The Watercraft Journal By The Numbers: July 2016

August 1, 2016

Who do you compete with when you have no competition? The answer is yourself. In fact, the healthy competitor is always at odds with themselves, the ache to push harder, faster and more effectively should always be the mantra of the individual and company. Last month, we recognized the massive strides we have made in a year’s time. Because we have no other domestic competition to contend with, we felt that the same ought to go for the latest edition of The Watercraft Journal By The Numbers. In June’s review, we celebrated an unprecedented 30-percent growth in its year-to-year readership. Increasing the industry-leading magazine by nearly a third is no small feat and for July, the growth curve continues.

Yet, how? Are there more personal watercraft enthusiasts coming into the market? The answer is yes and no. As we’ve continued to grow, so has our presence meaning existing PWC enthusiasts have only just recently come to enjoy our professionally-written, unique content produced and published daily. And of course, no other media in our industry produces as much or as consistently as we do. Equally, persons new to the sport yet savvy when it comes to digital research have come across one of our literally thousands of published articles, and have become regular readers. That’s the joy of being present through so many digital formats, we’re pretty much everywhere you are (except Snapchat. Seriously, what’s with that?).

On the same note, companies actively advertising with The Watercraft Journal are enjoying a thrust of new viewership, site visits, email inquiries and new and return business. Why? Because their sponsored articles are drawing the eyes of interested and/or curious enthusiasts looking to maximize the enjoyment from their PWC. Because their advertisements are speaking to the right audiences, those within the buying demographic (not just 20-year-olds scouring pages looking for bikini-clad eye candy). Because, The Watercraft Journal has over a quarter-million annual readers who came looking specifically for PWC-related material. They didn’t accidentally click a link on a motorcycle forum that we owned (we don’t own any forums), or stumble upon us after searching a misleading hyperlink.

And as we’ve said before, for “those companies already working together with us, they enjoy access to the largest engaged and informative content-consuming audience in our industry. We carefully craft each article to be both provoking and educating, informational and entertaining. And, unlike any other resource in the PWC industry, we publish every single day, Monday-through-Friday. There’s no lapse of months between issues, weeks between updates or even days between Facebook posts. We are the only reliable source for consistent content. That’s what brings people back each and every day.” And for those who aren’t advertising with us, hopefully this article will convince you of what you’re missing out on:

July 2015

July 2016

A Rising Tide of Readership
Of the two charts above, you’ll notice that this year’s July doesn’t show any remarkable peaks and/or valleys. The reason being consistency. Rather, we’re growing in readership like a rising tide, elevating every level. The Watercraft Journal is welcoming more and more readers, and at an accelerated, exponential rate. Last month was very similar to this, and next month is expected to do the same (that is, if not better as we’ll be announcing the 2017 lineups for both Yamaha and Sea-Doo). People have come to reply upon us, and that’s something we don’t take lightly. And that responsibility to our readership is why we grow. No other magazine is growing as quickly as The Watercraft Journal and that’s just the beginning.

July 2015
Total number unique readers: 31,543*
Total number of articles read: 67,887
Percentage of new readers: 68.5%

July 2016
Total number unique readers: 40,708*
Total number of articles read: 75,796
Percentage of new readers: 68.6%

*This number is considered equal to an individual sale of a single copy of a magazine.

A Reliable Schedule of Publishing
It’s sad that so many outlets have come and gone, fizzling out after a few short weeks or months of rapid publishing. We’ve all seen it before and not just with those within the personal watercraft industry. A new site will spring up, spam as many groups and persons within the industry with hyperlinks to new content, burst through a cache of content in the first few weeks, and then fizzle out. It’s the Roman candle of publishing. On the flipside, The Watercraft Journal has never missed a day in its three-and-a-half years of publishing. 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. 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 June 2015: 24
Feature articles published in June 2015: 13
Total feature word count: 10,501 words*

News articles published in July 2015: 25
Feature articles published in July 2015: 11
Total feature word count: 10,409 words*

*When this number is translated to print publication standards, it equals a 130-page magazine. Please note that this number does not include an average of two uniquely-written news articles published daily.

A Responsibility to Bring WCJ to Its Readers
Go to where the people are. Don’t expect them to come to you. Gone are the days of “If you build it, they will come.” Sorry folks, but you’re going to have to find Shoeless Joe these days. That’s why The Watercraft Journal brings its content to the masses through our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and weekly newsletters. By offering our content freely and easily – whether it’s via a desktop, a laptop or a portable device, anyone can read it. But if you want to grow you need to let them know what’s new. This isn’t rocket science, yet so many outlets fail to do this one primary service – and that is why we’re the industry leader and, well. You know the rest.

July Facebook likes: 17,013
Top Five countries: United States, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Puerto Rico

Isn’t it Time to Join The Winning Side?
There are so many companies benefiting from advertising with The Watercraft Journal for the very reasons listed above. Yet, conversely, there are just as many (if not more so) yet to enjoy the ease of access, and the immediacy that working together with The Watercraft Journal brings them to a whole new audience of personal watercraft enthusiasts. Getting the word out about your product can be difficult, and relying on a few sponsored racers is only speaking to a tiny demographic. Put your products in front of more enthusiasts faster and easier by joining The Watercraft Journal as an advertiser today. To inquire more about advertising with The Watercraft Journal, please email [email protected]

Vicious Rumors And Vile Gossip: Subtle Moves For Sea-Doo in 2017

Kevin Shaw

August 1, 2016

In less than 24 hours from the moment of this writing, The Watercraft Journal will have hard confirmation whether its predictions for Yamaha’s 2017 lineup will have been true or not, as we will be at the private media introduction of the newest batch of WaveRunners. Of course, we’ll also have a comprehensive review of the entire lineup first, both with more detail and pictures than any other resource in the personal watercraft industry – but that’s not the purpose of today’s edition of “Vicious Rumors and Vile Gossip.” No sir. In fact, it’s all about the brand’s biggest competitor and current market share leader, Sea-Doo.

Thus far, chatter concerning the brand’s newest batch of watercraft has remained reasonably quiet. All but our earliest predictions from the first of the year, that is. We wrote, “we do predict the dissemination of the new ACE 300 engine – in a non-supercharged format – throughout the rest of the current Sea-Doo lineup for 2017. Rotax engineers dedicated quite a bit of time, effort and resources in improving the outgoing 1503 Rotax 4-tec three-cylinder, and it’s clearly evident in the new ACE 300. Even without the service-free supercharger, the innovations put into the new ACE stands to provide power and efficiency gains for all levels of Sea-Doo PWC – from the GTI 130 to the GTX 155.”

And all of what little noise we’ve heard from our sources have echoed the same. Because of the level of investment that BRP has poured into the two ACE engines (ACE 900 and ACE 300), the manufacturer looks primed to focus specifically on these two powerplants and finally phase out the lingering 1503 1.5-liter Rotax 4-tec engine. With the latest crop of 300-series Sea-Doos (GTX Limited, RXT-X and RXP-X) earning rave reviews both from the media and message boards, the new 1630cc ACE engine has proven a reliable and reasonably trouble-free replacement to the outgoing powerplant; a significant achievement considering the amount of re-engineering poured into its revised “service-free” supercharger and new drive shaft (riding on two composite bearing packs at either end of a near inch-thick shaft, engaged by 8 steel clutch washers).

Of course, most applications of the new ACE 1630 won’t require the supercharger as most will operate strictly naturally-aspirated. The 9-percent added displacement is certain to account for increased bottom-end performance for all of Sea-Doo’s lineup, although top-end horsepower will likely retain the same ratings (130, 155, 215, 260, 300, etc.). Apart from this phasing out of the 14-year-old Rotax with the new larger-displacement 3-cylinder, not much else is expected change with the current machines. On the other hand, a whole new unit is rumored to be introduced to “fulfill a gap in the market,” from what we’ve been told. Initially, we hoped this would be a dedicated fishing PWC, but that seems unlikely…for now.

Rather, the mystery runabout will either be the much anticipated 110-horsepower Spark X, or a particularly optioned GTI or GTX model. Yes, that sounds vague. We know. Yet, considering how well Yamaha has managed to specifically equip certain VX and FX models to appeal to particular market segments, Sea-Doo will be following close behind. Personally, we’d love to see a Limited GTI that comes with a dowry of accessories similar to Yamaha’s family fun starter pack VX Limited (raft, tow rope, storage bag, cover and solar-powered battery charger, and 12-volt USB port in the glove box); but we’ll have to wait and see.

Regarding the aforementioned Spark X, talk of this craft has been circling for over two years now. Aftermarket tuners have shown how apt the ACE 900cc engine is to a reflash, immediately opening up to a dyno proven 110-horsepower (over the stock 90-horsepower). Whether the Spark X will manifest itself in the “blue sky” apparition with adjustable sponsons, X-Series steering and foot wedges/locks is somewhat dubious, particularly as the 90-horsepower HO editions already have enthusiasts pushing PolyTec to its limits, and Sea-Doo is not interested in rehashing the tired argument whether the material is sturdy enough to last the roughest of circumstances. Rather, we understand that Sea-Doo will unveil a new avenue to take in revitalizing the 4-year-old craft’s mass market appeal.

All in all, the rumors we’ve heard are minimal: the brand-wide application of the 1630 ACE engine across all 1503-equipped units; the introduction of a new mid-segment PWC (via creative optioning); and the possible introduction of the Spark X or other Spark option. Of course, Sea-Doo has a way of even making “bold new colors & graphics” pretty big news, so don’t be surprised if Sea-Doo ends up doing something surprising.

Gallery: Hidden Trails Pro Watercross National Tour – Round 5 Atlantic City, New Jersey

Tim Ducat

July 28, 2016

The boardwalk of New Jersey’s Atlantic City was the setting for Round 5 of the Hidden Trails Motorsports Pro Watercross National Tour. Atlantic City was a late addition to the tour but we wouldn’t be surprised if it was a staple on the tour for a long time to come. Huge rollers and a packed beach were the first things that came in to view as racers filled the starting line this past weekend. The racing by the Steel Pier gave fans a great spot to watch from as some of the best racers in the world launched their personal watercraft off of five-foot-high rollers.

Pro-Am Ski Stock was amazing to watch from beginning to end and we got to see a few faces return to tour as it returned to the East Coast. Noticeably missing from the western rounds of the tour were Chris MacClugage and Jimmy Wilson, who returned with a bang. Broward Motorsports and Monster Energy-sponsored legend MacClugage put on a high flying show sweeping Motos 1 and 2. Unbelievably fast Hidden Trails Judge Motorsports’ rider Wilson kept Macc honest by finishing up both of the first motos with a second place finish, keeping the battle for the top podium spot alive going into Moto 3. Wilson ended up with a huge final win but it wasn’t enough to hold off Macc for the top overall spot. The consistency of Rick Sherker with two thirds and a fourth place finishes placed him on the podium edging out Broward Motorsports rider David Cabrera.

In Pro-Am Runabout Box Stock, Mountain Motorsports Monster Energy rider Dustin Farthing returned to his dominant ways after a rough race in Utah. Farthing won all three motos by a huge margin on his Sea-Doo RXP-X 300. The rough surf seemed to separate him from the rest of the class but this didn’t mean that there wasn’t a battle going on behind him. Yamaha and Judge Motorsports rider Troy Snyder and Sea-Doo X-Team Hidden Trails Motorsports rider Tim Ducat continued a battle that has been heating up all tour long. Ducat took a second place in Moto 1 after Snyder missed two buoys. In Moto 2 they had a long battle that culminated in Snyder finishing just in front of Ducat. So it came down to Moto 3 to see how the rest of the podium would shake out. It was a battle that also included Yamaha rider Jeff Dycowski, who just missed out on the podium. Snyder put up a valiant effort after a red flag start, but it wasn’t enough to catch Ducat, putting the Sea-Doo racer second overall and Snyder rounding out the podium in third.

Pro-Am Ski GP was once again the biggest class of the weekend and had some of the best racing and once again. Just like the other ski class, it too had two familiar faces battling it out for the top two spots. Broward Motorsports Chris MacClugage started off with a big Moto 1 win looking like he is completely at home in the rough Atlantic Ocean. Hidden Trails Motorsports Jimmy Wilson, who we are sure is happy to be back on tour, finished second in Moto 1 and battled back for a Moto 2 win setting up for a winner-takes-all Moto 3 showdown between the two. Motos 1 and 2 had Kommander rider David Redinger finish third and it looked like it would set him up for a podium spot but trouble in Moto 3 denied him that opportunity. In the final match between Macc and Wilson, Macc once again bested Wilson and took the top spot on the podium with Wilson finishing second. Consistency was the name of the game for Rick Sherker this weekend once again, putting him in a very respectable third place overall.

When the tour came back east it also brought back a familiar face to the Pro-Am Runabout GP class in the form of Dean’s Team Yamaha rider Brian Baldwin. Baldwin started off the weekend by smoking the field in Moto 1. This seemed to really light a fire under Monster Energy Sea-Doo rider Dustin Farthing. Farthing put Moto 1 behind him and put on a show in Motos 2 and 3, winning by a huge margin. This gave Farthing the overall and placed Baldwin in second. Third place on the podium came down to two Hidden Trails Motorsports Sea-Doo riders, Trey Frame and Tim Ducat. Ducat edged out Frame for third overall after boat problems cost Frame a shot at the podium.

In Sport GP there has been one man to win every overall this year, Broward Motorsports’ owner Sam Nehme. Red flags and huge air on the starts put Nehme behind the 8 ball in two of the motos but even that couldn’t stop his march towards perfection. Nehme bested Team Faith rider Kelly Smith in all three motos with Smith finishing just behind him in each moto and on the podium. All around great guy and rider Johnny Smith finished third overall after multiple issues that tried to set him back.

As the tour begins winding down, the great battles are shaping up as we hit the final stretch. Next we will see everyone in Lake Hartwell, Georgia for the last of the single points round of the tour before the championships in West Virginia. Until then, you can find all the results from the tour HERE.

Hidden Trails Pro Watercross National Tour – Round 5 Atlantic City, New Jersey
PRO-AM SKI GP: 1. Chris MacClugage, 2. Jimmy Wilson, 3. Rick Sherker, 4. David Redinger, 5. Derrick Helm, 6. Josh Block, 7. Mike Kelberer, 8. David Cabrera, 9. Bill Haig; PRO-AM R/A BOX STOCK: 1. Dustin Farthing, 2. Tim Ducat, 3. Troy Snyder, 4. Jeff Dyckowski, 5. Brent Venderley, 6. Dylan Osborn, 7. Michael Borges; PRO-AM SKI STOCK: 1. Chris MacClugage, 2. Jimmy Wilson, 3. Rick Sherker, 4. David Cabrera, 5. Callaway Turner; PRO-AM RUNABOUT GP: 1. Dustin Farthing, 2. Brian Baldwin, 3. Tim Ducat, 4. Trey Frame, 5. Dylan Osborn, 6. Cameron Frame; SPORT STOCK: 1. Sam Nehme, 2. Eric Gabryel, 3. Shawn Reynolds, 4. Ray Quintana, 5. Ken Waddle; SPORT GP: 1. Sam Nehme, 2. Kelly Smith, 3. Johnny Smith, 4. Shawn Reynolds; AMATEUR R/A BOX STOCK: 1. Juan Rada, 2. Michael Borges, 3. Anthony Figuerua, 4. Eric T. Gabryel; RUNABOUT N/A SPEC: 1. Cameron Frame; VETERANS R/A BOX STOCK: 1. Jeff Dyckowski, 2. Kevin Kennedy, 3. Anthony Figuerua; IROC STOCK (RUNABOUT REC): 1. Eric Gabryel, 2. Eric T. Gabryel, 3. Sean Miles; AMATEUR RUNABOUT SS: 1. Travis Moore, 2. Kevin Kennedy; IROC GP (RUNABOUT 1000): 1. Eric Gabryel, 2. Eric T. Gabryel

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AMS Is Giving Away a Free Trailer With A Purchase of a Sea-Doo GTI 130

Kevin Shaw

July 28, 2016

If you’re resident of the Southern States, then you’ll know we’ve been averaging some pretty sweltering temperatures these past few weeks (and we’re only now closing in on August!). With at least another two months of summertime temps, there’s still plenty of time to get yourself out on the lake as quick and as often as possible. America’s Motor Sports, Middle Tennessee’s oldest, most established and longest-running Sea-Doo dealer is not only the right place to go for all your Sea-Doo needs, but they’re also eager to move their inventory in a big, big way.

Announced earlier this month on their official Facebook page, AMS is giving away a free trailer with the purchase of a new 2016 Sea-Doo GTI 130. Part of the dealerships’ “Summer Blow Out Sale,” there’s still plenty of time (and hot weather) to hit the lake on a brand new Sea-Doo, and being handed a brand-new single place trailer is a really good way to make that happen. That’s literally like being given an extra $1,000 off of your purchase, but AMS will have your new GTI unloaded, prepped, charged and fueled, and loaded down on your new trailer. All you have to do is back up your car, SUV or truck, and hitch it up! It’s that easy!

Of course, America’s Motor Sports has two locations to cash in on this offer, your choice of Nashville or Madison, TN. Either locations drops you within minutes of two of the state’s biggest lakes (Percy Priest or Old Hickory), and literally hours of fun, so don’t delay on this awesome offer.

JetX Sweeps Can-Am Nationals’ Rec Lites Class

Kevin Shaw

July 28, 2016

JetX made another spectacular showing at the Can-Am Nationals this past weekend in Belle River, Ontario with racers competing in 10 different classes. With Jet X Racing athletes from both sides of the border, it’s team of 11 racers in attendance brought home an unprecedented 12 Can-Am National Titles!

JetX dominated the Rec Lites class with a podium standing of first, second and third place wins! Andrew Bezan and Gord Horne, two well accomplished racers placed first and second, respectively and Sydney Czarcinski – JetX’s newest and youngest team member – placed third after only being on the race course four times to date!

Most impressive was the turnaround Czarcinski was able to make, after a disappointing 4th place finish in the first moto of the weekend, she picked up a great start in Moto 2 to take her all the way to a second place finish. A missed buoy cost the novice a lap, but otherwise her performance was spot on. Best of all, Czarcinski was joined by her father Todd Czarcinski who also took home a third place overall trophy in 1000 Superstock class.

JetX would like to thank everyone that has helped the JetX Racing team along the way making the 2016 racing season one of our best yet: RIVA Racing, Hydro-Turf, Jet Pilot, Moto-Option Clothing, V-Tech Tuned, Klotz Lubricants, Powersportsdiagnostics.com, Dedicated Plastics, and Steel Tech

Congrats to JetX racers who placed this weekend:
Rec Lites: 1. Andrew Bezan, 2. Gord Horne, 3. Sydney Czarcinski; Sport Open: 1. Andrew Bezan, 2. Jay Edworthy; 1000 Superstock: 1. Rick Maj, 2. Jay Edworthy, 3. Todd Czarcinski; GP Ski: 2. Dave Davidson; Pro AM Runabout Stock: 1. Jay Edworthy; Pro AM Ski Stock: 1. Dave Davidson, 3. Colin Raisig

SBT, Inc. Now Offers Brand New Engines With No Core

Kevin Shaw

July 27, 2016

As technology marches on and the aftermarket following closely behind, professional tuners and performance-seeking weekend warriors are finding that today’s engines can take a lot of abuse. This, in turn, gives these very same speed hunters more room to push the envelope, and consequently, find where the limits of these machines truly are. Although the end result can be a little messy (ever seen a turbo Sea-Doo window the engine block? It ain’t pretty), there is one resource at the ready to keep every personal watercraft in full operation.

SBT, Inc. the world leader in PWC two- and four-stroke engine refurbishing and remanufacturing has just announced a program that is sure to ring loudly to those managing fleets of rental craft, repair shops with high turnaround and those needing a completely assembled (and dyno tested) engine fast; Announced earlier this month, SBT is offering brand-new SBT engines with no core required. Just check out the selection and find the engine you’re looking for! That’s it. And with that engine, you get an unparalleled one-year, fault-free warranty against failure of any kind with…wait for it… absolutely no questions asked!

And like all SBT and Watercraft Superstore purchases, your order is given a guaranteed ship Date or its FREE. It also includes an unprecedented two-year, fault-free warranty, and all the gaskets needed for installation. So whether you’re shopping for a new 4-stroke, be it a brand-new or remanufactured Premium or Standard engine, 4-stroke short blocks, cases, crankshafts or anything else, SBT, Inc. has got you covered!

2016 Watcon.com Lake Michigan Surf Ride

Blake Ellestad

July 27, 2016

Attention all you Michigan riders and surrounding state riders! The return of the annual Watcon Lake Michigan Surf Ride that will take place at Pennoyer Park Beach in Kenosha, Wisconsin this August 25th through 28th. This is a great chance for all riders of all ages and experience to come together and enjoy the last few nice summer days.

This three day event will be the best way to cap off the summer. Friday will be a laid back day with check-ins, free ride and an assessment of the surf conditions. In the evening a meet and greet at one of the local restaurants will be sure to bring old friends reunited while meeting new friends.

Saturday will be the most fun packed day of the whole event, Surf Moto Race, Big Air Freestyle Event, Raffle of some of the best gear from the sponsored all why everyone is taking group photos! Sunday will be a day of relaxation but if you feel the need to try to execute that one last trick before wrapping up the riding season, go for it. The lake will be open for you with a crowd cheering you on.

This is going to be a jam-packed weekend full of fun, tricks, unthinkable tricks and unforgettable moments. Do everything possible to clear time to make it to this event. There is a cost for the event but with that cost it includes a t-shirt, wristband and a event sticker. That alone is worth the price.

Real Review: Jobe Scout 2P Towable Tube

Kevin Shaw

July 26, 2016

Admittedly, we’re waaay behind on this review, as we’ve had this in our possession for over a year. While the Jobe Scout 2P Towable Tube hasn’t changed in that time, thus making our review still relevant, it is a bit of a relief to finally check this off of our “to do” list. In doing so though, we found a very fast way to also through in a new category of evaluation for full sized personal watercraft runabouts as we pulled this raft behind three different skis this year. (Albeit, how well a machine is at towing a $160 two-person raft is likely not going to be the deciding factor in purchasing a $13,000 PWC.)

Austrian watersports apparel and accessory manufacturer Jobe is one of the industry’s largest, expanding its reach across the Atlantic and beyond. Its products are well regarded in hundreds of markets and rightfully so, there’s a lot to be found just in a towable. The raft itself is made from 24G PVC, pretty sturdy stuff and is molded in a tapered, wing-like design to keep from nosing over much more than flat tubes. A large Boston Valve screws into the tube itself allowing for quick air release, and easy filling if you’ve got an inner tube stem on an air nozzle attached to a compressor, that is. (It takes a while to fill this bad boy up.)

The tube is wrapped in a 420D nylon cover that features quite a few smart designs: a large, quick-connect front buckle, reboarding handles at the rear, 6 handles up front for multiple hand placement, a quick-dry drain, side bumpers, and two soft-to-the-touch “Neo pads” that also allow for comfortable multiple riding positions. When inflated, it fits snugly in the bed of a standard-sized pickup truck bed, or can be easily strapped to the back of a runabout as you travel to your “secret spot” before setting up camp. On the other hand, when deflated, it will take up every inch of room in the front storage bin of the largest PWC, so that’s really not a good idea.

The Scout’s flat bottom is great for kids liking to power slide in a corner, but the complete lack of a V-shape will having them feel every bump, ripple and wake on the lake (which can be the point if that’s what you’re looking for). At low speeds or when pushed hard enough, the Scout has a tendency to nose-over, swamping the raft and ejecting its riders. In fact, we repeatedly reminded our test subjects not to do so as the swamping raft can actually destabilize the PWC (with an inattentive pilot). When picking up speed with older riders, the Scout is squirrelly to say the least, but again, we believe that might be by intent.

Younger or weaker riders might struggle to hang on (even at slow speeds), and reboarding can be challenging for the same, so be prepared to jump in and help them back up if necessary. Jobe recommends that riders be above 6-years-old and proficient swimmers in addition to always wearing a lifevest. And remember to always ride with a spotter. In all, the Jobe Scout 2P Towable is well-built and a lot of fun; comparable tubes come in considerably less ($20-$60 less) so be a conscientious shopper and do your homework.

Video: Hydro-Turf Athletes Wow Crowds at Franklin Freestyle Water Show This Past Weekend

Kevin Shaw

July 26, 2016

Sometimes things happen in your own backyard right under your nose. Unbelievably, we only heard of the Franklin Freestyle Water Show this afternoon, well after the weekend’s debut. Held between 12-to-3pm both Saturday and Sunday at Westhaven Lake in the Westhaven Residents’ Club located in gorgeous Franklin, Tennessee, the first-ever Franklin Freestyle Water Show entertained residents and spectators with a dazzling display of amateur and professional flat water freestyle – literally minutes away from The Watercraft Journal home office.

Presented by H2X Racing Promotions, the freestyle show consisted of three professional freestyle riders, including multi-time IJSBA World and National champion Jason “The Destroyer” Stoyer, fellow Amateur and World champion Chris Langlais and up-and-coming Michigan-rider Evan Krefski. All three performed a total of 8 shows over the 2-day period, lasting between 20-to-30 minutes, with a meet-and-greet autograph session afterwards.

While the crowds weren’t what you’d call a “packed house,” they were enthralled with the aerial acrobatics that these athletes could perform, including many of these Hydro-Turf sponsored riders polishing up on their World Finals routines, displaying many of their signature tricks, and tossing out an impressive 15-foot back flip. All-in-all, the event put freestyle riding in front of an audience who otherwise would never have known it existed, and that is the goal.

As H2X writes, “…freestyle combines the talent of the rider, the power of the watercraft, and the imagination of the crowd to make it a triple header of guaranteed excitement!” While the images shown here (provided by The Tennessean’s Shelley Mays) are fantastic, there’s a whole gallery of action shots to be seen HERE and on the venues’s official Facebook page HERE. Until then, enjoy the video of many of the show’s highlights below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NdF7YKxClg

RIVA Racing’s Sea-Doo Spark Steering System Bundles

Blake Ellestad

July 25, 2016

At last, for all of you Sea-Doo Spark riders, RIVA Racing is offering a new complete steering system bundle that drastically improves the steering response, firmness and handling of your craft. This new steering system is a direct replacement for all of the plastic components that comprise the Spark’s steering neck, covers and shrouds from the factory. Of course, as there are various options for the Spark, there are two “bundles” or packages that RIVA offers; non-IBR: $822.50 and IBR: $998.50.

Some may ask why they need to upgrade their handlebars, here is why: This new system it replaces all of the OEM plastic, replacing it with a “race proven” billet bulletproof steering neck, precision-machined aluminum housings directly replacing all of your factory switch covers, and exactly fits your Spark’s toggles. There’s also an awesome replacement casing for your Start/Stop switch, centralizing it on your handlebars.

Compatible for all years of the Spark, its target audience is primarily aimed at racers and performance enthusiasts looking to push their Spark to the next level. If you are just a rider who likes to have a clean-looking handlebar setup, this will dramatically make your craft much more heavy-duty.

Although this might be one of the more expensive items you can buy for your Spark (that is, apart from a turbo kit), riders who are using the RIVA new steering system say they will never go back to the OEM handle bars. Note that the RIVA bundles are compatible with standard MX style bars and grips that are not included in this bundle, so you’ll need to factor that into your cost. Nevertheless, this is definitely a modification that will last a very long time and has been tested to withstand some of the toughest situations. Do yourself a favor and go to RIVA Racing and start adding parts to your cart!

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