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Belassi Opens Up Turbocharged Powertrains to Jet-Driven Boat & PWC Builders

By
Kevin Shaw
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Over the years, it’s become common practice for boat, mini jet boat and even custom personal watercraft builders to purchase a new or used PWC solely for the purpose of extracting its modern powertrain. This has led many to wonder why OE’s do not offer a “crate motor” program allowing these shops and builders to skip several (and rather expensive) steps and simply buy the engine and jetdrive directly?

Thankfully, premier Austrian personal watercraft manufacturer, Belassi GmbH recently announced that the powertrain – known internally as the Marine Power Unit (MPU) – of its Burrasca PWC can be purchased separately for this very purpose. That’s right, both of Belassi’s open-loop, turbocharged, 1,603cc 3-cylinder engines – whether it’s 260 or 330-horsepower – can be purchased to fit in a compact jet driven boat or PWC.

And if that’s not enough, a recent expansion of Belassi‘s partnership with Garrett resulted in a 400-horsepower variant thanks to a G25-550 turbocharger. So whether you choose a 260HP kit at €14,945 (about $15,600 USD) or the badass 400HP at €16,945 ($17,775 USD), these complete drivetrains can be packaged to include the jet pump & shaft, alternator, throttle lever, brake/reverse system, touch screen display with GPS, fuel system and more.

Here’s the original press release:
While the internal team at Belassi always had a clear vision of the company’s positioning and core values, this was not always apparent to customers purchasing the Burrasca PWC. To address this, the team embarked on a comprehensive restructuring of their communication strategy over a year ago. As part of this initiative, Belassi GmbH introduced a new business unit centered around its core asset—the Powertrain, known as the Marine Power Unit (MPU). Fully developed and assembled in Austria, this division is now a pivotal part of Belassi’s broader strategic direction.

Recognizing the challenges of being a high-performance, low-volume engine producer solely for the Burrasca model, Belassi sought to diversify. The new business unit extends the MPU offering to small PWC and boat manufacturers, ensuring production stability while maintaining a strong focus on the personal watercraft product line—all while keeping manufacturing in Austria.

Belassi Powertrains are engineered to deliver superior power, torque, and fuel efficiency, promising an unparalleled driving experience. In this context, it is worth mentioning that Belassi has entered into a technical partnership with Garrett for the 330 and 400 hp engines and uses their G25-550 turbocharger model. Prioritizing customer needs, they adopt a highly specialized and flexible approach, allowing orders with a minimum quantity of just one unit.

After gathering feedback from current and potential customers, Belassi introduced powertrains designed for high-performance jet drive applications where a high power-to-weight ratio is essential. These are ideal for personal watercraft, mini jet boats up to 4 meters (13 feet), and waterjet-powered boats up to 6 meters (20 feet). The first successful integration with an aluminum jet boat has already taken place, ensuring seamless, plug-and-play compatibility for boat builders.

80’s Jet Ski Champion Turns Adventures Into Children’s Book

By
Jessica Waters
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PWC – the term encompasses what is, to some, a sport; to others, a hobby or recreational outlet; and to still others, a livelihood – but to most, PWC denotes even more than that – it is part of a lifestyle and an attitude, and one that sticks with you.

For some – the interest in all things jet ski can easily cross boundaries – rec riders become racers, and many racers spend just as much time goofing around on non race-related on-the-water excursions as they do waiting for the band to snap. Businessmen become racers, and jet ski fishers become powersport entrepreneurs – the crossovers are many.

But today, in perusing the PWC newsfeeds, we at The Watercraft Journal came across one that we haven’t before – at least not recently.

Jeremy “Jez” Crook was a British novice jet ski champion in the 1980s – and like many, that early involvement didn’t end when the race ended. Crook started working in the hire department for Jet Ski UK at the age of 21 in 1985 and won the Novice Jet Ski Championship in 1986. In 1990 he set up the spare parts distribution for Jet Ski UK in and in the same year won the UK Jet Ski Freestyle Championships.

Today, Jez Crook is the managing director of UK’s Line One Distributors, founded in Gloucestershire, England in the 1970s and billed as the largest source of PWC spare parts & accessories in Europe for both the trade and retail customers (including RIVA Racing inventory, to boot!)

But as impressive as those accomplishments are, that’s not what caught WCJ’s attention; instead it was Crook’s recent Big Adventure – literally. Well, kind of. The adventurer is actually not Jeremy “Jez” Crook – it’s Jeremy The Jet Ski – the main character in Crook’s first children’s book, “Jeremy The Jet Ski – An Awfully Big Adventure.”

Published by Austin Macauley Publishers and illustrated by Crook’s son, Freddie, the book is aimed at 3 to 5-year-olds and features characters based on real people from Crook’s life who share his love of adventure.

As detailed in a recent article in the Gloucestershire Standard, “The book is based on an idea Jez first had 25 years ago while babysitting for his nephews and nieces. As an adventurer and a former British novice jet ski champion in the 1980s, his tales of mischief and daring deeds kept his young audience captivated for hours.”

Freddie Crook, a talented artist in his own right who grew up hearing of those stories of his father’s experiences piloting jet skis on the Cotswold lakes and along coastlines across the world for 40 years, created the illustrations based on the initial work of one of his father’s old friends – conceptual artist Tim Rochfort.

Crook told Standard reporter Kate Jones, “I’ve worked with jet skis all my working life, hiring them out, racing and supplying spare parts across the world. Finally getting Jeremy The Jet Ski into print would not only surprise my old teachers, but also working with Freddie on the book has been one of my proudest achievements.”

“Jeremy The Jet Ski” is available from Austin Macauley Publishers and Amazon as well as bookshops, including Octavia’s Bookshelf, LoveReading4Kids, Waterstones, and WHSmith.

Great Lakes Watercross Announces Independent 2025 Season, Anniversary Racer Payback Program

By
Jessica Waters
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Finishing out a week of great WPC Racing news and coverage, The Watercraft Journal is sharing some breaking news from Great Lakes Watercross today. 

Late yesterday evening, Great Lakes Watercross management announced that the 2025 GLW race tour will be independent, not reliant on one of the major sanctioning bodies.

Series management 2 Wicked Promotions will be creating the tour’s own rulebook for the 2025 race season, and they have announced a process for rulebook changes and adoption as well as outlined key features of the effort, including a governing committee.
See the full press release (1) below. 

In addition, just 24 hours earlier, Great Lakes Watercross announced a 20th Anniversary Racer Payback program with more than $20,000 in cash prizes, with two designated payout classes at each event of the season.
You can review this complete press release (2) below. 

GLW Announces Independence (1)
It seems we cannot hold back much longer, so we’re excited to share with the public that Great Lakes Watercross will be an independent organization in 2025!  

2 Wicked Promotions manages the Great Lakes Watercross series and will introduce its own rulebook for the 2025 season. The rulebook is currently in process of peer reviews and feedback, and is scheduled to be published on Wednesday March 5th. Future plans include an annual rulebook review process and Great Lakes Watercross members will receive access to submit rule change suggestions. Registration and membership activation will open on March 5th as well!!

Promoters who wish to affiliate with Great Lakes Watercross in the future will have opportunities to share a common rulebook, participate in governance committees, and receive guidance on establishing their own independent organizations—all while being part of a larger initiative aimed at standardizing rules and growing the sport globally in a positive way.   

2025 Membership & Benefits
Great Lakes Watercross will now require membership, which includes:
Personalized season race vest (with your name & number)
Racer ID card
Series & sponsor stickers
The ability to submit rule & operational change suggestions (which will be reviewed and voted on by our governance committee)

If additional promoters join our affiliation in the future, each region will have the opportunity to appoint a representative to the governing committee—ensuring fair and balanced leadership across the sport.

This is an exciting step forward for Great Lakes Watercross and the entire watercross community. Stay tuned for more updates, and get ready for an incredible 2025 season!  

20th Anniversary Racer Payback – Over $20,000 in Cash Prizes! (2)
Great Lakes Watercross is celebrating 20 years of racing by giving back to the riders who make it all happen! For the 2025 season, we’re awarding over $20,000 in cash payouts, with two designated payout classes at each event!
Here’s where you can cash in:
Neosho: Runabout 1100 Limited & Vintage 550
Kendallville: 4-Stroke Ski Stock & Vintage X2
Prairie du Chien: Women’s Runabout Lites & Novice Ski Lites + Prairie Motorsports SXR1500 Giveaway!
Racine: Jr Lites (Ski & Runabout) & Endurance (Jr classes split amount)
Harbor Beach: Runabout Lites & Sport Stock
Nekoosa: Runabout 1100 Stock & Pro Am Ski Lites
No minimum entries required – payouts are guaranteed!
$1000
$400
$200
Plus, a $150 will be awarded to a random racer finishing 4th place or lower in each payout class!
This is our biggest season yet, and we can’t wait to see the competition heat up! Who’s ready to race for the cash?

East Meets South – ECW Inaugural Florida Race An “Against-The-Odds” Success

By
Jessica Waters
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They said it couldn’t be done. 

Well, you know how that story goes… no adventure retelling ever starts that way unless the person in question went ahead and did it anyway.

And that’s exactly what Shawn Dudek and East Coast Watercross did this past weekend, hosting a solidly-successful and widely-supported Watercross race on Lake Alfred, Florida –  despite being told multiple times over the past several years by many in the PWC race industry that it would never work. 

The Watercraft Journal caught up with Dudek on the road shortly after the completion of the race site teardown to talk about the motivation behind the race, his thoughts on the event, and the possibility of future ECW Florida excursions. 

But first, since this is, after all, a WCJ race recap article, let’s get down to brass tacks and talk about checkered flags and podiums. 

Held as two individual race events, each counting toward qualifications for IJSBA World Finals in Havasu, winners for each class were awarded at the end of each day of racing, with those who competed in races on both days now qualified to take part in the 2025 World Finals. 

On Saturday, results highlights included
Cameron Spooner (YAM)  taking 1st in the Junior WX1050 class with two first place motos, followed by Mac MacClugage (YAM) in 2nd and Kylie Meier (YAM) in 3rd.

In the Pro Am WX1050 Class, Deven Farthing (OTH) took 1st, Sophie Francis (YAM) claimed the second podium spot, and Erik Gruenwald (YAM) took 3rd. 

In the Pro Am Runabout 4 Stroke Class, Tory Snyder (YAM) aced both motos to take 1st, Juan Lezcano (SEA-DOO) took 2nd and Jason Russo (SEA-DOO)  took 3rd. 

In the ProAm Ski GP Class, Jimmy Wilson (KAW) nailed down a first place finish, winning both motos, with Deven Farthing (OTH) taking the second podium spot and Brayden Sebben (KAW) taking 3rd. 

In Pro Am Sport GP, Haden Skellet (YAM) took the day with first place finishes in both motos, Tory Snyder (SEA-DOO) took 2nd and Glen Jung (OTH) took 3rd. 

And in ProAm Sport Spec, Haden Skellett (YAM) took 1st, Deven Farthing (YAM) took 2nd and Kayden Baldwin (SEA-DOO) secured the 3rd place finish. 

On Sunday, results highlights included
Mac MacClugage (YAM) taking 1st in the Junior WX1050 class, followed by Cameron Spooner (YAM) in 2nd and Cash McClure (YAM) in 3rd.

In the Pro Am WX1050 Class, Sophie Francis (YAM) took 1st, Haden Skellett (YAM) claimed the second podium spot, and Deven Farthing (YAM) took 3rd. 

In the Pro Am Runabout 4 Stroke Class, Juan Lezcano (SEA-DOO)  took 1st, Tory Snyder took 2nd and Bobby Cardone (SEA-DOO) took 3rd.

In the ProAm Ski GP Class, Jimmy Wilson nailed down a first place finish, winning both motos, with Christopher Landis taking the second podium spot and Brayden Sebben taking 3rd. 

In Pro Am Sport GP, Haden Skellet took the day with first place finishes in both motos, Tory Snyder (YAM) (SEA-DOO) took 2nd and Johnny Smith (OTH) took 3rd. 

And in ProAm Sport Spec, Kayden Baldwin (SEA-DOO)  took 1st, Bill Beers Sr. (KAW) took 2nd and Johnny Smith (OTH) secured the 3rd place finish. 

Complete results can be viewed on the ECW Facebook page

Dudek said that, while the work that went into planning, staging and hosting the Lake Alfred race was extensive, it was something he has been mulling over and working toward for a long time.

The racer turnout – roughly 70 entries each day, was even more impressive when you took into consideration the weather and road conditions that many racers from Region 8 traveled through to get to the race, Dudek said.

He said that the turnout from Florida racers was also higher than he expected.

Dudek talked about the process of finding the location for ECW’s inaugural venture into Florida.

He talked a bit about the design of the course, including the use of a joker buoy, which kept racer strategy at play throughout the weekend as a key component of the results.

When pressed for what races stood out to him over the weekend, Dudek was quick to give credit to the juniors.

He also mentioned the ProAm Sport Spec class as a highlight of the weekend.

WCJ asked Dudek about the significant buy-in the race got from not only racers, but sponsors and supporters, with a number of donations of purse money, raffle items and other contributions, including a free tune donated by Cabrera Motorsports, which was won by Jimmy Wilson, who turned around and gave the prize to a young racer.

He added that that type of support from racers is important, and shows the level of interest in closed course racing making a return to Florida. He also said the effort put into putting on high quality events is key, and a large part of that is the event crew.

He said the event also gave him the opportunity to test out some procedures, equipment and ideas that he plans on implementing in the ECW 2025 race season.

Although the event was run under IJSBA sanction and rules, Dudek talked about the special allowances made for the WX1050 races.

He again spoke of the high level of support from everyone involved and the amount of positivity, and mentioned the success of the livestream.

WCJ closed out the interview asking Dudek if, given the success of last weekend’s race, he plans on instituting an actual ECW Winter series in Florida.

Stay tuned to WCJ for more from the ECW 2025 Tour and any new information on an ECW Winter Series as more details become available.

All photos courtesy Kirsten Hasty.

Dudek finished off the 2025 Lake Alfred Race Weekend with a recap post of his own:

The sun has set on our first ever closed course race in Lake Alfred Florida and it was incredible to see the support from everyone, the site was great and the racing was awesome! Thank you all for an incredible weekend, course was fun and competition was deep, as a racer I had a great time on the course battling with the Ski GP gang !!
The amount of work that went into this in such a short period of time is hard to translate but just know I appreciate the support and seeing how happy everyone was to have this caliber of racing in Florida made it all worth it.
Thank you Region 8 racers that toughed out digging skis out of the snow and driving through storms to go racing
 
I couldn’t do this on my own and I had the absolute best team on my side to pull this off!
My wife @sandyredski and our girls Lucy and Zoey , my Mom back home and My brother Joe Dudek scoring
Wicked princess @shellymccloskey
Co race director @h2ox595 and his son Seb
Brian and @sebbenbrayden730
@hydrodragmike10 Mikey young on the mic
@charlesguinchard with epic live stream
@ijsba
Course Marshall @scottmane299
Seth for All the help! @ciwa345
@duncan_gosselin05 for holding down the fort at home
Sponsors made this possible
City of Lake Alfred
@proridermag
Polk County
Thank you everyone and stay tuned for a winter 2026 Florida series

Gallery: Brandon Warner Takes 2025 Mark Hahn Memorial Overall in Ironman Effort

By
Jessica Waters
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The 21st annual Mark Hahn Memorial 300 endurance race, with Factory Kawasaki and the Performance Fiberglass team behind 3 of the 4 overall top race finishers, featured calm waters, fast times, some intense battles, and some disappointments, both on the water and off.

The results sheet tells a part of the story. In the final tally, with slightly fewer than two dozen entrants, it would be Brandon Warner who nailed down the win, piloting his #21 Kawasaki to the overall win with a time of 4:38:22.8, ahead of the Mark Gomez & Ryder Bliss team, also a Kawasaki entry, with the Overall top three finished out by Chris Stark and Mike Perry on the #555 Sea-Doo – a final tally of the overall placings put Kawasaki in 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th and 10th, with Sea-Doo taking 3rd, 5th, 8th and 9th, and Yamaha holding down the next 5 slots. 

Drilling down to the class results, in RunAbout 1100 Stock, Chris Ennis & Gabriel Cowley (Yamaha) won the class with a time of 4:51:27.8, wile in the RunAbout 4-stroke stock class of 7 entrants, Chris Stark and Mike Perry (Sea-Doo) nailed down the win with a time of 4:44:46.9 over 2nd place team Jonathan Phan & Emi Kanamori (Kawasaki).

For the RunAbout Mfg Stock class, Renee Hill & Jackson Rod (Kawasaki) finished out with a time of 4:44:16.2.  In Pro-Am 4 Open, Brandon Warner’s (Kawasaki) 4:38:22.8 overall win topped the class, followed by Gomez and Bliss (Kawasaki), with 3rd place taken by 2024 winners Jon Ford and Mike Maniscalichi (Sea-Doo), who finished last year’s race with a record-setting time of  4 hrs, 9 min & 29 seconds on a Dean’s Team tuned Sea-Doo.

The grueling race featured its fair share of mechanical mishaps and strategy errors that ended some entries far short of the final lap, but that is nothing new for this race, and those disappointments were matched, or perhaps exceeded by the frustration of event promoters and sponsors, who have pushed each year lately for enough turnout to keep the event viable, but this year saw the total number of entries even fall well short of pre-registration.

Event promoter Ross Wallach, of RPM Racing, told The Watercraft Journal that the event went well other than the low turnout, and he congratulated Warner for the Overall and Ironman win.

He said the Saturday race featured near-perfect conditions, but required an extra mile due to water levels.

He talked about the fast pace of the race due to flat water, including near-record lap times put in by Warner.

Once again this year, the race staged from Lake Havasu State Park, and Wallach said the move still counts as a great decision.

Wallach said that, despite the low turnout, the race is seeing new entrants scattered in among the veteran racers.

The purpose and meaning behind the race – honoring Mark Hahn and his contributions to PWC racing – always remains in the forefront, Wallach said, and talked about Mark Conroy winning the Mark Hahn Memorial Award.

He closed out the interview urging racers to step up for the 2026 race so the event can continue.

All photos courtesy Ken Gallagher Photography.

JetSki World Cup Competitor Maurin Rocking Unlimited Apparel

By
Jessica Waters
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While we all agree that the most important aspect of our PWC safety gear is its utility and effectiveness, there’s no denying that visual appeal plays a big part in choosing life vests, wetsuits, gloves, and even boots. That’s why it’s always exciting to see a world-class competitor in watercraft sports rocking one of our favorite brands—it means you’re getting both style and top-tier performance!

The 2024 JetSki World Cup Grand Prix took place this past December 11-15, and while we’ve loved following the results and checking out all the incredible photos and videos, we were especially stoked to see Unlimited PWC apparel and riding gear in action.

One standout moment? Raphaël Maurin, one of our favorite competitors over the past few years, was seen sporting a bright pink Unlimited PWC Rush Zen life jacket, emblazoned with his last name and number: Maurin 44. This lightweight Nylon OX/PVC rubber foam vest is built to reduce stress during racing and intense riding, and it even boasts US Coast Guard TYPE 3 certification. Plus, it comes with a lifesaving whistle—because safety always comes first.

Beyond this standout vest, Maurin also showed off some of Unlimited PWC’s other high-performance apparel, like their water-ready shirts designed for intense activity.

Be sure to check out the apparel and riding gear lines over at Unlimited PWC so you can rock the same gear as some of our favorite racers!

(Editor’s Note: Speaking of competition, be sure to check out The Watercraft Journal tomorrow and Thursday for our recaps of the 2025 race season openers, the 2025 Mark Hahn Memorial 300 and East Coast Watercross’ inaugural Florida venture at Lake Alfred, including interviews with Ross Wallach, President of RPM Racing Enterprises, and East Coast Watercross’ Shawn Dudek.) 

Interview: Greg Gaddis Talks About Taking GreenHulk Garage From ‘Online’ to ‘Under Construction’

By
Jessica Waters
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One of the most well-known – not to mention respected – names in PWC is GreenHulk. Whether you are an avid recreational rider, a die-hard racer, or somewhere in between, there is a good chance you have shopped for factory OEM and/or performance parts at the top-of-the-line performance hardware e-commerce store, GreenHulk PWC Performance. There is an equally good chance you have – at a minimum – browsed through the extensive information, reviews, and discussions on the GreenHulk.net forum and binged on videos the GreenHulk Garage YouTube channel.

And, slated for the 2025 summer PWC season, GreenHulk is breaking out of the Web and adding a 7,500 square foot workshop, located at 10393 Highway 182 East in Morgan City/Amelia (St. Mary Parrish) Louisiana.

GreenHulk founder Jerry Gaddis announced plans for the facility last week in a Facebook post, stating, “Big things are coming for GreenHulk! For the last 20 years we have been the number one trusted source worldwide for providing the top performance parts brands and also factory replacement parts through our online store, GreenHulkStore.com. I’m pleased to announce that we just closed on a big parcel of land and we break ground next week to build a 7,500 square foot workshop, where we will offer performance upgrades, repairs and maintenance on personal watercraft. We have enjoyed serving our clients worldwide over the last two decades, we now look forward to serving our local community.”

He added that the facility would also offer performance tunes for ATV’s and outboard motors.

GreenHulk was named after an apple green 2004 Sea-Doo RXP purchased by Jerry Gaddis and dubbed “Green Hulk” by Greg Gaddis and his brother.

Jerry launched the GreenHulk brand more than 20 years ago, named for a new 2004 Sea-Doo RXP. According to company lore, The apple-green two-seater caught the attention of his two small boys. From the moment Jerry brought the ski home, the two referred to it as the “green Hulk” after the temperamental gamma-radioactive superhero. (You can read more about the founding of GreenHulk and Jerry Gaddis’ story here.)

One of those two boys who christened the RXP “Green Hulk” was Greg Gaddis – and Greg has grown with, and become a part of, the GreenHulk legacy over the past 20 years, and is part of the driving force behind this move from online to brick-and-mortar (or timber, or steel, or whatever the case may be).

Gaddis spoke with The Watercraft Journal last night as we dug for more information about the new facility, and he said that this is a project that has been in the planning stages for several years.

“The shop has been a goal of mine for what feels like forever. Discussions about actually opening one started getting serious roughly 4 years ago,” Greg said, adding, “The demand for work to be done has grown exponentially each year and I’ve reached a point where I can no longer efficiently operate out of my two-car garage.”

Site of future GreenHulk Garage, which will begin construction this week, the last week of February, 2025.

He stressed that GreenHulk’s online presence will continue, saying, “The online store will continue to operate the way it has over the last 20 years (and) will continue to be the number one source for PWC performance and replacement parts, with 7-days-a-week tech support.”

Greg said his father has been very supportive of the workshop project, stating, “None of this would have happened without his (Jerry Gaddis’) dedication to GreenHulk.”

The workshop – which will officially be dubbed the GreenHulk Garage – will offer a variety of PWC services, Greg stated.

“My main goal for the new facility will be to offer turn-key performance packages. I will be offering packages ranging from simple bolt on parts to full-blown race skis,” he said. “Almost everyone wants some form of performance gain out of their skis but not everyone has the know-how, tools, and experience to do so in a reliable fashion. We will be serving the community as a place where individuals can drop off their skis with a specific goal in mind and have comfort in knowing that the job will be done the right way.”

He added that, in addition to the performance packages that the GreenHulk Garage will be offering, maintenance, repair work, and even engine builds will be done in the new facility.

At some point this week, Greg said he would be launching an extension of the GreenHulk websites and adding greenhulkgarage.com to the list.

“This will serve as a place to see some of the more simple packages that I will be offering and the parts in each package,” he said, adding, “Nothing is out of the question here, so if anyone wants something more than what I will have listed on the website, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

Although Greg will be front-and-center at GreenHulk Garage, he said the amount of work they foresee coming into the new facility will be more than he can handle alone.

“As much as I wish I could do it all alone, I simply can’t. I will have no choice but to hire employees to help with everything that will be offered,” he told WCJ. “We will be starting small and each person that I take on will be fully trained by myself. I am very particular about how things are done and anyone that I hire will have to hold the same standards to any work being done.”

Stay tuned to The Watercraft Journal for updates, construction photos and progress reports on the opening of The Greenhulk Garage.

PWC 2025 Race Season Kicks Off On Both Sides of Country This Weekend

By
Jessica Waters
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The 2025 PWC Race Season starts with a bang this weekend as the 21st Annual Mark Hahn Memorial – Havasu 300 takes to iconic Lake Havasu in Arizona tomorrow, and East Coast Watercross’ inaugural Florida race will keep things exciting on Central Florida’s Lake Alfred throughout the weekend.

21st Annual Mark Hahn Memorial – Havasu 300
Presented by Hot Products, Riva, Jettrim, Ford Bros. Racing, Impros, Works H20 Designs, Monster Watercraft, Lake Havasu Jet  Ski Rentals & LG1 Designs, the 21st running of the Havasu 300 takes place again this year at Lake Havasu State Park, Windsor North Launch, and is held in the memory of endurance racer Mark Hahn, who was instrumental in providing the momentum to keep endurance racing going strong and growing across the country before his untimely death during a PWC race in 2004. 

As noted in an earlier press release by event Producer Ross Wallach, owner RPM Racing Enterprises, the race’s “Team” format features two riders for runabout (sit down) boat teams and up to three  riders for a stand-up craft. Solo riders are also welcome to “Ironman” the race on either style of PWC, a real test of skill and stamina reserved for only the true endurance racers and the 10-mile course will pit all the teams against the wind, rough water and long runs that this event has become synonymous with.  In addition to all the weather and water conditions all the teams must contend with, they will also be required to make fuel stops, without spilling fuel, and make rider changes several times during the race, while modifying their race strategies as the race progresses. There will be 8 different classes competing on the racecourse simultaneously, with all the racers competing for the overall title. 

According to a comment by Wallach made yesterday, Feb 20, there are 28 entries so far for the race, about the same number as last year. Full details for the event, including the event schedule, will be included at the bottom of this article. 

East Coast Watercross Lake Alfred Jet Ski Weekend
Created as a test run for a possible yearly Winter Series in Florida, this year’s Lake Alfred Race is shaping up to be an early harbinger of an exciting and extremely competitive PWC season, with more than 70 racers signed up as of Feb. 20, and multiple businesses, individuals and organizations stepping up to ratchet up prize money and incentives.

Find out more about the event in this video from East Coast Watercross’ Shawn Dudeck 

Lake Alfred race schedule and details, along with the last set of pre-registration sheets, are included at the end of this article. 

HAVASU 300 DETAILS
Location: Point Beach, Lake Havasu State Park (same location as 2023 & 2024).
Move-in Saturday morning starting at 6:30 am.

Pits spots are the 1st 5 -6 rows and will be organized with sponsor/advertiser teams and preferred pit parking. The 1st row is for Preferred Pit Parking and these spots are sold out. Rows 2 thru 6 are 1st come, 1st serve.

Lake Havasu State Park fee is $20/vehicle (towing a trailer or individual vehicle) with up to 4 people for the day use. Additional people are $3/adult. Fee is paid at main gate upon entrance to the park.

Note: Lake Havasu State Park Annual Passholders get in free.

Camping (dry) is available at Lake Havasu State Park for the Mark Hahn Memorial in the lot adjacent to the pits. Please call (928) 855-2784. Cost is $25/night and includes use of the shower building and dump station. Spots are limited and first come, first served.

No noise ordinance in effect until 8:00 am Saturday morning.

All rules are exactly the same as 2024.

All runabout race teams will use the Windsor boat launch ramp to enter and exit the course/pit stops/etc. once race has started.

Stand Ups will launch and retrieve from Point Beach, again, everything is exactly the same as 2023 & 2024.

Late Registration: For those that have not pre-registered, please get a hold of Dawn Carey – [email protected]

WeBeeJammin Food Truck will be onsite serving breakfast & lunch.

Questions, please contact [email protected] or (310) 318-4012.

 

21st ANNUAL MARK HAHN 300 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, February 21st
10:00 am – 5:30 pm: Registration/Racer Check-In/Safety Inspection – Lake Havasu Aquatic Center – Parking Lot, 100 Park Avenue, LHC, 86403
(Note: all teams must check in (early entries/late entries). If not able to make Friday, must call (310) 318-4012 or email [email protected] for exemption.)

Saturday, February 22nd

6:30 am – 8:00 am: Main Gate, Lake Havasu State Park, Pits open at Point Beach Parking Lot.

(Note: Pits are 1st come/1st serve, except priority pit spaces (limited quantity.)

8:00 am – 8:30 am: Rider’s meeting, mandatory all rider’s attend. – Point Beach

9:00 am – 9:30 am: Warm up lap – not mandatory but highly recommended.

10:00 am – 3:30 pm 21st Annual IJSBA Mark Hahn Memorial Havasu 300 Presented by Hot Products, Jettrim, Impros, Ford Bros. Racing, Works H20 Designs, Monster Watercraft, Lake Havasu Jet Ski Rentals, LG1 Designs, Throttle Junkie News, Pro-Rider Magazine

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Tear Down – Everything must be removed from Lake Havasu State Park Parking lot. You may not leave: Fuel Drums/jugs, oil containers, batteries, trash, or any hazardous materials, etc.

(*Absolutely NO fuel drums or any fuel or oil containers can be left onsite after the event. Immediate disqualification or fine or both shall result.

6:30 pm – 9:00 pm Awards banquet & ceremony – Lake Havasu Aquatic Center (address above)

Must have either wristband or Ticket to attend

Coach T’s Award-winning BBQ dinner/no host bar.

(Note: Each team gets 2 complimentary dinner wristbands with entry.

Additional tickets can be purchased at registration or door for $30/ticket) Please support this event!  

 

Jet Ski Racing Thrills in Paraguay: More Than 200 Riders Hit the Water

By
Chris Carringer
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If you think the jet ski racing scene is only big in the U.S., Australia, or Europe… think again! The second round of the Campeonato de Moto y Jet Ski (Jet Ski and Watercraft Championship) recently took place in Paraguay, and it was massive. With more than 200 competitors tearing across the water, this high-energy event brought together some of the best PWC racers from Paraguay and Brazil for an unforgettable weekend of speed, skill, and serious competition.

Held on November 30th and December 1st at Tacuru Pucu Beach in Hernandarias, the racecourse was located right on the Paraná River, just a stone’s throw from the world-famous Iguaçu waterfalls. This stunning backdrop made for an epic setting as the PWC racers went head-to-head in 15 different categories, including Rally Turbo, Rally Aspirado, Runabout Aspirado GT, Runabout Turbo, Super Prime Turbo, and Dente Leite. The competition was fierce, with Lorenzo Tomaz, Fernando Brusman, Leandro Cardozo, Leandro Duarte, and Emmanuel Destri taking home top honors in their respective classes.

But it wasn’t just about racing—this event was also a huge boost for the local PWC scene and tourism industry. Backed by ITAIPU Binacional, the hydroelectric powerhouse that sits between Paraguay and Brazil, the championship is part of a broader push to turn Hernandarias into a go-to destination for water sports.

ITAIPU’s Tourism Advisory Board has been working to promote responsible tourism while showcasing the region’s incredible natural beauty, and events like this are proving that Hernandarias is the place to be for jet ski racing.

Whether you’re a racer looking for the next big challenge or a fan who just loves the sport, this championship was a reminder that jet ski racing is alive and thriving all over the world—and some of the most exciting action is happening outside the usual hotspots. You can check out the original writeup of the race (in Spanish) on the ITAIPU Binacional website.

Get Your PWC Ready for Spring with Impros’ Expert Repairs

By
Chris Carringer
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If you saw our recent article about maintaining your PWC over the winter, you know we’re excited to gear up for the upcoming season (at least for our readers in the Northern Hemisphere)! Following that theme, Impros has been highlighting one of their most valuable but lesser-known services to help PWC enthusiasts hit the water in top condition as the weather warms up.

While proper winter maintenance is key to keeping your watercraft in great shape, some types of damage require more than just seasonal care. When it comes to impeller damage, Impros offers some of the highest-quality repairs on the market, and their latest Instagram posts prove it. Take, for example, their before-and-after video of an OEM Sea-Doo jet pump for a 2007 GTX 155—the repaired model is nearly unrecognizable compared to the damaged piece they received. Or check out their overhaul of an OEM Yamaha 144 pump, which arrived covered in nicks and jagged edges but was restored to a good-as-new condition, ready for anything.

Impros has been providing top-tier impeller and pump repair for over 40 years, servicing all major brands like Yamaha, Sea-Doo, Kawasaki, Polaris, and more. Their “Rocked” service is the go-to for professional impeller restoration, with Stage 1 ($85) handling minor edge damage and Stage 2 ($105) tackling more serious repairs requiring welding. For riders looking for a full restoration, “The Worx” ($135) includes welding, blueprinting, and machining to bring worn impellers back to OEM specs. If you want even more performance, you can add a Race finish ($90), pitch modifications ($65), or a 4-blade adjustment ($20-$25). These services let you refresh your ride for a fraction of the cost, ensuring top riding conditions as spring approaches.

If you’re interested, just fill out their shipping form and send in your impeller following the instructions on their website. And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out their wide selection of impellers and other parts!

 

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