47 seconds behind after the second lap. Järvenpää managed his lead well and crossed the finish line 3.50 seconds ahead of Bíró, but the Moto 3 win was not enough to secure him the World Championship title, which instead went to Bíró on 72 points to Järvenpää’s 69 points.

In Ski Junior GP3.3, Milo Beernaut took the holeshot and then had to manage a tight lead for the rest of Moto 3 to claim the win. Beernaut eked out a gap of 1.27 seconds over Leo Kete after the first lap, but Kete would not let the Belgian get away, knowing that a win in Moto 3 would decide the overall winner of the Grand Prix, and so remained around two seconds behind him throughout the race. Beernaut kept his cool and claimed the Moto 3 win, and therefore the title of Ski Junior GP3.3 World Champion after triumphing overall in Gyor.

Jose Vainio completed a hat-trick of wins in Moto 3 to claim the Runabout Junior GP4 World Championship.

19 July, 2026
GYORGY KASZA SECURES SHOCK RUNABOUT GP1 WIN ON HOME SOIL AMIDST A BUSY MORNING OF MOTO 2 RACING IN GYOR, HUNGARY
Bossche, Drange, Mariani, Steinberg, and Vainio secure wins in their respective categories
Sunday, July 19: The final day of racing for the Grand Prix of Hungary started with hardly fought Moto 2 races, some of which have thrown the competition wide open ahead of this afternoon’s defining Moto 3 races.

Jeremy Perez’s winning streak was finally ended in Runabout GP1, after a stunning performance by Gyorgy Kasza saw the Frenchman beaten to the holeshot and unable to match Kasza’s pace throughout Moto 2. Kasza secured a flying start, achieving the race’s best lap of 1:10.77 seconds on his opening lap, and then managing to keep up his rapid pace for the remainder of the race.

Kasza continued to pull away from Perez as the race went on, eventually crossing the finish line with a very respectable 23.26 second lead. Meanwhile, Samuel Johansson’s Championship chance took a significant hit after the Swede retired on the seventh lap due to issues with his bike, meaning he finished Moto 2 pointless and goes into Moto 3 tenth in the Grand Prix of Hungary standings.

Quinten Bossche remained unstoppable in Ski GP1, winning his fifth Moto in a row of the 2026 season after another dominant display in Moto 2. The Belgian once again took the holeshot, and never looked back from there. He continued to extend his lead, crossing the finish line with a 34.46 second lead over second-placed Valentin Dardillat.

After Estelle Poret won all three Motos in Mira, the pressure was on Benedicte Drange to match Poret’s perfect Mira record in Gyor following the Norwegian’s win in Moto 1 to give her the best chance of fighting for the Championship. To this end, Drange was greatly helped by Poret’s continued bike issues that meant she was unable to reach her usual top pace.

Drange took the holeshot and then led from there, managing her lead well to win Moto 2 comfortably. As in Moto 1, Jessica Chavanne was in second place behind Drange, but this time Chavanne lacked the pace to mount a serious challenge for the top spot, crossing the finish line 15.70 seconds behind Drange. Meanwhile, Poret’s problems compounded after she yet again faced a penalty, this time for anticipating the start, which imposed a 25 second penalty that saw her finish in fifth place.

After struggling to challenge for the top spots in Mira, Karl Joosep Steinberg has come into his own in Gyor, securing two Ski GP2 Moto wins from as many races and giving himself a strong chance of fighting for the Championship. He was helped in part by the uncharacteristically poor performance of Robin Sylvester, winner of all three Motos in Mira and second place finisher in Moto 1, who struggled in Moto 2 to get his bike up to pace, finishing the race in eighth place.

Without the challenge of Sylvester, Steinberg’s greatest threat came from Daan Hoeke, who trailed him through the race. Steinberg managed his lead well though, crossing the finish line 5.30 seconds ahead of Hoeke to put him firmly in front of the Grand Prix of Hungary standings going into Moto 3.

Jose Vainio’s unbeaten run continued in Runabout Junior GP4, as the Finn yet again led from start to finish to claim the full 25 points. Nele Lahann provided the greatest challenge, but he never found the pace to worry Vainio, who crossed the finish line with a lead of 7.75 seconds.

Roberto Mariani was back to his winning ways as the current World and European Champion claimed the Freestyle victory in a spectacular performance that delighted local crowds. His sequence of tightly executed backflips and spins was awarded 185 points from the judges, comfortably more than second-placed Massimo Accumulo’s 158 points, putting Mariani back on track to retaining his Championship title following his struggles in Mira.

It’s been a season of shakeups across the PWC racing world — new initiatives, shifting schedules, more question marks than answers some weeks. So there’s something almost grounding about watching one of the sport’s oldest institutions do exactly what it’s always done: show up, right on time, with a plan.

IJSBA has officially begun the rollout for the 2026 Short Block Technologies World Finals, set for October 3-11 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona — and the 45th installment of the sport’s original flagship competition is shaping up to be a big one. Every single World Finals in the event’s history has been held in Lake Havasu City, a streak IJSBA is clearly proud to keep going. This year’s Finals also double as the second stop of the WGP#1 Series, with IJSBA hinting that a few more surprises are still to come as the event draws closer.

For anyone new to the World Finals, it’s the culmination of a full year of competition — riders who’ve spent the season racing at international events all season long to qualify for a shot at the sport’s top title. Expect the latest PWC hitting speeds upwards of 80 mph across stand up and runabout divisions, plus the always-electric freestyle segment, where competitors pull off some of the most gravity-defying tricks in any motorsport. The event also makes room for juniors, women’s divisions, and the vintage class riders who keep the sport’s roots alive.

The staples around the racing are all confirmed and returning too — the PWC Fest, the Poker Run, a full-grounds trade show, a PWC owners convention, and the always-popular Saturday Night Under the Bridge freestyle show.

The headline for this early release, though, is the tentative contingent schedule — and the “contingent” part is doing real work here. Last year’s Finals stretched across seven full days of racing. This year, IJSBA is planning for six, but they’re candid that it could shrink by a day or two depending on how things shake out closer to the event. Between a surge in travel visa support applications (more processed for 2026 already than 2024 and 2025 combined) and the broader strain of a tightening global economy and international travel restrictions, IJSBA is building in flexibility rather than locking in a schedule they might have to break later. They’re also leaving the door open on running Novice, Amateur, and Expert classes as three equally scored motos that close once full, though that’s not the current plan.

What is locked in: opening registration, check-in, the Young Guns program, the Poker Run, and Saturday Night Under the Bridge all have fixed dates that won’t move regardless of how the rest of the week shifts.

Riders and fans with questions on the schedule can reach IJSBA directly at [email protected] or by calling +1-714-751-8695, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific. Full press releases, including the complete day-by-day breakdown, below.

IJSBA is pleased to begin the roll out for the 2026 Short Block Technologies World Finals.  This World Finals is also the second stop of the WGP#1 Series and, shortly, we expect to maybe have a few more surprises that compliment the event.  This is the 45th installment of the original flagship Personal Watercraft competition and gathering.  The PWC Fest, Poker Run, Trade Show, and the Saturday Night Under The Bridge Freestyle Show are all returning.  Today we give a heads up of our tentative contingent schedule.

So, what does it mean to have a contingent schedule?  Last year, we made the days easy by spreading the event over seven full days of racing.  IJSBA has processed more travel visa support applications for 2026 than in 2024 and 2025 combined.  We also face the reality of a tightening global economy and travel restrictions due to international strife.  We are going to plan on a full six days of racing this year but this could get reduced by a day or two depending on what cards are dealt to us as the event gets closer.   We are leaving open the possibility that we may run all Novice, Amateur, and Expert classes as three equally scored motos and close each class once they become full.  That is not the plan for now but it may be a possibility.  The opening registration, check in, and Young Guns program, Poker Run, and Saturday Night Under The Bridge Show are fixed dates and will not change.  Please review the tentative schedule and send any questions or comments you may have to [email protected].

September 29:

Limited availability for forklift use for international competitors with shipping containers.

Friday, October 2:

VIP Check In and Pit Placement

Saturday, October 3:

Check in and registration begins.  Pit placement opens

Technical Inspection Begins

Rider Participation Track Calibration

Sunday, October 4:

IJSBA Young Guns Program

Check in and registration continues

Monday, October 5:

Practice Begins

Tuesday, October 6:

Racing Begins for Novice, Amateur, and additional categories.

Wednesday, October 7:

Racing for Amateur, Expert, and additional categories.  Possible Junior start date.

Thursday, October 8:

Morning Moto 1 of Amateur Endurance

Racing for Expert, Pro Am, and additional categories.  Junior Racing.

Friday, October 9:

PWC Fest begins: Poker Run sign In, Fishing sign in, Poker Run Day 1

Morning Moto 2 of Amateur Endurance

Racing For Expert, Pro Am, Junior, and additional categories.

Amateur Freestyle

Awards for all completed classes

Saturday, October 10:

Poker Run completes and drawing

Morning Moto 1 Pro Am Endurance

Racing for Pro Am, Pro, Vintage, Junior and additional categories.

Pro Freestyle

Saturday Night Under The Bridge

Sunday, October 11:

Morning Moto 1 Pro Am Endurance

Racing for Pro Am, Pro, Vintage, Junior and additional categories.

Pro Freestyle

Awards

2026 World Finals And Watercraft Trade Show October 3-11, Lake Havasu City, Arizona

IJSBA is pleased to release the working logo for the 2026 Short Block Technologies World Finals which takes place this October 3-11 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. This year’s World Finals marks the 45th consecutive year of the event and all installments have been in Lake Havasu City!!! This 2026 World Finals will also be the second stop of the 2026 WGP#1 World Finals. Stay tuned for more details coming more frequently.

The IJSBA World Finals is an on the water competition of numerous divisions of Personal Watercraft. Competitors have spent the year honing their skills at various international events to become eligible to earn the top title of the year. The latest Personal Watercraft will travel at speeds upwards of 80 MPH in premiere competitions for both Stand Up and Sit Down style watercraft. The competition program also includes the popular Freestyle segment where gravity defying tricks are done with some of the greatest athleticism seen in any motorsport. Rounding out the event are divisions for kids, women, and persons who celebrate the nostalgia of the sport by competing on vintage watercraft.

The event features a full grounds trade show for all things Personal Watercraft, a PWC owners convention..

Questions regarding the event should be directed to the International Jet Sports Boating Association by emailing [email protected] or by calling +1-714-751-8695 on Monday through Thursday’s from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Pacific Standard Time.

The 2026 UIM Aquabike European Continental Championship returns to Győr, Hungary this weekend, bringing together many of Europe’s top personal watercraft racers for another pivotal round of championship competition. But as the sport continues to evolve, the event represents far more than racing alone.

More than 120 provisional entries are expected as competitors from across Europe and beyond descend on the Hungarian city. Alongside another full schedule of Ski, Runabout and Freestyle competition, organizers have continued building the event into a celebration of the sport itself, blending world-class racing with activities designed to bring fans, families and the local community together throughout the weekend.

One of the highlights off the race course will be Győr’s Lantern Boat Parade, part of a growing trend in personal watercraft racing to transform race weekends into destination events. From vendor displays and entertainment to community activities surrounding the waterfront, promoters on both sides of the Atlantic are recognizing that attracting spectators means offering more than just competition on the water. It’s a philosophy that’s becoming increasingly common throughout the sport, and one that has helped elevate major Aquabike events into weekend festivals rather than single-day races.

Just as important is the UIM’s continued commitment to developing the next generation of racers. Running alongside the European Championship is the UIM Aquabike Junior World Championship, where young competitors gain valuable international experience while competing against the sport’s best emerging talent. The championship reflects a broader investment by the Union Internationale Motonautique in youth development through its Youth Development Programme, instructor training initiatives, introductory riding courses and expanded junior competition, all designed to create a clear pathway from first-time riders to international championship competition.

As professional riders battle for valuable championship points this weekend, the future of the sport will be sharing the same course. That combination of elite competition, community celebration and youth development has become a defining characteristic of modern UIM Aquabike events—and one of the reasons international personal watercraft racing continues to grow.

See below for the full official press release from the UIM.