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Gallery: 2018 Blue Dog Chemical Pro Watercross Tour, Panama City, FL; Rd. 1

By
Ryan Doberstein
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Pro Watercross sure knows how to pick nice locations for its national tour! Round 1 started off in paradise, also known as Panama City, FL, as the PWC’s took to the water for some high-speed action! This year, the tour is known as the 2018 Blue Dog Chemical Company Pro Watercross Tour presented by Broward Motorsports. There were many familiar faces, but also a few new ones as well, such as Scott Hyke, the new race director, who is no stranger to watercraft racing. During the riders meeting, he told us that he has done more than 200 races throughout his career.

Sport GP was a great race to watch. Johnny Smith hole shotted Moto 1 after Sam Nehme had to start with a dead engine. In Moto 2, Sam Nehme killed it and won wire to wire. During Moto 3, Sam Nehme won again in the rough conditions with a great battle behind him. Overall, Sam Nehme won, Keith Dill got second and Jordan Carroll got on his first podium in third.

We had a chance to interview some familiar faces to the standup ski racing scene, Jimmy Wilson and Callaway Turner, after Panama City was wrapped up. Here’s what they had to say:

The Watercraft Journal: What did you think of the conditions?

Jimmy Wilson: The water conditions were pretty cool. The water was changing by the minute all weekend. Moto 1 on Saturday was basically just a little wind chop. Moto 2 the winds died down and the water was glass which made for a high HP race. After Moto 2 the wind picked up and the waves got big. We had 4-5 foot holes down the back stretch. Moto 3 was definitely the roughest water conditions of the weekend.

WCJ: So, you’re on a Yamaha SuperJet now! What’s up with that?!

JW: We are racing for Broward Motorsports which is a Factory Yamaha Race team in 2018. We were fortunate enough to get on the team thanks to Sam Nehme.

WCJ: How many classes are you racing in?

JW: I will be racing Pro-am Ski Stock and Pro-am Ski GP for the year.

WCJ: Do you plan to do the whole Pro Watercross tour?

JW: Yes we will be racing the entire tour in hopes to defend our National Championships from 2017.

WCJ: Anyone you’d like to thank?

JW: Judge Motorsports, Broward Motorsports, Yamaha, IPD Graphics, JAM Racing, Frowerx, Fly Racing, ADA Racing, Hot Products, Prowatercraftracing.com, JC Racing, Amsoil, Ryno Power, Jet Pilot, Jettrim, Ben Swanson, big shout out to my family.

The Watercraft Journal: Callaway, this was a big weekend for you! You managed to pull off a podium finish in one of the toughest classes of racing (Pro-Am Ski Stock)! How’d you do it?

Callaway Turner: This was a great weekend for me. It’s always great to be on the podium. Performing well at this level takes a lot of testing and tuning on the ski as well as ample training both on and off the water because there are a lot of great riders in the class. While the race itself is mostly an individual effort, it wouldn’t be possible without having a great team with me.

WCJ: What were the conditions like? It’s a surf race, but can you explain the difference between racing in the ocean versus racing on a lake?

CT: Conditions were challenging. We had a large amount of wind chop in Motos 1 and 3 which makes it difficult to maintain speed and is a lot more tiring to ride in. This weekend, we didn’t have any big swells unfortunately, but racing in surf is still different from fresh water racing. The water moves significantly more which can require you to adjust your line when racing. Also, salt water is a little denser than fresh water which means you float higher. While this difference is small, it can be the difference between carving a turn and going swimming when riding at the limit.

WCJ: How long have you been racing? And how many times have you been able to earn a podium position in the Pro class?

CT: This is my 7th year of racing overall and my 4th racing at the Pro level. I’ve only made it on the podium a handful of times racing at this level and it’s always an exciting accomplishment. My first time on the podium was actually here at Panama City Beach when I finished 2nd in 2016.

WCJ: Anyone you’d like to thank for helping you get to this level?

CT: I’d like to thank Hurricane Racing and Amsoil for making this possible for me. We have a great team that always makes riding, practicing, and racing a blast. Specifically I want to thank Bill Haig for his support, encouragement, expertise, and training throughout my racing career. I also want to thank my family for supporting me and even participating in this sport – my girlfriend, Carrie Oliver, and sister, Niki Turner, who both race regularly as well as my mom who takes it upon herself to feed the whole team when at the races and even tried her hand at racing once in Charleston, WV.

For a full list of race results, you can check out www.ProWatercross.com/results

Frenchman Alex Barret Claims KaruJet Offshore World Championship

By
Kevin Shaw
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It’s argued that the near-week-long KaruJet Offshore Endurance Championship is possibly the hardest, most grueling test of both athlete and machine in our sport. Encompassing much of the surrounding shoreline – and beyond – of the French insular island of Guadalupe, KaruJet beckons to racers from around the globe to dare to compete, many of whose competitors are locals who’ve navigated the tempestuous waters on a weekly basis.

Some of the biggest names in offshore runabout racing have thrown their hats into the ring, and of them few have returned home with championship gold. One such racer, Frenchman Alex Barret was a regular fixture in the lineup, striving for a win at KaruJet for the better part of a decade. This year, the fates showed Barret some favor, and through a whirlwind of grit, a 350-pluys-horsepower Kawasaki that held up over 4 days of offshore racing, and a solid team behind him, finally took home the win he had been pining for.

Previous KaruJet winner, Teddy Pons was close on Barret’s heels, but first place eluded the racer after hull damage to his Kawasaki Ultra 310X permitted water into his ski over the last two days. Pons would claim second place as Francois Medori took third. All racers expressed gratitude to the KaruJet organization, which excelled at keeping racers and teams informed with live results and field logistics.

Pertaining to his win, Barret wrote, “We took over the head of the world championships with a slight dislocated shoulder in the channel this morning. A dream made [real] thanks to you all: My team MRJ Competition that has done an exceptional job, an efficient and reliable machine; my father, and David DaMota and the assistants of my teammate François Medori for their valuable help; the Jet Style Store for its help on site and the hospitality of Franck Arnoux; to my friend Francois for everything he does for me – I congratulate him also for his 3rd place; all my partners for their trust for many years; to the woman of my life [who] I love more than anything in the world; and to all of you for all your support and encouragement – you can’t know how much I appreciate it.”

East Coast Watercross Tour Returns This Weekend to Niantic, CT

By
Kevin Shaw
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It’s easy to feel left out when you go online and see all the racers and jet skiers taking to the closed course in the Southwest and all over Florida. Well, for all of you champing at the bit in the Northeast, congratulations! Racing is back – and it’s happening this weekend in Niantic, CT. That’s right, the East Coast Watercross Tour is back and picking up its third season as the IJSBA’s Northeast US promoter. That’s big news if you’re wanting to qualify for this year’s IJSBA World Finals in October. See below for the whole press release.

For Immediate Release:
The East Coast Watercross Tour roars back into action for their 3rd season as the IJSBA’s Northeast US Promoter this coming weekend in picturesque Niantic, CT! The 10 Round tour opener is set to hit the beaches May 19th and 20th.

East Coast Watercross has been called the fastest growing Region in the US, and continues to see racers traveling from as far away as California to complete in their Regional Series. This year’s tour will visit 2 new cities in the Northeast and has already drawn interest from brand new racers from these areas and more!

Rounds 1 & 2 will be held in Niantic, a small town set on the shores of the Long Island Sound. 3 miles of beautiful sand beaches, lined with a brand a new boardwalk make this location perfect for not only racers but spectators alike! This year’s event will coincide with a car show and local fair in the area. The Connecticut Army National Guard will be in attendance, and the local Harbormaster will kick the events off with a cannon from his vessel.

Pre-Registration is open, available racing classes, event info and more can be found at www.EastCoastWatercross.com or on Facebook @ECWatercross.

Christopher Yates, President
East Coast Watercross LLC
(518)844-4080 cell
(518)309-3362 fax
PO Box 4443
Saratoga Springs NY, 12866

International Jet Sports Boating Association’s Region 8 Sanctioned Promoter
www.EastCoastWatercross.com
Facebook @ECWatercross
Instagram @EastCoastWatercross

Gallery: P1 Aqua X; St Cloud Florida, Round 2

By
Kurt NgSaye
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The P1 Aqua X race series pulled into St Cloud, Florida for it’s second round of the 2018 race season. This location has been on the schedule for the past six consecutive years and is the only lake race for the series in the state of Florida. It was strictly an amateur enduro day ahead as the Pro racers are not scheduled to race again till the next round in St Petersburg, Florida. Alongside the P1 aqua X racers, the P1 Superstock boats would race as well to continue their season.

It would be an early start on East Lake Tohopekaliga for the racers as they prepped their crafts and got ready to do battle. The weather forecast for the day was predicted as cloudy with some sun peeking through but as history would have it, it turned out to be a complete overcast day with passing showers. This didn’t stop the crowd from attending as St Cloud coincided their Smokin’ Brews, Boats and BBQ event alongside the races.

The racers would head out to the course and all the classes would race together. Moto one kicked off and it would be Domenico Barilla in the 300 Class taking the hole shot followed closely by Jorge Morejon and Dave Davidson. As the race continued it would be Davidson who outlasted the rest and came across the finish line in the top spot. Dave made the trip all the way down from Canada for this round and nabbing the top spot in the first moto would make his travels well worth it. Kevin Sullivan had sustained some bad luck as he ran out of gas on the last turn and barely made it across the finish line to go from second to take sixth.

In the 200 Class Amanda LeCheminant would battle Scott Reeves. It was unknown if she was going to race due to sustaining a severe sprain on her ankle in Miami. LeCheminant would tough it out and get out there and rode through the pain. She and Reeves would go at each other throughout the moto. After the moto it was LeCheminant was the clear winner as Reeves received a disqualification due to his factory air ducts being pointed at his air filter.

After the first moto the P1 Superstock got their races in and the crowds got a chance to take in a BBQ contest as well as live music. The racers after refueling their crafts and making any adjustments again headed out to the course to race their second moto for the day. Kevin Sullivan learned from his previous moto and paced himself in the lead while being chased by the rest of the pack. He would be chased by his teammate Chad Saxon and it was definitely a strong showing by Team 71 out of Alabama. After the second moto it was up in the air on who would garner the overall win for the day in the 300 Class with one moto left.

Finally the final moto of the day and trophies and bragging rights were on the line. The 300 Class would see Dave Davidson out of Canada take the overall win with Yaniel Fiallo taking second and Kevin Sullivan taking third. In the 200 Class it would be Jose Gonzalez taking the top spot followed by Ben Mantal and Amanda LeCheminant taking third.

The day came to an end and the racers were happy to get three motos in unlike Miami in the first round. They now look forward to joining the Pros in St Petersburg Beach for round three next month. All are looking forward to finally getting a beach race in and hopefully the weather will bring bright skies and sunshine that Florida is known for.

1500-Mile Charity Ride for Disabled American Veterans

By
Ocean Priselac
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This long distance ride is not only a charity ride to raise money for our Disabled American Veterans (DAV), it’s an adventure with four guys who will ride from Minneapolis to Mobile. We can be part of the ride by becoming sponsors, making a donation to DAV, or directly to the crew. They chose DAV because almost 100% of the donations go directly to a disabled veteran instead of to administrative costs. The DAV takes care of veterans and their families for a lifetime, unlike many other charitable organizations.

The Inaugural Minneapolis to Mobile 1500 will take ten days and move through nine states via PWC. The team has spent the past 18 months planning and plotting the route and itinerary for this huge endeavor. They also have plans to camp along the way. The personal watercraft journey begins with more than 800 miles on the Mississippi River. The team will navigate through 27 locks before heading east and then south into Ohio. From Ohio, they’ll motor into Tennessee and Tenn-Tom Water Way where they will merge into Mobile Bay, the end of the long and arduous ride.

The members of the team are Joey Freeman, Joe Kiminski, Richard and Bailey Bassford. They are all watermen and obviously enjoy riding jet skis. Check out their bios on this page. They are an interesting group. We can follow the journey here after the live link to video is posted. The page will be updated daily once the men are underway. This should be exciting!

Dan Foy Takes IFWA Win in Portugal

By
Ocean Priselac
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Image: IFWA
Image: IFWA

As usual, the break in Nazare, Portugal was wild and unpredictable. The first round of the IFWA 2018 went down in the ever changing conditions of the big wave break. A new IFWA format made things even more challenging. Riders didn’t know what to expect with new director, Carol Anne Giustina at the helm and first time contenders Carve Composites were at contest venue that was new to them.

The team was finally able to make the trip to Portugal for this event and boy did they make their presence known! Dan Foy and teenage superstar Luis Sparkes showed up and threw down. Unfortunately for Sparkes, his craft suffered mechanical failure during the 1/8ths, where his impressive run ended.

Carve Composites team rider, Dan Foy was able to take the first round win in the unruly conditions that were on offer. It was a crazy contest with the waves going from soupy chop to 10 foot plus on Sunday, April 29th.

Foy, with his no holds barred attitude blew up in the huge conditions. He dominated and pulled off a trick the judges had never witnessed. The maneuver was a no hands launch that he landed and then he went straight into a barrel roll.

The trick led him to his win in the semis against Mark Gomez. Foy moved onto the final where he was pitted against Mick Anthony and there was no stopping Foy as he continued to go bigger and bigger with every heat. He pulled flex flips, rolls, and flat out big wave surf riding. Foy tore down records on his way to the top spot on the podium. He absolutely dominated the field with his victory in Nazare.

Video: Krash Industries’ Ready-to-Perform Freeride Skis Are Here!

By
Kevin Shaw
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Ladies and gentlemen, Nick Barton has done it. The mastermind behind Krash Industries did what the OE’s couldn’t do: build a true ready-to-flip, lightweight 2-stroke jet ski beginning at $12,000. Not only one ski, but three. That’s right, Krash Industries has three brand-new, state-of-the-art freestyle/freeride skis – their 50 Cal, Predator and Reaper models. All of which are available immediately through Krash Industries’ own website and select dealerships across the country (and globe).

Barton explained the 50 Cal in greater detail: “The Krash Industries 50 Cal is available in two models; for riders who predominantly ride surf then you will want the 50 Cal Surf which includes reverse angle sponsons and a 4th chine which adds greater stability as you carve the face of the wave. On the other hand, if flat water freestyle is your thing, then you will chose the 50 Cal 148 Flatwater freestyle model. The 50 Cal Flatwater has a specifically designed beam, draft and rocker that enables the rider to flip and roll effortlessly in all water conditions.”

Additionally, both 50 Cal models – as well as the Predator and Reaper – come in 4 color options. Add to that the uniquely-developed KV997 all-aluminum two-cylinder 2-stroke, which completely takes conventional 2-stroke design and flips it on its head as well as incorporates a DC-CDI ignition system that comes with 3 pre-set maps to take you from 70, 115, and 160hp at the rotation of the switch, and you’ve got the standup jet ski that enthusiasts have been waiting decades for. For more information about our complete range of Ready-To-Perform watercraft, head over to krashindustries.com

Video: Behind The Scenes of The 2018 Skyway Ski Show – Long Haul Episode 24

By
Kevin Shaw
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It happens every year (for the past 6 years now), and The Watercraft Journal was on the beach with camera in hand to record a little behind-the-scenes action of the annual Watercraft Superstore Skyway Ski Show. Unfortunately, super strong winds muffled out ALL of our audio, but we thankfully were able to scribble down a transcript so you can see what everyone of the OE manufacturers had to say about the event. For those unfamiliar, the Skyway Ski Show is an event hosted by Watercraft Superstore, welcoming half a dozen PWC riders of all different skill levels and backgrounds to test ride some of the latest watercraft and give their two cents all in ranking a final winner. It’s pretty cool.

Admittedly, because of the audio I’ll confess that this isn’t our best episode. There’s some great shots in there, and it’s cool to see Smitty from Cycle Springs Powersports, Carrie from Watercraft Superstore and the reps from the major OE manufacturers excited to share everything they can about their watercraft. Speaking of which, the 2018 Sea-Doo GTX Limited 300 won their “watercraft of the year” award. Of course, the Watercraft Superstore’s own “magalog” is now available, so make sure to click the link to get yours now!

Yamaha Racers Sweep Pro Watercross Tour Opener

By
Kevin Shaw
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It’s that time of year again, and all of us at The Watercraft Journal are fighting to catch up. That’s right, it’s the week between the Panama Beach and Pensacola, Florida races (Rounds 1 and 2) of the Pro Watercross Tour. Yes, we’ll have our coverage soon (so hang tight), but as a taste, we recently got a press release from our friends at Yamaha who were more than happy to spread the good news that this past weekend’s racing welcomed a whole slew of Yamaha racers to the podium:

Yamaha’s official press release stated:
Round one of the 2018 Pro Watercross Tour returned to Panama Beach, Florida; looking a lot like 2017 with Yamaha watercraft racers and the Yamaha GP1800 sweeping the premier classes.

In Pro Stock racing, the starting line was a who’s who of the best watercraft racers in the world led by the Aswar brothers Aero Aswar​ and Aqsa Aswar​, Eric Francis, and Brian Baldwin.

Racing under the Dean’s Team Racing Yamaha banner, the Aswar brothers and Francis swapped holeshots and top-3 positions in the three moto event. When the final points were tallied, it was Aero Aswar who finished first overall, followed by Aqsa Aswar, and Eric Francis. Yamaha racer Brian Baldwin was right there in the mix finishing in fourth.

In Pro Open action, Brian Baldwin flipped the script on his 90-mph GP1800 finishing first overall. Aqsa Aswar and brother Aero finished second and third on Pro Stock GP1800 WaveRunners, and Eric Francis finished fourth overall.

Congratulations to all of the Yamaha racers, their families, and Dean’s Team Yamaha Racing for a successful tour opener.

The Pro Watercross Tour is off to Pensacola Beach, Florida for round 2 on May 12-13.

Cycle Springs Powersports is Giving Away Trailers With New Yamaha EX Deluxes

By
Kevin Shaw
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Yeah, you’re not reading a typo: Cycle Springs Powersports, the world’s largest Yamaha watercraft dealer, is giving away a single-place PWC trailer with the purchase of a new Yamaha EX Sport and/or Deluxe model. Seriously, that’s a huge thing to just “tack on” to the end of a sale. Add to that Cycle Springs’ amazing lifetime engine warranty policy, a “No Risk” extended warranty, 50-percent off service plans, and employee pricing on all gear and accessories on the day of sale, and they’re practically paying you to take this ski home.

So what gives? Well, the newest addition to Yamaha’s lineup is touting Yamaha’s award-winning, lightweight TR-1 EX 3-cylinder engine that offers as much throttle-happy fun as it does fuel economy. Even the base model EX comes with Yamaha’s RiDE dual throttle system, giving riders access to neutral and reverse with the pull of the left hand throttle making deceleration, reversing and docking super easy. And with the EX Deluxe, buyers have a reboarding step designed climb back on board that doesn’t risk rolling the whole ski upside-down.

On top of all of that, you’re getting standard dual mirrors, lightweight, slip-resistant Hydro-Turf mats “providing superior traction on the extended swim platform and footwells,” and of course, the EX Series giving riders more storage options than comparably-priced PWC. It’s a sweet deal on an awesome ski and if you’re in the market, you’d be completely insane to pass this up.

 

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