Gallery: Hidden Trails Pro Watercross Tour – Round 3 Sparks, NV

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June 25, 2015

The Pro Watercross Hidden Trails National Tour in Sparks, Nevada (located at the Sparks Marina Park) was an exciting event and a great way to promote our sport. The lake is normally not open to motorized watercraft, however once a year they make an exception for this race. Sparks, Nevada was the third stop on the Pro Watercross National Tour welcoming support from sponsors such as Hidden Trails Motorsports, Yamaha, Sea-Doo, Optima Racing, Jettrim, Slippery, Goggle Grip, Jet Lift, Solas, Austin-Spencer Repair Center, Jet Renu, and Davis Trailer World.

The course was large and set up left-handed with a split start from the gate. The inside split start was faster than the outside, but once the race was going, the outside split was preferred by most of the racers. The weather was quite varied between the two race days. The first day on Saturday, June 20th, was beautiful, as it was sunny with a slight cloud overcast, and the water smooth and flat. The second day – landing on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 21st – brought raging 30 MPH winds that churned the water to chop with small white caps, making it difficult for every level of racer.

At one point even the announcer Mikey Young took cover as water splashed the announcer’s stand and strong winds whipped through. Later in the day, the wind died down slightly ridding the water of the white caps. In spite of the unfortunate weather and landing on a holiday the second day, there was still a good audience turnout to watch the event.

Although expected to pass on this round, Chris MacClugage made the last minute decision and attended the event, aptly winning both the Pro Ski GP and Pro Ski Stock classes. In both classes, he battled it out to get the win; keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. In Pro Ski GP, Macc fended off Kommander Industries’ riders David Redinger and Dustin Motzouris (who fought for a well-earned second in Pro GP) both riding on new K1 skis in a 16-deep-field.

Fellow Pro Ski racer, Rob Flores passed out after he finished his first race. Evidently, Flores had the flu and was severely dehydrated. He powered through it though, and continued racing for the weekend but definitely didn’t place as well as he has in the past. Another racer who fought through injury was Josh Block, who after he tore a muscle in his arm during qualifying, still killing it out on the course.

A surprise appearance came from Kevin Redinger who made his first appearance since he was injured in a jet ski race and had to have major surgery three years ago. Redinger took first place in Veteran’s class.

The Kommander Industries team welcomed Shante Bukes back from South Africa who made the podium in two classes, Pro Runabout Stock and Pro Runabout Open. Bukes, who competed on a new FZR SVHO Yamaha, placed second in Pro Runabout Stock and third in Open. Pro Runabout Open saw its first win by a Sea-Doo for 2015, thanks to Erminio Iantosca, whose turbocharged RIVA Racing RXP-X bested Abdullah Al-Fadhel and the aforementioned Bukes, respectively.

But Dean’s Team rider Al-Fadhel was not content without a first place position, and rightfully earned his gold in Pro Runabout Stock on his SVHO-powered FZR, with Bukes and Travis Zielasko totaling out the podium (in addition to another first place finish in the Pro-Am Runabout Super Stock class).

Bibi Carmouche once again proved why she is the sport’s most-watched female ski racer, as she clinched not only a first place finish in Womens Ski Limited, but also a strong second place finish in Amateur Ski GP, against Andrew Gewecke who took first and Thomas Pagen in third.

Two freestyle competitors, Tanner Thomas and Chris Anyzeski were on hand for a brief freestyle display. Hailing from opposing sides of the country – Thomas from Alaska and Anyzeski from Florida – the two friends shared Thomas’ ski for the weekend, and were quite entertaining to watch.

The weekend was a huge success for the sponsors, racers and audience members. Dawn Dawson and Mikey Young did a great job of announcing what was happening to the audience. The pro races were available to view on live stream with a link on www.prowatercross.com. The next stop on the tour is St. George, Utah (Round 4) and will be broadcast live for anyone that cannot make it – and of course, recapped here at The Watercraft Journal!

Full results from Round 3 of the Hidden Trails Pro Watercross National Tour can be found HERE.

All images courtesy of Alie Block’s Photos by Alie and are available for purchase HERE.

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Unlock Your WaveRunner With RIVA Racing’s Yamaha Vi-Pec ECU

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Kevin Shaw

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June 24, 2015

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Remember back when all it took to tune your ski was a good set of tools? Well, unless you’re still tinkering with the ol’ two-stroke smokers, you’re likely dealing with some advanced calibration tools. If achieving the maximum performance your state-of-the-art powerplant – and doing so safely – then you’re gonna love what RIVA Racing has developed.

RIVA Racing’s new Vi-PEC V88R3 Pro-Series Yamaha ECU can effectively unlock all 1.8L Yamaha SVHO, SHO & HO engines’ hiden potential using either RIVA’s supplied mapping or through their user defined parameters. See, not only does RIVA’s new Vi-Pec V88R3 Pro-Series ECU provide access to performance-enhancing digital mapping never before available to the public, but can be individually tuned to whatever combination of RIVA Racing performance components you’ve already installed on your Yamaha WaveRunner, be it to improve intake and exhaust flow, cooling and/or increasing boost.

As RIVA Racing’s Mark Sheffield explained back in March, “With each map, we first start with the engine on our dyno. When building these tunes, we first verify target air/fuel ratios throughout the entire RPM range of the tune, making adjustments to the fuel tables as necessary. Once we have reached targeted air/fuel values, we then focus on ignition timing. Again, we slowly go through the entire RPM range of the tune, monitoring ignition timing vs. horsepower produced.

“Once this process is complete, we then transfer the hardware and the file to the watercraft. Once installed, we go through a series of ‘cold starts.’ This is to ensure proper starting and fueling when the engine is under colder than normal conditions. We’ll let it sit in a cold environment overnight, and then proceed with cold starts the next morning. Once the ‘cold starts’ process is complete, it’s time to hit the water.

“When water testing, we go through the entire RPM range of the tune in steps. First running at idle for a few minutes, then 2000, 2500, 3000RPM and so on, (holding the RPM for a couple minutes at each point) until we go through the RPM range of the tune. The test rider will monitor the engine data live as well as being recorded on the Vi-PEC data-logging feature.

“After each session, the data log is downloaded and carefully reviewed. Adjustments are made if necessary to optimize performance. Once initial water testing is complete & target values are verified, we go through a series of endurance testing and heat things up. Again, by monitoring data and reviewing data logs provided by the Vi-PEC, we establish limits and parameters to create safety margins with each tune.

“We log about 20 hours of endurance testing before any of these files are sent out for field testing. Files are sent to certain racers & dealers in different locations around the world. Using the customer’s Vi-PEC data logs, we can adjust and optimize tunes for these varying conditions. This way we have the information to support our customers in other parts of the world with different environmental conditions than ours. Once we complete this step, at that time we are ready to release this base map to the public.”

Of course, our faithful readers will recognize much of Sheffield’s above statement when we first test rode their Vi-Pec equipped FZR earlier in the year. Priced at $2,399.95, the Vi-Pec V88R3 is some serious go-fast equipment that will truly unleash the inner beast hidden deep within your otherwise happy-go-lucky Yamaha, and is specifically designed to maximize the most out of your WaveRunner in conjunction with a full array of RIVA Racing performance-enhancing components.

Yamaha Waverunners Sweep AquaX Round 2

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The Watercraft Journal

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June 24, 2015

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AquaX is a grueling test of man and machine. Winning takes strength, guts, determination, and of course, being on the best machine never hurts. So far, the Yamaha WaveRunners appear to be a very strong competitor, and the past round in Jacksonville was a very good outing for Yamaha, with the overall in all three classes going to Yamaha riders!

With a totally new hull, the NanoXcel2, the FZRs are better in the rough than ever, as the Aswar brothers have proven so far this year. Aqsa and Aero took first and second overall respectively, and are currently number one and two in the points race. Not taking anything away from Aqsa or Aero, as they are both phenomenal riders, but they are really showing what the FZR SVHO is capable of when ridden to its full potential.

In the 250 class, Brian Baldwin won each moto, which of course, means he took the overall win for the event. Second was Paloma Noceda, who had two second place motos (first and third motos) and got fourth place in the second moto.

In the 200 class, the Yamaha VXR is the weapon of choice for many of the top riders in the class such as Rob Greenwald and Travis Zielasko. In fact, every rider except for one was on a VXR! Zielasko won every moto with fellow Yamaha rider, Greenwald getting second. Evidently the new VX hull is a big all around improvement for handling and rough water riding.

Video: Tanner Thomas’ Insane Double Backflip Perfected

By

Kevin Shaw

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June 23, 2015

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Last year, while battling ungodly overhead conditions at the Pensacola Beach round of Pro Watercross racing, all were entreated to freestyle rider Daniel Martin’s daring double backflip from off the face of an oncoming wave. Although surf-going freeriders have dared the maneuver before, such had never been seen in a typically flatwater competition. And that’s often the delineation between freeriders and freestyle: the waves in which they have to work with.

Freerider’s tricks are almost always significantly more impressive (particularly in still photographs), as the waves they operate in are natural launch ramps to execute their impressive moves. Freestyle, on the other hand, are relegated to flatwater, or moderate lake chop to pull off what air they can. So as Martin – a freestyle rider – illustrated what he can do in larger surf, the question arises, what can a freerider do in the short stuff?

The video below of Alaskan freerider Tanner Thomas should be all you need to see. “Filmed in Lake Havasu City AZ,” Thomas begins, “I was with Taylor Curtis his wife Dana and kids, Jericho Kaiser, his wife Danielle and kids.” Within 24 hours of posting on Facebook, TC Freeride’s Taylor Curtis had himself a viral phenomenon. Team rider Tanner Thomas’ double backflip had gone supernova. Only within these short hours did Thomas manage to talk with The Watercraft Journal:

“They threw me a double boat wake like we have done in the past. I have tried this trick 21 times last year, and 3 this time. This is by far the hardest trick I’ve tried but always off a not so perfect double boat wake. We don’t have wake board boats all sacked down to make it easy. So I just have to hit it HARD, As you can see in the video the wake isn’t very big.”

Riding his full carbon fiber, lightweight ’15 Rickter XFS Competition Ninja, Thomas whips through the air at a dizzying pace. The Rickter’s torquey Dasa 900cc engine was built by his Ninja mechanic from Japan, Hiroyuki Ogino and TC Freeride; the 155mm pump built by Skat-Trak. Admittedly, Thomas, a talented freerider, is no stranger to freestyle, and the 900cc ski will be his freestyle competition ski for the season.

Sponsored by Rickter, BAM, Tyler Rental, Dasa Racing, TC Freeride, Ninja, Alaska Diesel Power, Skat-Trak, Alaska Marine Lines, JetLift, Sign Pro, JetPilot, Liquid Militia, KMG Racing, Mystik Lubricants and Sourdough Tactical; you can expect to see a lot more from Thomas in the coming weeks and months.

Jet Renu Product Line Flooded With Praise Across PWC Industry

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Kevin Shaw

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June 23, 2015

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Opinions are funny things. It’s pretty easy to dismiss one or two, but when an overwhelming majority all rise up in unison to claim the same sentiment, it’s all but impossible to ignore the chanting. And recently we at The Watercraft Journal were made privy to this exact phenomenon happening over on Jet Renu’s Facebook wall. See, the once upstart makers of PWC total care cleaners and waxes has created quite the following of loyal customers, and they are without argument, incredibly vocal.

Undoubtedly, you’ve likely seen our “trial by fire” test of the entire Jet Renu product line that we conducted in the dead of winter nearly two years ago, but you might not be a follower of Jet Renu on Facebook. So we’ve taken the liberty of sharing some of our favorite “fan posts” from their wall:

Ryan Ellefson wrote, “Used my Jet Renu to clean my skis after the river. Love how easy this stuff is to use and how clean it gets my skis.”

Newly signed Jet Renu racer Brock Austin stated last week, “Got my ski all shined up thanks to my newest sponsor Jet Renu. Now we’re off to Sparks, NV to race the next stop of the Pro Watercross tour!”

Jake Zier showed a great before-and-after series of pics, saying, “Jet Renu does it again! [Making] an old ski look new! Jet Renu, thank you so much for the support!”

Joe Albert wrote, “So I know it’s not a jet ski or a boat or some [thing] like that, but it does not matter! These products are amazing! These pics don’t show nearly as good as my truck truly looks. Thanks again and I hope to get my whole company to use these products. I’ll be using them from now on!”

Gallery: WCWCC’s First Annual Laughlin Trip

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Lewis Lipstone

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June 22, 2015

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Wednesday, June 10th, started out just like any other: going to work and looking at the clock throughout the day. But this Wednesday was different, the clock seemed to run backwards. When work was over my wife, Holly and I were heading out to Laughlin to meet up with California’s largest watercraft club, West Coast Watercraft Club (WCWCC) for the first annual Laughlin trip.

After work, I did my usual and stopped by Temecula Motorsports and picked up some necessary supplies, goggles, and clothes. I got home, hooked up the trailer and headed out to meet up with 33 other members for four fabulous fun filled days. We arrived at the hotel and checked in late that night and found several other members in the casino. We had some fun in the casino then headed to bed.

Day 1, June 11: We planned a small ride as some members drove in Thursday morning and others were still on their way. We met at the Riverside dock at 2pm and launched our skis for a trip down river to the Avi Hotel beach. We had 15 skis slalom downstream and pull up on the beach. We floated around in the water trying to cool off as it was already getting hot.

We watched as club President Lewis Lipstone did his usual business chatter on his cellphone before departing. We had to get back and meet up with the rest of the club members for a dinner at Outback Steakhouse. We all sat around talking, laughing, and telling whale tales over the breaking of bread. After dinner we all grouped up and hung out creating new friendships.

Day 2, June 12: We met at the Riverside parking lot at 8:00 am to have a group meeting about safety and what the day would hold for us. Around 8:30am we caravanned down to Jack Smith Park and we were all in the water by 10am after a few group pictures, of course. The water level was high enough downstream so there wasn’t need to dodge shallow areas. The weather was nice especially after taking a dip in the cool water. We hung out at the sandbar for a while, which was a nice break and awesome hang out spot for Frisbee and football.

We rode on through to Lake Havasu down to London Bridge to have our picture taken by air from a drone. The footage turned out great! A few stopped for fuel at the Chevron station before heading on to our lunch spot in Havasu Springs. After our lunch break we had a long trek back so we set out our way.

This time only a few skis had to break off to get fuel, the rest continued on around the other side of the island that we didn’t get to see before. There was another short stop at the sand bar, but we had to hurry on our way since the sun was starting to set and we wanted to make it back with light to spare. 120 big miles and 115 degrees that day. Very successful with such a big group!

Day 3, June 13: Only a half of the riders chose to head out since the ride the day before really pushed everyone with lots of sun and well over 130 miles of riding. We did a ride from Catherine’s Landing to Hoover Dam. We had 25 riders attend to see some of the most beautiful scenery God had to offer. We found caves, bridges, and a huge dam. We found a really nice spot to stop and eat lunch. We chatted about the nice weekend rides so far and where else we could all go. Florida or Mexico? On the way home some of us were treated to a summer shower with a side of lightning.

Day 4, June 14: Most of our group was heading out today but we didn’t want to go without one last ride. Around 11:30am we headed out again from the Riverside launch and made our way down the river and ended up at the Avi. We stopped and had some lunch and just relaxed and hung out in the shade soaking in our last few hours we had at the river.

By about 2:30, we decided that we should probably head back since the drive home for most of us would be at least 4 hours. Since it was Sunday, there were quite a few people on the river which made the ride home interesting. We saw several close calls which reminded us, safety first. West Coast watercraft club is all about family fun but being safe while doing so.

After these incidents, we continued our way back to the riverside launch but had to be careful since the water level was low and feared the possibility of running aground. But with great leadership we made it back all in one piece safely. Being satisfied getting one last ride in we pulled our skis out and got them all cleaned up and strapped down for our trek home.

Such a great trip. We were so glad that so many members of WCWCC were able to be a part of the 1st annual Laughlin trip, can’t wait to do it again next year! Special thanks to Lewis, Shirley, Jay, and Ryan for this great trip. Thanks to those WCWCC members who attended.

Story courtesy of WCWCC member Ryan Ellefson

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JetSkiShop to Support Queensland State of Origin Poker Run

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James Tod

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June 22, 2015

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It used to be if you wanted to join in on a game of Texas Hold ‘Em or join in on a hand of Seven-Card Stud while on the water, you’d have to buy a ticket on a paddle wheel river queen. But not so for us personal watercraft enthusiasts! Poker Runs are basically a moving game of poker that instead of sitting around a table, we ride on our jet skis, and chase our croupier (ie. dealer) around the water to collect our cards.

This year, our friends at the JetSkiShop.com are joining in the fun by supporting the Queensland State of Origin Poker Run, a charity event that will be funneling all of its proceeds to the Welch Family Trust (Bec and Harper Welch), although each rider will finish with five cards in their possession, making them eligible for some pretty cool prizes for the best hand. And, as James Tod of JetSkiShop.com stays, “if you’re not happy with the hand you’ve been dealt, you can simply buy more cards to improve your hand.”

According to the State of Origin Poker Run website, “The QLD Poker Run participants will enjoy a fully organized event starting from the Main Beach behind Sea World, around Russell Island, then back to South Stradbroke to Tipplers Hotel for lunch. Players will enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at Tipplers Hotel. Lunch will be provided by the Hotel and included in your ticket price. Drinks are available at a cash bar.”

The run is scheduled for Saturday, June 27th, so you’ll need to hurry as places are limited to 20, with tickets costing $75 per person (including lunch and band at Tipplers, fully organised and safe event, and a $40 donation to the Harper Welch Trust). Earlier this year, Jai Welch, who, as James wrote, “was killed water skiing, and has left behind his 6 month old daughter, Harper, and his wife, Bec. All the money that we can raise in the State Of Origin Poker Run will go to the Harper Welch Trust.”

Celebrate Father’s Day With Official Sea-Doo Apparel and Accessories

By

Ocean Priselac

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June 19, 2015

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The folks at Sea-Doo came up with a fun list of official Sea-Doo products specifically geared toward Father’s Day. This list makes it easy to take care of the man who has everything.

The Sea-Doo Amphibious Goggles are a strong lightweight pair of eye protection that floats! The frames even conform to the shape of your face and they have interchangeable polarized lenses that offer 100% UV protection. Included are a hard case and a soft case that also acts as a cleaning cloth.

The Vibe Rashguard follows suit with its own SPF 50 sun protection. It is fitted for comfort with the additional protection of a mock turtleneck collar. The rashguard also has a boardshort connector so you don’t have to worry about it riding up. It is available in long sleeve and short sleeve.

The next item on the list is a matching Vibe PFD that has wide-open armholes, giving the arms free range of motion. It’s made with a nylon super duty outer shell and is useful for many water activities.

Dad must have boardshorts to go with his rashguard! The Cove Technical Boardshorts sound pretty sweet with their removable neoprene liner. This helps prevents those irritating rashes! The shorts are quick drying and have a lightweight four way stretch fabric. They wouldn’t be complete without a side pocket containing a key loop. The Cove Boardshorts have a simple tie closure and the pocket has a hidden Velcro seal. Don’t forget to connect them to that new rashguard!

He’ll need something for his feet when he gets out of the water so how about a pair of comfortable Sea-Doo Sandals that actually mold to the feet? These sandals are lightweight and include anti-slip rubber inserts in the soles.

He’s also going to need something to carry his gear in so Sea-Doo added a duffel bag to the list. It is the Sea-Doo Duffel Bag, which is specifically designed for lengthy outings and day trips. The bag measures 24” x 12” x 12” and includes a waterproof pocket and a cooler pocket. It also has a mesh inner pocket and comes with a heavy-duty carry strap.

Last on the list is a pair of bright orange Snap-In Fenders. These bad boys are easy to install and easily removable. They are helpful in preventing damage to your watercraft when docking. However, you will need to purchase the required installation kit that is sold separately. Now dad is ready to get on his ski and ride!

Yamaha Motor Australia Sweeps at 2015 Melbourne Boat Show

By

Kevin Shaw

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June 18, 2015

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As temperatures cool and many PWC enthusiasts south of the equator are packing up their watercraft for winter, Yamaha Motor Australia is celebrating a markedly successful weekend at the 2015 Melbourne Boat Show. The Australian division of one of the largest watercraft and boat manufacturers in the world exhibited a selection of outboards, rigging, accessories and WaveRunners for the 29,179 attendees of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre this past June Friday 12th through Monday 15th.

Over 130 exhibitors participated in this year’s boat show including boat brokers and retailers, chandleries, boating and fishing tackle and accessories, boat trailer manufacturers, personal watercraft retailers and more.

Over the weekend, judges for the 55th anniversary boat show awarded Yamaha Motor Australia two prestigious accolades: the Best Stand Overall and Stand of the Year (in the “Powerboat” category). Yamaha’s display included samples of all of the latest personal watercraft for 2015, as well as a virtual reality RiDE simulator. Titled the “Yamaha RiDE Challenge,” the RiDE simulator had riders completing a lap on a RiDE-equipped WaveRunner peering into a flat screen display.

As Yamaha noted, “Lap times are generated by the simulator and recorded on the lap time board. Hundreds of show goers had the chance to compete in the Yamaha RiDE Challenge, which put them into the draw to win 1 of 8 Yamaha TW Steel Watches.” The announcement for this grand prize will be announced shortly.

Gallery: Middle Tennessee PWC Club’s 5th Anniversary River Ride

By

Mike Majka

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June 18, 2015

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Middle Tennessee Personal Watercraft Club celebrated its 5th anniversary this year, first formed in 2010 to provide a fun, safe, responsible way for families and friends to enjoy riding personal watercraft together and share the beautiful waters that the Middle Tennessee Area has to offer. In celebration, the Middle Tennessee Personal Watercraft Club held its monthly ride on Saturday the 13th of June to ride from Old Hickory Lake To Cordell Hull Lake, a route distance of 103-miles, or a total 253 miles round trip.

Eight PWC and ten people made it this past weekend, We set out from Shute’s Branch Recreation Area at 9am Saturday morning heading NE 30 miles up the Cumberland River to our only fuel stop at Shady Cove Marina. We topped off all the machines and had a cold drink before proceeding to Cordell Hull Lock & Dam another 73 miles upriver.

Club member Rollie Pierson told The Watercraft Journal, “I met the group at Shady Cover Marina because I live in Kentucky at 10 am where they had to stop to top off with fuel to make the remaining 73 miles of the trip up the Cumberland. At 10:30 we were on our way with 9 skis.”

Fellow club member Pam Tidwell explained, “This ride upriver is my all-time favorites. It starts in my back yard and ends where my father grew up. The ride starts with a quick look at a country music star’s house on the lake. Then we pass the first set of cliffs. It is sad to ride past Johnny Cash’s house the burned to the ground. Then there’s The Church on The Lake, and the new 109 Bridge.”

Due to the distance, we set our pace around 40mph to get maximum fuel mileage. We took breaks about every 25 miles to enjoy the river and have a water; it was an extremely warm day with temperatures in the 90’s. Tidwell noted, “There [was] very little traffic on this stretch of the Cumberland River. We waved at the fishermen on the sides of the river. Most waved back. We travel through shady patches where the air [was] much cooler than normal.”

We arrived at Cordell Hull Dam at 1:30pm just in time for a brief rain shower – enough to get everyone soaked. “About 1 mile before we got to the dam we experienced a brief 10 minute rain shower but it ended as quickly as it started and we had great sunny weather the rest of the day,” Pierson recounted. Drying quickly, we passed through the lock at 2:15pm.

“Locking through the dam was a little nervous for me,” stated newcomer another club member, Tonya. “I was being teased by the gang about finding a dead fish and having to kiss it for luck. This, I was told, is the initiation of newcomers. I prayed I didn’t see one. I also was told that the lock would be like a washing machine churning us and spitting us to the other side when the gates opened. Of course, none was true but it add for great laughs and fun.”

Running low on fuel, we headed to our destination 5 miles further upriver to Defeated Creek Marina that served as homebase for the night. They are very PWC friendly and the staff is always helpful. Tonya joked, “I ran up to the restaurant and got us a table for a late lunch. As I looked out over the deck and saw all the skis tied to the dock, the thought came to mind that it resembled a throwback to horses being tied around a corral as the gunslingers headed into the saloon.”

Pierson continued, “Three of us stayed at the cabin at Defeated Creek and the other 6 stayed at the rental house a couple of miles away. On of the riders brought their truck there the day earlier so we would have transportation to and from the rental house.”

The cabin was a short walk from the marina where enjoyed a late afternoon lunch at the nearby restaurant. A bluegrass festival was going on nearby, so we walked the vendors and enjoyed the pickin’ before calling it a day.

Sunday morning, we woke early and had breakfast at the marina before we mounted our skis for a 10-mile ride up Cordell Hull to Granville, a historic river town along the Cumberland. There is no docking there, so we tied our trusted steeds to trees along the bank and walked into town. “We tied up by the shore and walked the town. It was a small town that you felt like you were living in 1950 with all the historical building and museums,” Pierson noted.

“We walked around for a while and then a few of us headed about 5 miles up the lake to Salt Lick campground where we stopped for a swim before heading back to Defeated Creek,” Pierson continued.

Its highly recommend that you ride Cordell Hull, the lake is stunning with the rolling hills in all directions and the water is clean and clear. We had a lock through time scheduled for 1pm, so we headed back to Defeated Creek Marina to top off the fuel and proceeded to the dam. The lockmaster was ready for us, and entered the lock 15 minutes early. The ride was once again paced back to Shady Cove and then Shute’s Branch.

“The water was smooth, air was warm and it was a great ride with a great group of ski lovers,” Pierson concluded, but Tonya said it best, “Spending time with this group of friends can never be replaced. We look out for each other. We laughed and joked. We talked about the sites we saw. Pulling off the rides takes planning. I learned how maps and GPS are crucial. You definitely just don’t jump on a jet ski and ride a total of 253 miles without planning. I might have started out as a novice but I’m hooked now.”

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