Harrison began her racing career in 1987. She raced 550 standups and was backed by Ray and Rhonda Goodwin of R&R Jetskis. She began racing sitdowns in the mid ’90’s around the time when they were just coming on the scene. Harrison rode with Sea-Doo Australia and Great White Racing.
She remained undefeated for ten years in a row. She was the Australian Pro Womens Champion on standups and runabouts with a total of 45 wins. Those wins include five Australian Surf Titles, three trips to the World Finals, and two New Zealand Championships. Harrison is absolutely incredible and her record winning streak will most likely never be broken.
During an old interview, Harrison was asked about her most memorable moments and she said it was winning her first Australian Title in 1989 and the World Finals in ’90 and ’91. She was also asked if she would ever return to racing. She claimed she would happily ride for fun and would not again race. Needless to say, it was a pretty big deal when Harrison came back and claimed 3 more victories!
“I found coming back to racing was exciting,” said Jenny, “like a new challenge for myself to see if I can still compete. I actually found after the first race, I got the hang of it again and it all comes back to you, like it was yesterday. I didn’t expect to win, I was happy just to go out and have some fun and support the other women. It was great to see a lot of old and new faces in the sport and all the women in the class were lovely to meet and talk to and gave me a warm welcome.”
The one really great thing about being in the Southern Hemisphere, is that all of that Christmas shopping can go straight to performance jet ski parts. That’s precisely what Gold Coast, Queensland–located Australian Jetski Parts (AJSP) is thinking when they unleashed a whole bunch of seasonal shopping news recently on their Facebook page.
Of course, AJSP, who has been the sole Australian distributor for RIVA Racing parts for over 20 years, also excitedly announced, “This Christmas season, AJSP would like to remind you we have the option to Afterpay your orders up to $1000. This means you can get those things without breaking the budget! Remember no interest on your purchase and you get your parts ASAP.”
And if delaying payment on a new crop of go-fast parts isn’t enough to get you excited, AJSP is “helping you count down until Christmas with our Free Freight Friday!” While this coupon code is very unlikely to work for us Yanks up in North America, we’re certain our readers sharing the same continent as AJSP is happy to oblige. Just use correct code on the corresponding day to get Free Regular Shipping! For free shipping on 7th December, use “FFF3.” For 14th December, use “FFF2.” And lastly, use “FFF1” to get free shipping on the 21st of December.
So the news that this coming February’s “Hahn 300” (as many of us called it) was going to be the last one came as a complete shock. Citing surmounting costs and “practicality” as the key deterrents, Follmer and DSM Events’ Jim Russell decided that the 15th anniversary of the “world’s longest continual PWC race” would be its last. Suddenly, I began rifling through my budget for early 2019 to see if I could not only attend but maybe even participate.
Follmer began the race back in 2004 after his long-time friend died suddenly during a race the year before. The first few years were far more frantic than what many know the Hahn to be; refueling was done in knee-to-ankle deep water, often by the racer and co-pilot themselves; no extravagant quick fuel systems or pit crews had even been imagined. Only once the race was moved to the Crazy Horse Resort further down the island did the maxim “the race is won or lost in the pits” coined.
Racers from across the globe came to compete. Australian teams flew in early, purchased brand-new machines from Southern California dealerships, and towed their skis to Lake Havasu with rented trucks. French teams shipped in finely-tuned Kawasakis, spending nearly a week in the desert down adjusting fuel mixtures and boost pressures to correct for barometric pressures. Dyed-in-the-wool US teams practiced pits stops again and again in empty parking lots.
These stories, like so many others, will remain as the race’s unique history. I personally competed twice, only finishing once. The cost to compete – to truly compete – is substantial, and that I fear was the race’s Achilles’ Heel. Of course, there are other factors: Follmer had retired from racing Yamaha WaveRunners back in 2011; Mark’s widow, Sandy had passed away from cancer in June of 2016; Follmer’s long-time sponsor and partner, R&D Performance, closed earlier this year; and so on.
So come February, we lose an event that has been unique to this sport for 15 years. While I am sorry that I cannot be there in person to hear Jim’s shotgun ring one last time, I know what it’s like to lose track of how many laps I’ve completed, to reek of gasoline for hours afterwards; to feel the numbness in my hands for days later; and to hear Mike say as I pulled up the beach for the last time, “Great job, Chief!”
Here’s the Facebook post published yesterday afternoon, where Mike Follmer wrote, The Hot Products Mark Hahn Havasu 300 will be presented for the 15th and final time in 2019!
[An] agreement was reached today between Mike Follmer of Follmer Specialties and Jim Russell of DSM Events LLC to confirm the production of this historic race for Saturday, February 23, 2019.
The entry deadline previously announced is now removed. The ever escalating costs to produce this, the world’s longest endurance race for personal watercraft, had created some questions as to the practicality of continuing with this most challenging race, but Follmer and Russell have agreed to proceed as originally planned for the 2019 competition. However, please note it will be the last one!
Thanks to the long term sponsorship by Yamaha, Hot Products and the IJSBA, we will be able to again offer this unique race to the toughest endurance racers in the world. Three hundred miles of non-stop, guns-on-the-table racing for the 15th and final time.
If you have ever wanted to accept the challenge and join the legends of the Mark Hahn 300 now is the time to get your entry in to as there will be no more. As of today there are only 45 slots still available in the starting line on the beach when the shot gun fires to signal the start of this internationally famous race for the last time.
Whether professional factory team or family fun team this is truly a team competition with rider changes and refueling all on real race time…just like a NASCAR race! As always the race will be followed by the world renown dinner and awards presentation with those super trophies by Follmer Enterprises. Enter now to reserve your spot. For entry and information go to www.MarkHahn300.com. But do it now, don’t miss being part of PWC history.
Towing all of your toys to the water can be an ordeal without the right equipment. We’ve seen folks struggle to launch skis from the backs of FWD Honda Civics, RWD Ford Mustangs, and even “bro-dozer” over-lifted, and under-tired diesel-powered pickups. And that’s not even considering the woeful state of some folks’ trailers! That’s where Port Clinton, Ohio-based Loadmaster Trailer comes into action!
According to Loadmaster, “Whether you require a two-place PWC trailer, a six-place PWC trailer or a trailer that can carry all of your PWCs and another boat, Loadmaster will examine your cargo and all manufacturers’ requirements in order to construct the specific frame and bunking configurations required to transport your crafts for any length of distance.”
And just to demonstrate who serious Loadmaster is at helping you have it all, they just revealed this insane, two-place PWC and 25-foot pontoon trailer! Coming in at nearly 40-feet, we joked that most states would require a commercial license just to haul this bad boy around!
So yeah, you might not need something this heavy duty to haul all of your watercraft to the shore, but Loadmaster takes building a trailer that can do it – and do it right – seriously. Loadmaster continues, “Let us combine your boats on one trailer to save you time, money and headache! We can even design a flatbed platform in the front to tie down a 4-wheel, snow mobile or any other items you want to travel with you!”
It’s hard to argue with the current winning streak of the Yamaha GP1800. Whether its around the closed course, or streaking across the open seas of endurance racing, the light and nimble GP seems to have the racing world by the throat. Add to it a veritable treasure trove of available performance parts from nearly every aftermarket manufacturer, and an aspiring racer will have the easiest path to follow to a top tier performance watercraft.
Well, almost. Longtime custom hull shaper and manufacturer, Wamilton Teixeira of Wamilton’s Customs is finishing up the final details on what could be the “nuclear option” for those racing Open and GP classes. Having perfected the art of shaping and molding carbon fiber, Wammer has created a new carbon hull for the Yamaha GP1800 that has, by most accounts, surpassed what the factory NanoXcel2 hull could only dream of.
Back in late October, P1 AquaX World Champion Eric Francis took Wammer’s carbon GP out for a spin on Teixeira’s private pond (conveniently located behind his shop). Even with a stock engine, GPS speeds were recorded at 81mph, according to Wammer. (You can watch Francis’ test ride by clicking HERE.)
Shortly thereafter, Pro Watercross and fellow P1 AquaX racer Justin Taylor was invited to take the carbon fiber Yamaha out on the pond, and experienced much of the same, stating: “[I’m] finally going through my GoPro footage from a few weeks ago. I personally think GP1800s handle like crap having raced nothing but RXPXs but I gotta say this all custom carbon GP built by Wamilton’s is probably the best handling boat I’ve ever ridden. [I] can’t wait to see it with some serious horsepower added.”
What is happening these days? Folks are putting up Christmas decorations even before Thanksgiving comes around. We can maybe be OK with putting up lights and wreaths on Black Friday while the rest of the family is out brawling for a smokin’ deal on a flat screen TV, but the week before Thanksgiving? C’mon folks. Enough is enough. And since there’s still plenty of time left before the 25th for shopping, we’ve listed ten of our favorite products that we’ve seen and/or reviewed this year.
And yeah, we get it; not everything is the “perfect fit” for everybody; and that’s OK. We think a lot of these items will be exactly what the avid jet skier in your life – or you yourself – will love. And we suppose that’s the joy of this sport. So many different kinds of people can enjoy it in their own way. And while we’re certainly considering both price and usefulness, the real value that we wanted to focus on was value and innovation. So again, as you’re eking out the last minutes of the shopping season for the jet ski lover in your life, see if any of these would make a great gift for the holiday season!
Bopenski Watersports Kickback PWC Chair – 174.95
Inexplicably, what should be the single-most no-duh product on the market – Bopenski Watersports’ Kickback PWC Chair – seems to be the most hotly contested. Yes, the as-listed price of $219 on Bopenski’s own website makes a few folks’ toes curl, but now with special pricing through RIVA Racing and Watercraft Superstore, you can hack that price by nearly $45! Yup, you’ve read that right.
Easily the most-overbuilt folding chair the world has ever seen is now available through two of the largest aftermarket product vendors in the industry! And yes, it really is that good. Made from anodized and powder coated aluminum and stainless steel, the frame is as rugged as you can imagine, with the perforated mesh seat being double layered and heavy stitched to last a long, long time. For you outdoorsy types, this folding chair is 100-percent on par with the nicest camping and collapsible hunting chairs that you see at Cabella’s or Bass Pro Shops for double the price of the Kickback.
RIVA Sea-Doo 2018 RXT-X 300 Pro-Series Sponsons – $499.95
The new 2018 Sea-Doo RXT-X 300 beckoned performance enthusiasts like a moth to a flame, drawing guys with itchy throttle fingers in droves to grab the new supercharged powerhouse. The unusual ST3-hull features a very unusual mix of flat surfaces running from sharply-angled chines that blend into large, flat-bottomed shelves flanking the craft. While it gives the new runabout its exemplary stability, it accounts for its tendency to turn flat, and lose predictable tracking and handling in rough seas.
To directly counter this, The Watercraft Journal studiously researched, tested and evaluated RIVA Racing’s Pro-Series Sponsons for the 2018 Sea-Doo RXT-X 300 as not only being merely beneficial but transformative. Frankly put, if you’re doing anything more than wave jumping, your new Sea-Doo RXT-X 300 needs these. Placing the trim attitude forward on the ST3’s nose, while keeping a long enough blade in back to keep the tail from breaking loose in the corners (we suggest the #4 position), the RIVA Pro-Series Sponsons literally transform the overall handling and dramatically increases our total enjoyment of this machine. Seriously, if you’ve got a 2018 RXT-X 300, buy these. Do it now.
Hydro-Turf Christmas Tree – $19.50
OK, this is more of a Christmas decoration that would be an actual gift – unless of course, you were trying to help a loved one spruce up their holiday cheer. Although we failed to find the Hydro-Turf Christmas Tree listed anywhere on Hydro-Turf’s proper website, we did spot a few trees still available over at N&C Jet Ski Ltd.
The Wallasey shop (just north of New Brighton) have a few of the first run of Hydro-Turf Christmas trees still in stock – but they’re going quick! And yes, the trees come with multicolored tabs acting as ornaments and even a Christmas star topper! The Hydro-Turf Christmas tree is a fun addition to your shop, showroom or even home. Priced at £14.95 (about $19.50 USD), it’s a fun bit of holiday decoration you’ll come to love.
TLK Windproof Cycling Face Mask – $19.99
While many of you won’t dare brave the chilly weather and have dutifully packed your PWC in for a long winter’s nap, we at The Watercraft Journal and many, many more never say die (because Goonies never say die!). And that means you gotta get properly equipped to ride, or you won’t survive for very long.
It was by mere happenstance that we stumbled across the TLK Windproof Cycling Face Mask. At the time we ordered and reviewed it, the TLK was priced a bit over $25. Today, it’s under $20 – a killer price considering how well-made it is.
And what exactly makes it so great? Glad you asked!We reviewed the TLK Face Mask earlier in the year during a particularly nasty cold snap; it dutifully protected our ears, nose and mouth from wind chill, is cut long so you can tuck it into your collar, and the eyelit is comfortably cut small enough to fit inside of a pair of goggles. No wind, no water, no problem.
WindRider Polarized Floating Sunglasses – $44.95
There are certainly quite a few sunglasses manufacturers offering floating options. Unfortunately, designers are content with simply gluing on a few patches of lighter-than-water foam to the frame and call it a day. While yes, they do float, these are often uncomfortable, bulky and far less than attractive. That’s why we like what WindRider has done with its Polarized Floating Sunglasses. These smooth, angular frames wrap around your eyeline with nary a patch of Hydro-Turf in sight. Rather, the foam is smartly integrated into the frame’s hydroformed, injection-molded sides – leaving only a good looking pair of sunglasses.
Equally, the WindRiders also are smartly shaped to not only fit your face comfortably, but in a way to keep them from flying off while at speed. Many folks can’t stand the incessant flapping of a lanyard against their neck, so too often glasses are lost at the bottom of the lake or ocean. WindRider designed their glasses with wind relief cutouts, allowing air to diffuse, eliminating lift and reducing the threat of being whipped off. It’s been a really long time since we’ve found a pair of sunglasses that do everything right, and the WindRiders are exactly that. While the WindRiders still don’t appear on WindRider’s website, they are listed on eBay and Amazon.
Slippery Wetsuits’ Liquid Race Boot – $79.95
Many casual riders will brush off the idea of wearing a full lace-up boot, particularly when the skies are clear and the sun is warm. But we find even on low-key cruises, added traction and superior protection is never out of style, and that’s where a good pair of riding boots come in real handy. While we’ve found more gimmicky boots offering more frills and snazzier options, Slippery Wetsuits’ Liquid Race Boot has never, ever let us down.
Now on our second pair in 13 years, our first pair of Liquid Race Boots were just getting a little stiff after too many years of use. Thankfully, the updates and improvements made to the boot were made to the toe and heel, reinforcing them with thick, textured panels giving added traction and protection to an already stout product. Riders and racers who use them love the Liquid Race Boot from Slippery, and we’re certain you will too.
Sea-Doo LinQ Accessories & Brackets – Various
Mainly overshadowed by the all-new Fish Pro and stunning red, gold and stealth-black RXT-X 300, one of the biggest additions for the 2019 Sea-Doo lineup was the inclusion of BRP’s universal LinQ accessory system on all runabouts – not just the ST3-based machines, but the GTIs, and even the Sparks!
That, and Sea-Doo added another two items to its already impressive catalog of LinQ accessories: the LinQ cooler, the LinQ fuel caddy, LinQ bag, and now two more storage bags (a rigid storage bag, and a soft-sided dry bag). Moreover, the new LinQ brackets can be installed on the entirety of Sea-Doo’s lineup (and other brands’ PWC if you’ve got the inclination), so these items can go on anything anywhere you choose to go!
Finish Renu’s Renu Glaze 2.0 – $20 (32oz.)
At first glance, including a bottle of restoration polish might seem a little misplaced. But knowing that Finish Renu is the parent company of Jet Renu, specifically targeted for professional detailers and service departments, including the Renu Glaze 2.0 starts to make more sense.
The medium synthetic compound is formulated to effectively remove 2500-to-3000 grit scratches and other surface imperfections such as swirl marks and hazing, which for many who have older or heavier-used watercraft, happens to be a life-saver.
In our experience, we found using a Porter Cable orbital buffing machine with an orange light cutting foam pad (working the surface in a cross-section pattern a small section at a time, and removing the haze using a micro fiber towel from each section before moving on to the next) works wonders. See how well we did in this before-and-after test here.
SBT Racing Hydro Shoe – $21.95
Coming in behind our suggested Liquid Race Boot from Slippery is SBT Racing’s Hydro Shoe. These lightweight one-step slippers are a great item to keep more or less permanently in the storage bin of your PWC. Every now and again, we find ourselves ill-equipped for a rocky shore or pebbled beach wishing for some footwear superior to our flipflops – and that’s where SBT’s Hydro Shoes come in. We’ve had a couple of pairs over the years and find ourselves wearing more often than we’d expect. They’re a handy bit of footwear that quickly dries in the sun, and rarely fails – although they do tend to discolor if left out in the elements or in a poorly ventilated area for too long. The soles are moderately cushioned and the added grip is always welcome, and the neoprene neck breathes well, so that you’re foot isn’t a waterlogged prune when you slip them off. And for a little over $20 bucks, how can you say no?
RIVA Racing Limited-Edition 2018 Yamaha GP1800R –$25,995
OK, to be fair, you probably can’t get one of these hot mamas. No, not because coughing up a stiff $26k for the PWC-equivalent of a fully operational Death Star is out of your price range (no way, Jose! RIVA Motorsports can help you finance that bad boy). Nope! It’s because RIVA only cranks out 25 of these hand-assembled machines. That’s right! RIVA’s team of professional wrenches tune each specifically-numbered machine, guaranteeing a blistering 86mph (at 8,600rpm) from a true 350-flywheel horsepower. And yes, we know first hand because we rode the snot out of one.
Riding in poor visibility can quickly drive you crazy. Low light, dense rain or heaven-forbid, dense fog, can limit the vision of even the most eagle-eyed rider. Add to that crippling cold temperatures (in this case, riders were experiencing just over 40-degree air temperatures with near-freezing water temperatures below them); and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. Well, maybe for most folks…
The Norse have a long, storied history of seafaring and amazingly never blink twice when Mother Nature throws a curveball or two their way. Norway is a tough terrain of fjords, cliff walls and inhospitable weather, yet somehow the steely Norsemen have hewed a nation from its rocky shores and inky black waters. Today, intricate dams, canals and flotilla have tamed the land and sea, and many chose to weather the waters for excitement – like Stavanger Jet Ski Club.
The group of nearly a dozen riders left for a late autumn ride that would take them about 60 miles from Sandnes to Lysefjord. Facing bone chilling temperatures and almost madness-inducing fog, the group fared remarkably well. Graciously, modern cold weather riding gear and geocentric navigation helped the group keep their body temperatures up and direction true, resulting in a purely enjoyable jaunt. You’ll like it too – watch below!
As Benjamin Franklin once said, “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” All major companies and institutes know this very well because ensuring that your resources or employees have the best training is the best way to ensure success of the company.
Kawasaki is clearly taking this to heart with their recent announcement on the support of the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI). Their pledged education effort includes a donation of more than 30 products including Jet Ski personal watercrafts.
The donated products have an equivalent retail value of over $300,000 which will be a huge benefit to training and supplying the industry with qualified and industry-leading technicians. These technicians are crucial to maintaining all of these products and to ensure that we can still “Let The Good Times Roll” as Kawasaki would say.
You can check out the full press release below: Foothill Ranch, Calif. – Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., announces its support of Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) education efforts that will include a donation of 36 Kawasaki products, including motorcycles, ATVs, side x sides, and personal watercraft. The equivalent retail value reaches a total of more than $300,000 and utilizes Kawasaki’s wide-range lineup with Ninja®, Z family, Versys®, Vulcan®, KX™, and KLX® motorcycles, Brute Force® ATVs, Mule™ side-by-sides, and Jet Ski® personal watercraft models.
“The MMI is a fundamental part of our industry,” said Bill Jenkins, Senior VP Sales and Operations. “The industry-leading technical training educates and guides future professionals of our industry and feeds our dealers with qualified technicians.”
Kawasaki’s efforts are designed to support MMI’s technical training programs that prepare its graduates for future technician positions and careers at Kawasaki dealerships across the nation. After completing MMI’s core program, students take elective courses that help to familiarize them with specific product lines and maintenance procedures, ensuring professional-level service.
“For nearly three decades, Kawasaki has trusted MMI to train the skilled technicians who maintain and service their products across the nation,” said Roger Speer, Campus President, MMI Phoenix and Orlando. “This latest contribution of vehicles gives our students the opportunity to train on the very latest Kawasaki products, so they graduate from MMI ready to hit the ground running.”
“We’re thrilled to give the MMI and future technicians the best education on Kawasaki models,” said Patrick Kelly, Director Customer and Technical Support. “These 36 Kawasaki models will add to the curriculum and continue the successful K-Tech Specialist Program.”
Throughout the years, MMI’s technical training programs have paved the path for Kawasaki dealership technicians as well as several of Kawasaki’s amateur and factory racing support team technicians.
A couple months ago, we announced the 2019 Mark Hahn Memorial Havasu 300 endurance race. With the holiday season in full swing, we know that most of you have a lot of other things on your mind and we didn’t want you to forget those entry forms.
Entries are being accepted until January 15, 2019 so be sure to get them in soon if you plan on competing. You can pick up those forms at markhahn300.com. It’s a downloadable PDF that you’ll need to print and fill out, and mail in.
The 2019 Hot Products Mark Hahn 300 is presented by Yamaha and is the world’s longest PWC endurance race covering a total of 300 miles. It is the ultimate test of not only the rider and his or her machine, but is also a team competition utilizing the skills of your pit crew and teammates.
The price has jumped in recent years to $400 per team with dinner tickets going for $25 each, and a late entry fee of $75 so don’t delay! For more details of this event you can check out our earlier recap here or as always head over to markhahn300.com for all up-to-date information.
The clothing line you have patiently waited to represent is finally here. Greenhulk PWC Performance has come through with its signature line! Snapback hats and t-shirts are now available at discounted prices just in time for Christmas. Grab a flashy green and black adjustable Greenhulk Trucker Snapback hat for $19.95. That’s 20% off the regular price of $24.95. Show off where you purchase parts with the flashy bold Greenhulk logo emblazoned on the front left side of the hat. The flat visor is easily adjustable for customizing the shape.
Grab a matching Greenhulk T-shirt in heather grey with the company logo in green. This will pull your casual look together while supporting your performance parts source. The shirt is marked down from $24.95 to $19.95. Add $2 if you’re an double X sized guy. The shirt is 46% polyester, 27% cotton, and 27% Rayon. It’s a preshrunk jersey knit, so no worries about pulling a smaller shirt out of the dryer. The screen-print is super soft, thin, and breathable.
Head over the Greenhulk PWC Performance and grab yourself a hat and shirt while picking up some extras for stocking stuffers. More Greenhulk goodies are on the way. Long sleeve front zip shirts and a couple of different styled hats are in the works. Three buttoned short sleeve collared polo shirts with cool racing stripes down the sleeves are on the way as well. The shirts have a nice looking GH logo on the left side. Grab a preview here on PWC Performance store owner, Jerry Gaddis’ Facebook page.
A couple months ago, we announced the 
