For years Hydro-Turf has been providing the public with quality traction mats and upholstery. These are a necessity for any riders as having a good traction mat can be the one thing that stands in your way of making that jump or getting the inside lane on the turn. But as with any part or accessories it all costs money. Many riders have visions for their watercraft but do not have the means, so why not get a sponsor to help you out!
Recently, Hydro-Turf posted on Facebook saying that they are look to sponsor riders for the upcoming 2017 year. This could be your time to send in your information and let this company who has helped grow our personal watercraft community promote you. Hyrdo-Turf is known globally as the one of the leaders in the traction mat industry. So, you are probably wondering how you sign up and if the class you race in is available.
Well good news for you, all events are open. Anywhere to closed course racing to freestyle to runs and riders to poker runs. They want to hear what you are all about and help achieve your goals for this year.
As outlined in the original post, here is the step by step way to apply for your sponsorship:
Once you are on that page, copy the information into your email and fill it out. Once it is all filled out, email the one and only Mark Gomez at [email protected]
Make sure when answering the questions to elaborate on all of your abilities to best represent yourself.
Remember that this is a limited opportunity and the deadline is February 3rd! So, don’t wait, fill out the form and you could be the next rider to support this awesome company. Plus if you are currently a sponsored Hydro-Turf rider and would like to renew your membership they would love to hear from you and your upcoming plans and goals.
Friday November 11, 2016 was race day for 24 teams consisting of riders on Jet Skis and Quad bikes. The teams competed in a relay race held on Marina Beach in Kuwait. Qualifying rounds took place on November 10th for the Red Bull Bar Bahr relay race. Tracks were laid out for both land and water competition. Participants were required to show proof of ownership of their Quad Bikes and it was mandatory for the Jet Ski Racers to have a license from the Marine Sports Club of Kuwait.
The top 3 teams were awarded medals and the winning team was presented with a Kawasaki 300 LX Jet Ski in addition to trophies. How cool was that?
The event was organized by Basel Salem Al-Sabah Motorsport Club with the sponsorship of Nissan Al-Babtain, Public Authority For Youth and Sports, Kawasaki, Pirelli, GoPro, Acqua Eva, Marina Mall, Al Anbaa Newspaper, Kuwait Times Newspaper, and Studentalk Magazine.
Instead of basing the race on scores, the fastest times were calculated and the 12 quickest teams were chosen to compete in the semi-finals. The semi-finals were then narrowed to six teams, also based on the time it took for them to complete their runs. All vehicles had to meet certain requirements to be eligible to race. Quad bike standards were held to a maximum length of six feet, a maximum width of almost four feet, and a maximum height of nearly four feet. The race officials left the engine choice up to the participants as long as it was run on normal fuel like gasoline, and safety belts were required.
Jet Skis specifically designed for racing were required and had to be equipped with one or two seats. The overall length requirements were twelve feet with a maximum width of around four feet. Jet Ski racers were also allowed to choose what type of engines they used as long as it held standard fuel.
Quad bikes were lined up on the beach and the drivers had to run to them at the start of the race and then quickly reach their teammates who waited on Jet Skis. Once the quad riders met their teammates, they handed them the key to their PWC. The race was then completed on the water track. You can check out the race by clicking here. It looked exciting!
Four years. The Watercraft Journal has been in circulation for four years now. In that time, we’ve welcomed nearly three quarters of a million readers and just shy of two million articles read. Last year, we grew to a record 343,000-plus unique readers. To put that in perspective, it was once explained to me that Splash – arguably the most iconic paper magazine from our industry’s “heydays” – topped out at just under 160,000 annual readers. Obviously, today’s technology allows The Watercraft Journal’s readers to effectively keep a copy of our magazine in their hip pocket at all times (over keeping their paper copy of Splash on top of the toilet tank), making accessibility a whole lot easier, but that’s how evolution goes. Today’s readers want immediacy. They want the newest news, the inside info, and the best event coverage right now. And unlike paper, The Watercraft Journal delivers.
And how is that? Because there are no other online publications, blogs or digital outlets that maintain any sort of comparable reliability, professionalism or readership. By either divvying up an already intimate niche of enthusiasts, or just by failing to reliably publish on a steady and dependable schedule, those attempting to be our competitors fail to access the vast majority of personal watercraft enthusiasts, thus failing their responsibility to present their supporting advertisers before the widest audience of self-identifying PWC enthusiasts as possible. And as a paying advertiser, you want your brand and products before the widest audience of potential customers as possible, don’t you? Of course you do.
At the first of every month, we publish “By The Numbers” primarily as a tool to inform the many companies within our industry who either have yet to consider advertising on The Watercraft Journal, or those currently considering joining our continually-growing family of supporting advertisers. For those who do come to enjoy the benefits of working with WCJ, they find measurable and evidenced results. In fact, so much so that we have written testimony of avid WCJ readers purchasing the latest models from both Sea-Doo and Yamaha upon our recommendation, as well as several of the products we’ve reviewed, from new runabouts all the way down to riding boots, gloves and battery chargers. More than any other magazine in our industry, advertising on The Watercraft Journal results in proven sales.
January 2017
January 2016
A Proven Rate of Growth
Growth over a year is worth evaluating. While different news and different article topics might draw in various ilks of readership, there is a constant: upward momentum. If you can see our continued skyward trajectory, you’ll know that The Watercraft Journal has yet to stop growing. Our new readership percentages are growing despite having been around for a few years now. And we want you to notice how for being the height of winter for most of the Northern Hemisphere, we are continually outperforming our previous year’s Spring season – and that is reason to take note. On every level, The Watercraft Journal is welcoming more and more readers, and at an accelerated, exponential rate. No other magazine is growing as quickly as The Watercraft Journal and that’s just the beginning.
January 2016
Total number unique readers: 24,221*
Total number of articles read: 57,448
Percentage of new readers: 60%
January 2017
Total number unique readers: 27,490*
Total number of articles read: 51,565
Percentage of new readers: 63%
*This number is considered equal to an individual sale of a single copy of a magazine.
The Reason We Stand Alone
The internet is a funny thing. When you prove yourself as steady as clockwork, people tend to return more often and regularly. As we publish industry news, product reviews, ride reports and more – more regularly than anywhere else – we’ve learned that PWC enthusiasts have come to depend on new and interesting content every single day. And that means we’ve got a responsibility to deliver. Unlike anybody else, The Watercraft Journal maintains a strict publishing schedule of developing and publishing new and informative content about its advertisers and their products, as well as the industry and sport as a whole.
News articles published in December 2016: 27
Feature articles published in December 2016: 10
Total feature word count: 10,283 words
News articles published in January 2017: 28
Feature articles published in January 2017: 8
Total feature word count: 10,236 words*
*When this number is translated to print publication standards equals a 102-page magazine. Please note that this number does not include an average of two uniquely-written news articles published daily.
Bringing WCJ Before Social Creatures
Many companies chose to use their social media accounts (be them personal or for business) as their sole outlet to accessing new and interested customers. Plain and simple, this is lunacy. Why? Because the people following said accounts already know who you are, and unless they are feverish return customers, you’re not getting the influx of fresh, new customers that a company needs to thrive. That’s why you need The Watercraft Journal. We are your bullhorn to the largest audience in the world. By offering our content freely and easily – whether it’s via a desktop, a laptop or a portable device, anyone can read our content. And with our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and weekly newsletters, we bring our content directly to them. And that’s a huge part of our success!
January Facebook likes: 20,367
Top Five countries: United States, Australia, Canada, France, Japan
A Better Solution to Your Problem
The personal watercraft industry is an intimate one. You want to get your brand and product out in front of as many would-be customers as possible, but how do you do it? You go to the one media outlet who welcomes over a third of a million annual readers. We’re looking to surpass every major forum in the way of readership and expand our reach well beyond that of our core industry, helping to introduce more companies to the world of personal watercraft for our readers. Again, we’re a resource. And to be one, you need to act like one. And now more than ever is the time to get your company and products on The Watercraft Journal. To inquire more about advertising with The Watercraft Journal, please email [email protected]
While this might not be earth-shattering news, it was recently announced that the new 160-horsepower 1.5L, 552-pound, 8-foot-7-inch-long Kawasaki SX-R has been officially homologated for competition by the International Jet Sport Boat Association (IJSBA), Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), which includes the P1 AquaX Sprint Races and UIM GP Ski Class, as well as the Pro Watercross Series – specifically the GP Ski and Ski 4-Stroke Stock classes.
Currently, manufacturers are scrambling to get their hands on a production unit to begin test fitting and developing aftermarket parts for the formidable standup. Already RIVA Racing, R&D Racing and Kommander Industries are boasting significant performance gains as well as radically improving the handling of what otherwise might be considered an ungainly craft. We at The Watercraft Journal are anxious to test ride one ourselves and look forward to when Kawasaki will finally allow the media to ride it.
Here’s Kawasaki’s official press release: Kawasaki Jet Ski SX-R Watercraft Prepared To Race In 2017 The new Kawasaki Jet Ski® SX-R™ stand-up watercraft will be eligible to race in IJSBA, AQUA-X and Pro Watercross competition.
As excitement continues to build for the Kawasaki Jet Ski SX-R personal watercraft, racing sanctioning bodies around the globe are announcing eligibility for the four-stroke stand-up in 2017.
In International Jet Sport Boat Association (IJSBA) competition the Jet Ski SX-R personal watercraft will be eligible to race in the Ski Stock Class and Ski Modified Class at all sanctioned events, including the Mark Hahn 300 Endurance Race and the World Finals. Both events are held in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
For events sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), including P1 AquaX Sprint Races, the Jet Ski SX-R personal watercraft is eligible to compete in the UIM GP Ski Class. In the independent Pro Watercross Series, the Jet Ski SX-R personal watercraft qualifies for the GP Ski class and Ski 4-Stroke Stock class.
Equipped with Kawasaki’s proven 1498cc four-stroke marine engine, the Jet Ski SX-R personal watercraft produces twice the power of Kawasaki’s previous stand-up model while also delivering plenty of low-to-mid-range torque. This combination gives unprecedented performance on the water for riders of all experience levels. The 2017 Jet Ski SX-R watercraft stands alone in performance and fun on the water.
There might still be snow on the ground but that doesn’t mean that you have to put off preparing for this year’s riding season. Our friends at The Watercraft Superstore (WCSS) just announced that all of their 2017 inventory is now is stock! That’s right, all of the latest riding gear as well as the newest life vests from JetPilot are all ready and in waiting for you. Whether you’re shopping for nylon front entries, or neoprene side-entries, The Watercraft Superstore has it.
Of course, most all of us know who JetPilot is, from their earliest days in the jet ski racing industry to expanding into MX, BMX, surf and wakesports over the years. Today, JetPilot reaches millions of water- and powersport enthusiasts, developing product to ensure safety while increasing comfort and longevity (because we all know how hard we can be on our riding gear). And WCSS is one of the world’s largest distributors of JetPilot PWC gear. And that’s a fact.
But remember, if you’re also looking for riding apparel and race gear that WCSS has its own line of vests, tour coats, slip-on booties and more! It’s all new for 2017 and you can score big now that WCSS is offering free shipping on orders that exceed $75 (with some restrictions).
Firefighters in Dubai are channeling their inner superheroes to fight fires with a high tech new tool; a flyboard! Dubai’s Civil Defence program has recently launched something they called “Project Dolphin.” Using a Zapata Racing Flyboard with water supplied from a specially-equipped jet ski, firefighters now have a whole new way to attack fires near bodies of water such as on bridges, creeks, canals or even boats and shoreline buildings.
The flyboard forces water at high pressure through the jet system in the board connected to the firefighters’ boots which propels them up into the air and allows them to reach virtually whatever they need to.
Director General of Dubai’s Civil Defence, Major General Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, said “Project Dolphin” will shorten response times during peak traffic hours. During these peak hours, the city’s traffic can prevent emergency vehicles moving quickly through the city thus slowly response times.
The moments between the emergency 911 call and crews showing up on scene can be very critical as fire can spread quickly. If they can respond a lot quicker, it will allow them to start putting the fire out before it gets completely out of hand. As part of the “Project Dolphin” plan, they also intend to create floating fire stations to tackle blazes from the water.
For several years, the web series “She Shreds Mountain Adventures” has been producing awesomely entertaining and visually stimulating videos showcasing the ultimate women’s snowmobile clinic retreat in the world. According to She Shreds, “Six years ago, Julie-Ann Chapman created She Shreds being the first ‘all girls’ snowmobile clinic in the world, which has progressed and branched out from there. Julie-Ann and her team specializes in teaching women to progress their skills on their snowmobile and now we welcome men to join us for clinics and guided adventures as well! With a strong emphasis on backcountry safety, She Shreds provides one of the best snowmobile adventure learning experiences. She Shreds also provides avalanche safety courses in conjunction with the Canadian Avalanche Association.”
As the clinic has successfully managed to take their message online – primarily to YouTube – She Shreds Adventures was proud to announce their new “Pemby Life” series of web episodes (“webisodes”) as well as introduce their content partners. Of them is Truckboss Decks, the industry leader in all-weather, multi-purpose truck decks. Julie-Ann herself said, “What I like most about this deck is its slick look, and it’s so easy to load and unload sleds on that any girl can do it.” She continues, “This deck is the most well-thought-out deck on the market.” There’s already a few episodes of “Pemby Life” as well as four years’ worth of video to peruse, so if you’re one of the powersports enthusiasts loving the snow as much as you do the water right now, then this is for you!
The Petaluma River is located in the northern banks of the San Francisco Bay (San Pablo Bay), a river running through the California counties of Sonoma and Marin. The shallow banks and muddy streams are calm and idyllic, and not particularly the place for jet skiing. But don’t tell that to Harrison Maynard and his pals.
Published back on July 2, 2013, Harrison and his bud, Taylor are featured riding their vintage Kawasaki 550 JetSkis playing in the shallow, weeded trails of the Petaluma River. The short clip is chock full of wipeouts, lots of thick mud, and a great deal of laughs. The guys are having a good time threading through some winding tributaries off the main Petaluma River waterway and intentionally crashing in a few muddy areas. Skis and bodies are bouncing around, in and on the brown river water. The boys don’t have a care in the world. This is what having a good time looks like!
We can’t help but wonder about the condition of their PWC’s after running in mud, reeds, and whatever else is in that water. We imagine some serious clean up of both machines and dudes was necessary after this ride! Enjoy the clip HERE:
The search was on for a jet skier and his dog beginning January 15, 2017. Police and emergency services were looking for an overdue jet skier riding a black and red Sea-Doo with a dog aboard in the waters off Bundaberg.
The Sea-Doo was ridden by a 45 year old man from Townsville who had left the port at Bundaburg, Queensland around 2pm the day before. He did not show up at his destination of Lady Elliot Island with his dog Stubby. He and his dog Stubby, wearing a life jacket, were found Monday morning after spending the night on the open ocean. He was found Hervey Bay Magistrates Court next month after allegedly being found with drugs and explosives.
Police and emergency services found the missing man and his dog Stubby after they failed to arrive at Lady Elliott Island on Saturday. A Queensland Police media spokesmen confirmed the man was found by emergency services by detecting his EPIRB. They did not only find the man and his dog; when searching his backpack many illegal items were found as well.
“The man is charged with a number of offenses including two possessions of dangerous drugs, possession of utensils, and possession of explosives,” the spokesman said. He will face court proceedings in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court February 9th. The original story was published in OZPWC.
The first thing on the short list from the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) is that the sport will be included in the 2018 Asian Games. The Games offer a lot of prestige and it is an honor for sanctioned PWC racing to be included in this event because Personal Watercraft racing is the first motorsport to be introduced in the Asian Games.
The second item on the IJSBA’s list is restructuring classes of the Ski classes. The IJSBA is planning to make two completely different ways for a PWC athlete to compete in their sanctioned events. The first way to get into events is by using the Original Equipment Manufacturer or OEM, in which the focus lies on stock skis and the Lites classes. Lites are huge in the racing industry so that category will stick around. The new Ski Stock Class is all about skis that are only tuned to a riders preference. They will pretty much come from showroom to the water. The Limited Class will slowly disappear and be replaced a Mod Lites division. These skis will have only slight modifications.
The issue of speed control has also been brought to the forefront of racing. This will help achieve track changes, like making more room for skis and less opportunity for possible collisions to be used as the only reason to slow down. The IJSBA is also taking into account the number of riders falling from skis and the more serious injuries that have occurred as a result of higher speeds. This is a tough one because many riders like to go as fast as they can so there has to be compromise.
The third item on the short list is a slight change for Runabouts and Sparks. The suggestion of utilizing aftermarket waterboxes was brought up for discussion in the Limited Class. This change would make it easier to work on the PWC. Another change is to allow a harder bottom on the Runabout 1100 Superstock.
The final item is an update on homologation. The IJSBA is currently awaiting manufacturing data to come in from Kawasaki on the new SX-R, the Yamaha EX Line, and the GP1800 machines. The approval of the boats is expected to occur before the Mark Hahn 300 on February 12. For more than a summary of the IJSBA update, check out this link.
