OK, so it’s no Body Beach. The Lake Havasu, Arizona, landmark has earned its place in jet skiing infamy as the last sliver of Wild West waterfront. With no access fee, assigned parking, paved entry or pretty much any other rules (besides “don’t be a jerk” – which some people still struggle with), the riverside cove has been a hot spot for testing sessions, training, good times and debauchery since the creation of the JS400.

Last year, we published a news article that efforts were being made to create a similar spot in Southern California’s Lake Elsinore. ThrottleJunkie.com’s Mike Yellich had been hard at work trying to win over the City of Lake Elsinore, explaining to The Watercraft Journal, “There will be a area of land and lake to set up a buoys course just like they do at Body Beach, but they will be charging a lake fee.” It turns out that yes, Yellich succeeded in his effort, but the win came with plenty of strings attached:

First of all, to access the new Lake Elsinore Jet Ski Track, you’ll need to become a “ThrottleJunkie Beach Club Member. Individual membership for the year will cost $25 as family memberships cost $35. And non-members will have to cough up $5 for for daily use. With that cost, you will have to pay $20 at the main ramp: $10 goes to the city and the other $10 pays for running the track site. But wait, that’s not all…

Although the lakeside beach opens at 8AM for parking and tent set up, you’re not allowed on the water until 9AM, so don’t expect any early morning testing sessions. Likewise, the lake closes at 4PM, so you gotta pack up your gear, clean up the beach and get the heck outta Dodge before they they close and lock up the gates. Also, don’t expect to back up and dump your skis in the water, all skis much to be toted to the water, as all trucks and cars must park 30 yards or more from water’s edge. Equally, all skis must be gassed up 20 feet from the water, because we don’t want to spoil the natural, unmolested beauty of Lake Elsinore.

Of course, as the days get longer, Yellich promised that they will be open longer. Additionally, he states, “We are also working on having it open one or two days during the week.” The fun will be starting in May, so you need to email your PayPal payment to Mike Yellich ([email protected]) to get a jump on your SoCal lake testing. And if you don’t like it, remember you voted in Jerry Brown not once, but four times as governor. Just sayin’.

We’ve been focusing a lot on the good that the PWC community can do – particularly in light of all of the bad press and anti-PWC legislation that’s been passed recently. One of the best annual events to ever rise out of this industry is the TELUS Ride For Dad event which raises funds to save men’s lives by supporting prostate cancer research and raising public awareness of the disease.

According to TELUS, “Our goal is for men to continue to be there for their families and friends for years to come. The parade of vehicles grabs the attention of the masses and the media on ride day, the research helps find hope for the future and the awareness has the potential of saving men’s lives today.

“We raise funds through large scale one-day motorcycle, snowmobile, watercraft and ATV ride events and through ongoing public fundraising throughout the year. TELUS Ride For Dad events take place in multiple cities across Canada, representing every Canadian province.”

Since its launch in 2000, the TELUS Ride For Dad has donated more than 13 million dollars to the Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation. This concerted effort to support prostate cancer research and awareness is tremendous, and is done through organized rides each and every year. Most notably is the “Ride for Dad Big Rideau” ride, leaving from and around Rideau Ferry Harbour (110 Coutts Bay Road, Rideau Ferry, Ontario, Canada).

This fun-filled day of riding includes a lunch, poker run, prizes and much more “all while helping to raise money to fight prostate cancer for our local community!” Scheduled for Saturday, July 16th, 2016, this promises to be another memorable event that all should enjoy. Visit www.ridefordad.ca to register!

A press release reported by OZPWC, stated that Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay, member for East Hills Glenn Brooks, and Police Marine Area Detective Superintendent Mark Hutchings released a statement to the media about harmful behavior by riders of jet skis.

The announcement declared that the NSW Government would take swift and bold actions to stop the dangerous and anti-social riding of jet skis in and around the Georges River, Botany Bay, and Port Hacking.

The efforts to stop the madness include high visibility of police presence, covert patrols, more restrictions on speed, and personal watercraft exclusion zones. Stringent laws will enable immediate license suspension for ski drivers riding in a reckless manner that may cause harm to others. The law will also make it easier to take the pilots’ watercraft  on the spot and place it in impound.

Many of the new “anti” ski laws are the result of complaints among the local boating community. The proclamation by Minister Gay should make them happy:

“All jet-ski users flouting the law are on notice. We’re putting a stop to this behavior,” Minister Gay said.
Superintendent Hutchings believes the bad behavior will stop with more police presence be. It has worked in the past so it should be a success once again.

The collective force is going after specific rogue riders like the one who was already arrested for knocking a kayaker out of his boat. The boater suffered severe injuries and officers pressed charges against the driver of the ski.

There is also discussion about the possibility using drones and installing more cameras in the problem areas. The low speed zone has been extended by 2 kilometers. A dedicated hotline for complaints was also put into place. These officers and council members mean business!

Brooks said the implementing stricter enforcement was a huge win for the local community. People will feel safer using the waterways knowing that the riders of the rogue pwcs will no longer be able to frighten them without facing harsh repercussions.

Because he doesn’t already have enough going on – y’know being the reigning IFWA World Champion, a professional freerider, stuntman, ski builder and social media maven – Mark Gomez is also the newest sponsorship liaison for Hydro-Turf, the industry’s most established source for performance traction mats, handlepole/bar and seat covers. Gomez has been representing Hydro-Turf for years, but now he does so in a professional capacity, helping welcome (and screen) would-be sponsored HT athletes.

Recently, Gomez announced, “Hydro-Turf is now accepting resumes for 2016. We are looking for dedicated athletes who love our product and can represent our brand on and off the water. Visit www.Hydroturf.com/sponsorship for information on what we are looking for, and how to apply. Sponsorship enrollment ends on March 18th. As some of you may have heard from my previous announcement, I am now the remote . Anything related to HT needs must be sent to my work email [email protected].”

That’s right! You can join the likes of Mark Gomez, Lee Stone, Eric Francis, and Brock Austin as an official Hydro-Turf sponsored rider for 2016. Simply visit the web address listed above, and submit the required information and images, and you too could be a sponsored rider.

Life has been tough for Jack Copperwaite. Born with Crouzen Syndrome, the three-year-old suffers from a rare genetic condition that causes excess fluid on the brain (hydrocephalus) and complications to the development of his skull. Since his birth, Jack has undergone 11 operations to relieve the fluid in his cranial cavity, or intracranial space. Any impact to his head could cause immediate and severe injuries, if not completely fatal.

With hopes of raising funds to offset the surmounting costs of Jack’s surgeries and care, more than 40 jet skiers rallied together to hold “a SPLASHTACULAR fundraiser,” riding from Queenscliff to the Clifton Springs’ boat ramp late last year. The effort raised an impressive $10,000 on the solitary weekend, with organizer Heath Tournier saying it was “a great turnout” for an event organized just a few weeks earlier.

Working through his charity the Tournier Foundation, Tournier aims to help other young people in need, as the $10,000 raised from this ride will go to Jack’s ongoing care needs and help fund renovations on the family home. In an article published by The Geelong Advertiser, appeals for “help in building him a new bedroom because doctors were concerned his cramped bedroom were made. A contractor, Mr Tournier quickly offered to lend a hand and is in the process of renovating a new room for Jack, the kitchen and his parents’ bedroom.”

Jack’s mother, Donna said, “We’ve got good people around us and in the community to support him and it’s overwhelming.” Present at the Clifton Springs’ boat ramp to meet the riders, Jack –  despite spending more than 140 days in the hospital – couldn’t be bothered, spending the day “paddling in the shallows,” and stopping to take pictures with several of the participants.

To donate to the Foreman Jack fund go to thetournierfoundation.org

Krash Industries – out of Victoria, Australia – is back to host the annual Huck ‘N Hold event which showcases all styles of riding, from flying skis to racing. Your ability doesn’t matter since there are rookie and amateur divisions available for one to enter.

This competition is bigger than ever and The Bridge Builders Youth Organization (BBOYO) has once again stepped up to help. This is the organizations’ third year putting this event together taking place March 4th and 5th this year at Gunnamata Surf Beach in Australia.

A $3,500 purse is available for the Pro Division and prizes from Kavicini Components will be given to the Free Riders, Amateurs, Rookies, Masters, and Runabout divisions according to Huck ‘N Hold’s Facebook page. This event looks super fun.

The Bridge Builders Organization’s youth are excited about putting together the Huck ‘N Hold because it is such a cool event. The competition is another way to bring the kids together and to help them grow into productive adults.

The BBOYO is a non-profit that has discovered that by allowing teens an opportunity to organize events, their confidence is boosted and a challenge is provided. The Huck ‘N Hold does just that, provides a challenge while the youth perform a great deal of the work that goes into executing the event.

The Australian Watercraft Association will also be on hand to host the first round of the 2016 Krash Industry Nationals and Jet Ski Transport will help you get your ski to and from the event. Only 120 spots are available so submit your entry now!

It’s a really good time to be Yamaha. Not only did the 2015 Yamaha FX SVHO WaveRunner win “Watercraft of The Year,” but their all-new three-cylinder 4-stroke TR-1 receive the coveted National Marine Manufacturers’ Association (NMMA) for innovation in the watercraft division.

New for 2016, the Yamaha TR-1 HO marine engine replaces the outgoing MR-1 four-cylinder 4-stroke while being 13 percent more powerful while being 40 percent smaller in size and 20 percent lighter. Weight is shaved by eliminating a reduction gear, integrating the oil tank, and using fewer and smaller parts, resulting in quicker acceleration, higher top end speeds, and better fuel economy.

Here’s the original press release:

Yamaha WaterCraft Group, a division of Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., today announced that its WaveRunner product line received one of the boating industry’s most prestigious awards recognizing excellence in design from the National Marine Manufacturers’ Association (NMMA).

Honored for innovation by the NMMA in the Personal Watercraft category is the new TR-1 High Output marine engine that is featured in Yamaha’s 2016 V1 and VX Series WaveRunners.

The Yamaha TR-1 HO marine engine is the pinnacle of engine innovation. The TR-1 motor is 13 percent more powerful than the Yamaha MR-1 engine that it is replacing while being 40 percent smaller in size and 20 percent lighter in weight.

Yamaha achieves this by eliminating a reduction gear, integrating the oil tank, and using fewer and smaller parts. The result is quicker acceleration, higher top end speeds, with better fuel economy and more fun for the rider.

This is the second time in as many years that Yamaha WaveRunners have been honored by the NMMA for innovation. Last year, Yamaha’s RiDE system received the innovation award in the Personal Watercraft category. RiDE is the world’s first handlebars with dual throttle controls and is available on Yamaha’s 2016 FX and VX Series WaveRunners.

“Receiving this coveted award two years in a row reflects our commitment to constant innovation and bringing all new technologies and features to market that make our customers’ experiences with our products even better every time they are out on the water,” said Bryan Seti, general manager of Yamaha’s Watercraft Group.

The NMMA Innovation Awards are presented annually at the Miami Boat Show. Selected and judged by Boating Writers International. The Innovation Award honors manufacturers and suppliers who bring new, innovative products for the boating industry to market.

In the photo from left to right is Yamaha Watercraft’s product manager Scott Watkins, general manager Bryan Seti, and president Dean Burnett.