The Sea-Doo Spark has been a hot little personal watercraft since it first came out about five years ago now. With its lightweight construction and revolutionary design, it has been one of the highest selling watercraft of all time.
It’s extremely low price and nimble agility make it an easy choice for an entry-level racing watercraft and now the Powerboat Nationals are making it even easier to get into racing with the announcement of their new series dedicated to the Spark.
That’s right for 2019 the Sea-Doo Spark will have its very own exclusive series at some select Hydro-Cross events. Technical specifications will be announced at a later date however this new series will mean that nearly anybody who is interested in one of these Rec-Lite watercraft can participate in organized racing.
For more details, you can check out the press-release below and stay tuned for further information.
(Columbus, OH) Powerboat Nationals announced today that it will be adding a new series to its racing line up that features a high performance, budget-friendly personal watercraft.
Powerboat Nationals will be racing the Sea-Doo Spark in its own exclusive series at select Hydro-Cross events in 2019.
The Spark is an entry-level personal watercraft (PWC) that can be purchased at Sea Doo dealers across America. The Sparks racing in this new series will be the same watercraft you see on the showroom floor.
Final Spark Series technical specifications are under review and will be announced later.
“We wanted to create and promote a series that was affordable, competitive, and, most importantly, fun,” said Powerboat Nationals’ Managing Director Dan Bunting. “The Spark is a fast, exciting boat that will get people out of their seats and into our sport without breaking their budget.”
Bunting continued, “We also want to rebuild the ‘What wins on Sunday sells on Monday’ aspect of racing that has been lost in other types of motorsports. We fully intend to work with Sea-Doo/BRP and local dealers to grow Spark sales, the Spark series, and our Hydro-Cross racing in general.”
Highlights of the Hydro-Cross Spark series will be included in Powerboat Nationals’ television coverage that will be seen nationally and regionally on nine television networks including MAVTV.
Founded in 2014, Powerboat Nationals is a national touring series that provides world-class tunnel hull powerboat and jet ski/PWC racing on rivers and lakes across North America. For more information, please visit www.powerboatnationals.com.
The jet ski fishing community has been gaining a rather large following recently and continues to do so with the help of companies introducing new products and fishing excursions. With personal watercrafts offered at lower prices than fishing boats and consume much less fuel, it provides a great way to fish more often.
Andrew Hill is a Sea-Doo Fish Pro ambassador and is offering some awesome opportunities for the public. This Tuesday, December 18, 2018, Andrew will be speaking about the new Sea-Doo Fish Pro in Hamilton, New Zealand. This is a great opportunity to learn about the new Fish Pro and hear about everything it has to offer. A great way to experience the Fish Pro would be to sign up for their upcoming February social trip being held February 21st-24th.
Spots are filling up quick as there are currently only 8 spots remaining. You do not need to be in attendance this Tuesday to sign up. By clicking on Adventure Fishing website you can sign up from there. A $200 deposit per person is required and a credit card can be used to pay.
In preparation for this trip, you may find that some of your fishing gear needs to be replaced or upgraded. With the holiday season in full force, Adventure Fishing is offering some huge discounts on their online store. From plastic baits and lures to personal safety, they have you covered. An important thing to make sure you have in your gear is a Jetskifishing mask. They are lightweight, comfortable and shields you from the stinging saltwater.
The location for this year’s fishing trip is in Doubtless Bay, Far North. Last year provided many of the anglers with 70cm plus sized fish so it begs the questions why you have not already signed up! Along with catching big fish, you will be with a group of passionate personal watercraft anglers. This could be a great gift for a special someone of even for you!
New Zealand’s Ngaruawahia Fire Brigade is the first fire squadron in the country to receive a Jetski. A fundraiser enabled the brigade to purchase the ski. The team raised $16,995 through sponsorships from local businesses, such as the Ngaruawahia Golf Club and the Horotiu based Kawasaki dealership, Nautique, donated $10,000.
“Just being up the road as well we wanted to help out in the local community,”Elliot McNutt of Nautique said.
The money netted the brigade a 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, Kawasaki STX 15F Jet Ski with a 160hp engine. The department realized a jet ski was badly needed after pulling off a daring rescue of a little girl caught in the turbulent waters of the Waikato River. She was swept downstream and managed to grab a piling while volunteer firefighter Nathan Spitzer was stripping down so he could swim out and make the rescue. She was hypothermic by the time he reached her. Fortunately, she survived the close call.
The PWC is equipped with four rescue vests and throw bags and is specific to swift water rescue. A spotlight and beacon will soon be added. Fire Chief Karl Lapwood says the craft will enable crew members to quickly reach people in distress without risking the lives of firefighters attempting to swim out to save them.
The Jet Ski has already served its purpose. It was used in a couple of river rescues within three weeks. It hasn’t been easy getting the ski approved for use. Lapwood worked with Fire and Emergency NZ during the course of last year to gain approval. He put health and safety plans and SOP’s together so he could get a board of regional managers’ stamp of approval for the use of a Jet Ski.
Under the Fire and Emergency Act 2017, volunteer brigades are allowed to perform work outside of the scope of firefighting. The firefighters must undergo swiftwater training before using the Jet Ski for rescue. Ten firefighters have passed the swift course held at Manukau waterpark making them eligble for water rescue. The Jet Ski is a welcome addition to the brigade and according to Lapwood it will get a lot of time on the water.
“It will be used for any water rescues – cars in the river, swimmers in trouble, animals in the river, search and rescue. The plan is to complement the Huntly rescue boat with our jet ski and do a combined response across the Waikato”, according to Lapwood.
The next order of business is to have the ski completely outfitted for rescue including the purchase of a rescue sled.
IJSBA recently announced that JetRacer, the IJSBA Endurance World Championship, will return in 2019. The grueling two round event begins at the brand new stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia from March 27-31. The second round will be held November 14-17, in Agadir, Morocco. Competitors from all over the world enter the realm of this prestigious and extremely challenging event. It is one of the toughest events to finish due to the extreme conditions riders must face.
It takes a special kind of jet ski pilot who can endure the long distances and unusually harsh conditions that this race will throw at them. The competition demands everything you have and a rider must be physically fit and have the mental fortitude to press on and make it to the finish during one of the toughest endurance races on the circuit. It is a racers’ dream to win the coveted title as Endurance Wold Champion. It would be a dream just to finish the race.
Last year’s race was won by the Malaysian team of Jazeman Jaafar, Nabil Jeffri ,and Weiron Tan. They made history for Malaysian motorsports by chalking their first ever win at a World Endurance Championship (WEC) race. Will they keep the title? New classes have been added this year. They have not yet been announced. More news will soon be available. Until then, take a look at the awesome promotional clip provided by Jetsinworld, the official partner for the Jetracer Championships. The video will get you pumped!
Jetracer is organized by Peter DeSmet, the head of IJSBA Europe.
Got snow? Check out the scene in Canada. There is plenty of snow up there and one guy took advantage of it and converted his yellow 1997 Sea-Doo XP into a snowmobile. He attached sled blades to the front end for easy maneuvering through the powder. Tracks were bolted to the rear end for traction and motoring the machine, which enabled the rider to sit and ride the snowpack with ease. Long Island, New York’s, @strongislandjetskis Instagram account was tagged in the photo of the converted Sea-Doo and some of the comments are funny and others thought the Sea-Doo on the snow was really cool.
The Sea-Doo conversion works and it’s pretty danged innovative. The machine sits proudly with other snowmobiles in the picture. It doesn’t even look too out of place. The sled looks like it would be fun to ride on the snow covered area. We bet it could even boost. This is one way to enjoy “Your Sea-Doo Life” year ’round. While people living in warmer climates are still riding their Sea-Doos on water, other people are being ingenious and creating conversions in order to continue to enjoy the ride on the cold white stuff that covers the ground. Granted, this isn’t the first PWC converted for use in the snow, nevertheless, we never get tired of seeing innovative people and their transformed machines. Whatever it takes to have some fun on your Sea-Doo, go for it! We certainly dig it and we’re stoked to see a 1997 Sea-Doo XP parked on the powder!
The previous success of the Racine Pro Watercross event has proven itself both economically for locals and as one of America’s premier lakeshore beaches. The event is so popular that Racine Wisconsin has just signed a contract to host this Pro Watercross event for the next three years.
With clear blue water and a golden-sand beach, this Lake Michigan location is one of the most popular events on this tour and for good reason. With beautiful scenery, plentiful events and amenities, as well as the local area’s great food and offerings, it’s easy to see why this location is such a popular event.
For more information, you can read the Pro Watercross press release below. Racine Wisconsin, one of the most popular race venues on the 2018 Pro Watercross National Tour, has signed a three-year contract with Pro Watercross. “We are very excited about this ongoing partnership with Real Racine, and we are looking forward to being back at North Beach race site in July,” stated CIO Jennifer Handler.
One of the select lakeshore beaches in the United States to be certified a Blue Wave Clean Beach, and selected by USA Today as one of America’s greatest beaches, Racine’s North Beach is tucked in between Milwaukee and Chicago on the shore of Lake Michigan, and provides an optimal configuration for the second-most attended race of the tour – falling only behind Georgia’s Lake Hartwell Wet & Wild weekend.
Crystal-clear, bright blue waters, a sizeable parking and dry pit area adjacent to the wide, golden-sand beach, and with Lake Michigan’s unpredictable surf could give riders a flat water or surf race… On-site amenities such as nearby restrooms, a children’s playground, and a concession stand with live music, makes Racine’s North Beach a top race site, and a favorite destination for race families, fans and PWC enthusiasts alike.
“Racine, Wisconsin offers lots to do within the city and surrounding area, great hotels and restaurants and not to mention the beer and brats and cheese curds. Racine is a truly great destination, and the city goes above and beyond to welcome the tour and our racers. Our relationship with city officials is a key component to the success of the weekend event,” Handler said. “There is a large PWC enthusiasts base in the region, and the local convention and visitor’s bureau, Real Racine, does a great job of helping to promote the event.”
Cari Greving, Events Manager with Real Racine, is equally as enthusiastic about the 2019 return of the Pro Watercross Tour, and is optimistic about the continued success of the partnership and the event in the upcoming three years.
“I am ecstatic that Pro Watercross and Real Racine are making it official and partnering for three years! The success of the event in 2018 really made me excited for what we can do to grow this event every year. I’m even more thrilled that Pro Watercross and it’s racing teams enjoyed their time here and saw the opportunity for what’s to come,” Greving said soon after the contract was signed.
Greving said the 2018 Pro Watercross brought $300,000 in economic benefit to the city over the two-day event, and accounted for roughly 200 room nights at the city’s hotels. Between the Pro Watercross races, and the EVP Volleyball tournament, held during the same weekend as the Pro Watercross race, there were “at least 3,000 to 3,500 people on North Beach,” Greving said.
“All the feedback was outstanding. The racers and visitors really embraced Racine and ate at all our restaurants, roamed around the downtown and frequented many local bars for all the best of Wisconsin summertime,” she said. “The business owners were pleased with the extra business and all the residents I spoke to really thought it was fun to see something so exciting, and fast, at the beach.”
Not content to maintain the status quo, Greving said she is already working on improvements that will be implemented throughout the three-year partnership between Racine and Pro Watercross.
“In the next years, I’m hoping to expand the weekend to more of a beach festival with vendors and more spectators at the beach. Maybe even some education on jet ski racing for the public,” Greving explained. “This event is the perfect fit for Racine County, because it showcases our North Beach, a truly beautiful venue, while exposing our residents to an awesome sport. It also allows Pro Watercross to come to the Midwest (the ONLY tour stop in the Midwest all year) and provides it’s racers with some new, fresh water racing!”
For more information about Racine and North Beach, visit www.realracine.com, and keep up with all the Pro Watercross news at www.ProWatercross.com, facebook.com/prowatercross, instagram.com/prowatercross and twitter.com/ProWatercross.
Whoa! Have you heard the news? Jet Jam Racing is making huge waves in 2019. They will not only return back to one of jet ski racing’s most iconic locations – the Nautical Inn in Lake Havasu City, AZ – but they’re also bringing the tour to two stops in Florida! Oh yeah, and they’re now under their own sanctioning body, the AWSA (American Water Sports Association). If you wanna race, you’re going to have to join. So check it out!
Here’s the official release provided by Nicole Pettit: We would like to introduce the 2019 Jet Jam Racing schedule. Jet Jam is excited to announce that we will be hosting our first race at the world famous Nautical Inn in Lake Havasu City, AZ. There has not been racing at this location in 20 years.
We will also be hosting a two part race series in Florida this year called the AWSA Surf Cup. All of this of course is brought to you by our awesome title sponsor Hydro-Turf and our presenting sponsor Bud Light.
For those of you haven’t heard yet, Jet Jam will be running under the AWSA – American Water Sports Association for 2019. You will be required to purchase a membership from them that will be good for the entire season. They also offer a two year option with a discount.
You can find that information on their website at www.awsa.racing and there is also a link on our website at www.jetjam.racing. Please note that this is a transition year with the new rules, so please familiarize yourself with them. If you have any questions please ask as we are here to help.
We look forward to an amazing 2019 race season and we will see you all on the line!
Greenhulk PWC Performance Store is offering a 10% discount on performance products. Use the discount code; greenhulk when you’ve finished shopping and are ready to checkout. The 10% off is good for most RIVA products, including complete performance packages. The reduced price can also be used for all WORX Racing parts and Solas impellers. This is their biggest blowout of the year. Get on it!
The list of parts above from Greenhulk PWC Performance is only a small sampling of the various items available for purchase at the 10% discount. Loads of parts including are available at extraordinary prices. Score some deals while they last.
Get your machine ready for spring with upgrades and shiny new parts that will crank up the speed or just replace older worn out equipment. Greenhulk has a great selection to meet the needs of competitive riders. Browse at your leisure with no pushy sales people.
As always, if you have any questions contact Greenhulk’s helpful team at [email protected]. Those guys are available 365 days a year. You can also hit up the Greenhulk forum for answers and ideas.
Pro Watercross is proud to roll out their event schedule for the 2019 season and things are looking pretty good. Next year’s tour will feature seven different event stops from Florida up to New York.
This new tour is said to bring a different aspect to the Pro Watercross lineup of events with an expected record level of attendees to each event. The tour is expected to draw anywhere between 300 and 500 people to each of the events.
From the Rec-Ride through the Florida Keys to WaveDaze in Virginia Beach, all the way up to Jet Fest in New York, these events are not just gathering points for recreational or competitive watercraft activities, but many of the events donate all proceeds to local charities and they have well organized activities that the whole family can participate in.
For all of the details, take a look at the extended press release: Pro Watercross is excited to introduce a recreational tour designed for personal watercraft (PWC) enthusiasts that will feature seven events taking place throughout the 2019 season, in beautiful locations ranging from the Florida Keys to Upstate New York. The Rec Tour in 2019 will bring a new aspect to the Pro Watercross lineup of personal watercraft events, said Pro Watercross CIO Jennifer Handler.
“The Rec Tour will focus on PWC enthusiasts as well as on the PWC athletes that the rest of our events and tours cater to. Recreational events draw many people that are already involved in our Pro Watercross competitions, either as an athlete or a spectator, but they also bring new people into the PWC family. Each event in the 2019 tour is expected to draw 300-500 participants, and this will be the “largest gathering of PWC enthusiast in the country,” Handler said.
The Daytona Freeride, a long-time favorite among personal watercraft surf riders and spectators alike, will take on even greater significance in 2019, as it will serve as the premier event of a new personal watercraft tour under the Pro Watercross banner. The Daytona Freeride is a perfect example of the popularity of these recreational events. The Daytona event has amazing participation – is the largest gathering of personal watercraft enthusiasts worldwide.
Anchored at each end of the tour by two industry staples – Daytona Freeride in January and Jet Fest in September, the 2019 Rec National Tour also features a few brand-new events, and has brought several new promoters into the Pro Watercross family.
Each event in the Rec Tour will feature either a purely recreational activity, or a competitive event, but all events will highlight the fun side of personal watercraft. The recreational events – whether it is a poker run, a scavenger hunt, a sightseeing tour – are more inclusive, often family-friendly events that will highlight the more relaxed side of personal watercraft than the edge-of-your-seat, wire-to-wire competitions that Pro Watercross is famous for. Even the competitive components of the Rec Tour, such as the Daytona Freeride, will highlight the more laid-back, fun-in-the-sun side of the personal watercraft sport, Handler explained.
The Daytona Freeride, held in January 17-20 in Daytona, Florida, offers surf riders the chance to show off their expertise as they compete in battle rounds featuring both aerial stunts and mastery of the waves. Freeride and freestyle legends and champions such as Mark Gomez and Bruno Jacob are often seen piloting their custom machines through the Daytona surf right alongside sport newbies and novices; it is truly an event for everyone.
Next up on the tour, WaveDaze will be held April 12-14 in Virginia Beach. Known not only for the challenging surf conditions and the event’s dual-emphasis on promoting personal watercraft as both a recreation and a sport, WaveDaze also gains significant recognition for their community involvement – all funds received at WaveDaze – whether through registration fees, corporate sponsors or raffles during the event, benefits local charities. Hosted by The Virginia Beach Wave Junkies, WaveDaze started out in 2007 with 60 skis, and has raised more than $40,000 for charity. “We are expecting more than 300 participants from 31 different states in 2019,” said event organizers, adding that this year’s event will include raffles, auctions, games, a custom watercraft competition and the Neptune Challenge open ocean endurance ride, as well as the freeride competition.
The third event will bring the Rec Tour back to Florida May 18-19 for the Dunedin Invasion hosted by Florida Ski Riders. The two-day event held in Dunedin, Florida and will include a relaxing, scenery-filled ride through some of the Florida’s beautiful Gulf coast islands; Anclote Island, Caladesi Island and Clearwater Beach. The Dunedin Invasion draws PWC enthusiasts from all over south eastern United States boasting upward of 400 riders in recent events.
Next up on the 2019 Rec National Tour will be Operation JET-EX, a new Mid-Atlantic region event hosted by Take Point Now – a veteran support organization founded by Iraq veteran P.K. Ewing, who turned severe battle injuries into inspiration and a goal to earn the world record for riding a jet ski across the Atlantic Ocean in record time. Scheduled for the weekend of June 15th, the event will feature both a long and short distance ride (The “Strike Package” and the “Interceptor Mission” respectively) for the big machines, and a slalom contest called the “Take Point Now Slalom Shootout,” Ewing said. Additional activities such as a “cannonball run” are being considered for Sunday. This event, open to veterans and the general public, will be both a fun, recreational event, and serve to bring healing and service to the veteran community.
We are currently working on our second prototype which will be for individuals that are physically impaired. We are sounding a call to other veterans and members of our society who may feel isolated and are seeking objective driven, team-oriented experiences,” explains the organization website.
Following Operation JET-EX, the Rec Tour will head to New York’s Atlantic waters for the July 6th – Strong Island Poker Run. Hosted by Strong Island Jet Skis and by organizers Mo Sherif, Jamie Araya and Freddie Aries, the poker run will up the ante on your typical recreational ride by adding in a hand of poker. “A poker run is an organized event where participants using boats or jet skis must visit five checkpoints, drawing a playing card at each one. The object is to have the best poker hand at the end of the run,” Sherif explained.
The sixth stop on the Rec Tour is destined to be a tour favorite; sponsored by Broward Motorsports, the scenic August 3rd – Broward Motorsports Rec Ride will visit Key Largo, this ride will take participants through The Florida Keys and out to visit the beautiful and popular “Alligator Reef Lighthouse” for some exploring and snorkeling. This area is amazing!
Closing out the 2019 Rec National Tour will be Upstate New York’s popular JetFest, scheduled for September 7th, JetFest is hosted by WetWerX Water & Snow, along with Watercraft Network Radio, and produced by Northeast Watercraft Alliance. 2019 will be the 12th season for JetFest, which makes it the longest consecutive running PWC event in the Northeast, and it also annually yields the largest PWC turnout in the region, according to event organizer Wayne Ordon. Like WaveDaze, JetFest donates 100 percent of the registration proceeds to charity. Held in a beautiful, full-service forest campground in the Adirondack Mountains on the Great Sacandaga Lake, JetFest features more than 100 miles of shoreline, a crystal-clear lake, and a “Duck Hunt” scavenger hunt and a freestyle Shootout entertains riders as they enjoy a barbecue lunch on the beach.
Another much-anticipated feature of JetFest is the annual PWC Raffle. “In 2018, JetFest was the only event in North America to which a manufacturer donated a brand-new vessel,’ Ordon said. “In 2019, riders who attend any or all prior national Rec Tour stops will be eligible for additional entries for the JetFest Raffle PWC. Attend one other event & receive one additional entry, attend two other events & receive two additional entries, and so on. As JetFest is the culminating tour stop, riders who attend prior events will have a great opportunity to win the 2019 JetFest raffle PWC.”
“This 2019 Rec Tour is going to be a game-changer and will be good for the industry all the way around. It will help the competitive side by bringing attention to the sport, and by giving potential athletes a low-barrier entrance in to the sport. Most importantly though, this tour shows what great people are within the PWC community and how they are working to improve the lives of the people in their communities through the different charities that they represent,” Handler added.
In honor of the inaugural Rec Tour season, Pro Watercross will present a commemorative coin to the first 300 participant at each event. Each commemorative item will be unique to the event.
For more information on the 2019 Rec National Tour presented by Pro Watercross and to keep up on all the details of the tour stops that will be coming out in the upcoming weeks and keep up with all things Pro Watercross by following along at:
www.prowatercross.com facebook.com/ProWatercross instagram.com/ProWatercross twitter.com/ProWatercross. Stay in touch with Pro Watercross on social media @ProWatercross
For more information about how to get involved with Pro Watercross events, email us at [email protected]
BRP Brand, the makers of Sea-Doo, Can-Am, Evinrude, and other powersports product lines announces its fiscal 2019 third quarter results and the company seems to be doing quite well.
Another record quarter was posted with the Sea-Doo brand helping to push the more than 25% retail sales growth. Personal watercraft along with side-by-side off-road vehicles saw a jump in consumer demand explained President and CEO José Boisjoli.
While current market demands and new influences such as Can-Am’s announcement of the new budget friendly Ryker should keep sales up, BRP also expresses concern about potential market headwinds related to current inflationary pressure in the market.
Despite these concerns, Boisjoli also explains that BRP still remains in a very competitive position due to its robust business.
For those who care to check out all of the numbers, you can see the fiscal earnings report at BRP and for those who don’t want to slog through the 18 page report, all you need to know is that your BRP wish list item will continue to roll across those assembly lines for the foreseeable future and be waiting for you at your local dealership.
Here’s the official release provided by Nicole Pettit:
Sea-Doo 2018-2019 RXT/GTX 230 Parts Applications
This new tour is said to bring a different aspect to the Pro Watercross lineup of events with an expected record level of attendees to each event. The tour is expected to draw anywhere between 300 and 500 people to each of the events.
