Of all of jet ski racing’s favorite homegrown Pro Open ski racers, Jimmy Wilson just let loose some insider info on his plans for 2015, as well as some sick sneak peeks of his new Pro Open and Pro Stock skis, each prepared by the legendary Tim Judge of Judge Motorsports.

“2015 will be a pretty cool year for my wife and I,” Wilson told The Watercraft Journal earlier today. “Our first child is due to be born July 9th. We will still be going racing but we won’t be able to make the entire tour. We will be in Florida for the first two rounds [Panama City and Pensacola, respectively – Ed.]. I’ll have to miss the next two rounds [Reno and St. George]. As long as my wife and child are okay, I will drive out to Texas with my dad and then finish the tour from there.”

Above left: IPD Graphics supplied Wilson with all-new graphics and a custom color scheme for 2015. Above right: Very trick Jettrim mats fill the tray with contoured matting.

When it came time to peel back the cover on his new trio of skis, Wilson was very excited to announce: “Judge Motorsports has built three of the sickest skis out there for me to race in 2015. I have 2 Open/GP skis built by Tim Judge, and a brand new Yamaha SuperJet built by Tim Judge for Stock class. Our Open/GP skis have some really cool tricks in store for 2015 and I have been training harder than ever to try and be able to hold onto them.”

With the season’s starter a month away, Wilson was sure to express his gratitude, saying “Thanks to my family and some amazing sponsors I will be out racing and contending for a title this season, including Judge Motorsports, JAM Racing, ADA Racing, IPD Graphics, FroWerxs, Hidden Trails Motorsports, Broward Motorsports, Jettrim, Hot Products, Amsoil, Prowatercraftracing.com, Fly Racing, Bomber Eyewear, Hurricane Racing, OptimaRacing.com, TheBicycleChain.com and my family!”

September is going to be a busy month if you’re a jet ski racer. Not only is there AJ Handler’s Pro Watercoss World Championship scheduled for September 19-27, 2015 at Sugden Park in Naples, Florida; but now the P1 AquaX tour stop set for September 19-20, will now also act as the IJSBA National Closed Course and Freestyle Championships for many of those looking to perform and compete at this year’s IJSBA World Finals in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

The move is not entirely a surprise, but the closeness of the two events – AquaX’s being the second-to-last race of the 2015 season, and Handler’s being a week-long culmination of the year’s class races – both in date and location (Cocoa Beach and Naples, Florida, respectively) also makes for a bit of friction. Those looking to compete and place in either series are likely to spend no less than two weeks’ worth of travel, preparation and participation.

It’s also difficult to measure which is the larger story to emphasize here: the addition of the IJSBA National Championship to AquaX’s penultimate series event, or the partnership between the AquaX and IJSBA to accomplish a one-two punch to the recently divided world of jet ski racing. Either way, September is sizing up to be an exciting one and if closed course racing is what revs your motor, there’s going to be no shortage of it.

Here’s the original release published today at p1aquax.com:

P1 USA to promote IJSBA National Championship in Cocoa Beach, Florida
New agreement sees P1 partner with the IJSBA to provide outstanding marketing platform for the personal watercraft industry

P1 USA has announced that its Grand Prix of the Sea event in Cocoa Beach in September featuring the penultimate round of the P1 AquaX Championships will now include the IJSBA National Closed Course and Freestyle Championships, delivering a unique schedule of world-class personal watercraft racing.

“P1 AquaX has been taking the US racing community by storm, impressing sponsors and competitors alike with new ideas and redefining production standards at personal watercraft events” said IJSBA managing director, Scott Frazier. “The IJSBA is very excited to forge a new future, full of exciting possibilities, by partnering with P1 and their highly accomplished team.”

The partnership, now in its third year, gives P1 USA the rights to promote IJSBA flagship competition classes that provide riders with qualifying positions for the IJSBA World Championships in October. The one-year agreement includes an option to renew for 2016.

“P1 is proud to be strengthening its relationship with the IJSBA in promoting their National Championship this year. We believe that the combined event creates a logical racing structure for riders from a recreational to professional level and provides the perfect marketing and promotional platform for the industry” commented P1 CEO, James Durbin. As with all P1 racing, the Cocoa Beach Grand Prix of the Sea will be broadcast in more than 100 countries and domestically on the Fox Regional Sport Networks.”

Starting on September 18, the event will take place over 3 days in a popular area of Shepard Park, Cocoa Beach on the east coast of Florida. The opening day will be set aside for rider registration and technical inspections. This will be followed by 2 days of action-packed competition that is expected to attract a bumper entry from the world’s very best watercraft racers, including AquaX racer and current IJSBA World Champion Troy Snyder. “I am very excited to have a professionally run Closed Course IJSBA National Championship” enthused Troy. “There is nothing better run than AquaX and it’s great to see IJSBA choose P1 to deliver this event”.

The P1 USA season gets underway later this month in Daytona Beach, Florida with the opening round of the P1 AquaX USA Championships when more than eighty personal watercraft racers are expected to descend upon the world famous Daytona Beach resort. On Sunday April 26, the race action will be broadcast live between 11.00 am and 12.00pm on seven of the Fox Sports regional networks, including P1’s partner in Florida, Sun Sports. The event will also be broadcast live in Europe and Asia on the Fox Sports International channels.

For more information about the Cocoa Beach event and how to enter, please visit the P1 Grand Prix website at www.p1grandprix.com

Nearly a year ago, we introduced you to Take Point Now, a group of six – consisting of John Pignone, Greg Raney, John Kilby, Erika Christie, Jim Kieffer and PK Ewing – are preparing to set a new world record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a jet ski.

As we mentioned in a previous article, the team has a great deal of history together, as they served together from 2004 to 2005, in the Al Anbar province in Iraq. Then known as Major Ewing, Staff Sergeant Kilby, Sergeant Raney, Sergeant Pignone, and Lance Corporal Dixon, the team experienced “both physical combat and mental stressors and challenges. Ten years later, the team is still together and focused on a new objective – breaking the Guinness World Record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a personal watercraft (PWC).”

In addition to employing the use of some very cool and custom Kool PWC Stuff cargo racks supplied by owner Chris Chamberlain, the team’s Kawasaki STX-15F and a Yamaha FZS SHO will also be equipped with a sturdy Cargo Wave PWC trailer, supplied by our friends at Cargo Wave, LLC. The full-enclosed trailer will accompany the team on their journey from DC to NY, holding tools, equipment, fluids and a whole lot of other survival gear.

There appears to be no stopping Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Botti in his drive towards world domination. Last October, Botti pushed back many of the world’s finest to earn the coveted Pro Runabout Open IJSBA World Championship. Only two months ago, Botti – together with Jean Bruno Pastorello – took the checkered flag at the 11th annual Mark Hahn Memorial Havasu 300. Now, as it to hammer in the final nail into the coffin, Botti has just claimed the championship in the 18th running of the Karujet in Guadeloupe.

Considered the toughest offshore race in the world, the Porto Vecchio native finally stood atop the podium after his fifth attempt at the Karujet. Botti’s overall score only came after a hotly contested win Stage V and a fourth place finish in the final stage. “After winning stage 5 and seeing that Alex had a problem I just took it easy the whole way,” Botti told the UIM in an interview, “I knew I just needed to finish the final stage with a decent time, so I didn’t risk any trouble out there. Happy, very happy.”

Although disappointed with his 13th overall placing, last year’s winner Ugo Fidelin rounded out a frustrating event winning the final stage. “It’s been a fun event. It didn’t really start well for me but I had a lot of fun. It’s great to end the event with a win here, I’m happy with that.” As the UIM interview states, “Alex Barret who had topped the points table until Stage 5, his hopes ending with mechanical problems, dropping 10 minutes and losing the lead to Botti. He faced more issues in the final stage and unable to finish, ending the event in seventh in the final standings.”

In the end, four of the final Top 5 racers all hailed from France, with Guadalupe’s own Vincent Karam rounding out the pack. American Craig Warner returned for another bout with the grueling seastate aboard a turbo-powered Ultra of his own design, as did Canadian Mike Klippenstein who 17th overall behind Warner’s 15th ranking – despite a strong finish in Stage VI.

Overall:
1. JB Botti (fra) 5:49:52.899; 2. F Medori (fra) + 11:47.436s; 3. A Tarzia (fra) + 16:07.285s; 4. K Carlini (fra) + 17:10.433s; 5. V Karam (gua) + 24:57.928s

With the winter’s snow finally starting to melt and the mercury in the thermostat slowly starting to climb, it’s time to shake off the seasonal blues, pull back the cover from your runabout, and get out in the water. And for those looking to get a chance at riding a brand new Sea-Doo, we at The Watercraft Journal are very happy to announce the first official date of the 2015 Test Ride Tour: May 2nd and 3rd.

Hosted by friends and longtime advertising supporters, America’s Motor Sports, the Sea-Doo Test Ride Tour will be taking over the familiar Nashville Shores shoreline in Nashville, Tennessee for two days, offering registrants and walk-ups an hour or so to chew up Percy-Priest Lake on Sea-Doo’s dime. The latest models will be on hand, from the innovative entry-level Spark to the luxurious three-seater GTX.

Last Spring The Watercraft Journal was lucky enough to spend a couple of days with the traveling Sea-Doo circus when they dropped into Nashville, Tennessee, and were impressed with everything the Sea-Doo Demo Tour crew had on hand to play with. Until the rest of the dates are announced, you can always check in with America’s Motor Sports for the best deals in the Middle South on all BRP products, including Sea-Doo, Can-Am and Spyder, as well as UTVs, SxS’, quads and motorcycles from the biggest names in the motorsports industry!

Today, Sea-Doo sent out a formal announcement saying:

BRP will be showing Tennessee first hand how to make their dream of owning a Sea-Doo watercraft come true with the Sea-Doo #SPARKSOMEFUN Test Ride Event on May 2^nd-3^rd. The 2015 #SPARKSOMEFUN Tour will be visiting Nashville Shores on Percy Priest Lake offering consumers the chance to experience how accessible, and fun, the award-winning Sea-Doo watercraft truly are.

The Sea-Doo #SPARKSOMEFUN Test Ride Tour provides current and potential watercraft riders the opportunity to try before they buy. The Sea-Doo event team will assist consumers in finding the right Sea-Doo product to fill their watersports/boating needs. Guests are offered an on-water experience aboard various Sea-Doo models, including models equipped with iBR, the only watercraft braking system. BRP is committed to re-spark the sport of personal watercraft by offering this special test ride event.

BRP’s Sea-Doo Spark is a paradigm-shifting product as the most accessible watercraft on the market, making the dream of being on the water possible for more families. The Sea-Doo Spark’s nimble, compact design features an all-new Exoskel architecture utilizing a new lightweight, durable, 100% recyclable Polytec material. The Spark offers six steps of customization; a choice between 2up or 3up platforms, choice between the most fuel-efficient watercraft engine available², the Rotax 900 ACE³ or Rotax 900 HO ACE delivering a top speed of 40 and close to 50 mph respectfully⁴, option to add BRP’s intelligent Brake & Reverse (iBR)⁵, optional convenience package, choice of five colors, and ability to further personalize, including 20 Attitude Graphics Kits. The Sea-Doo Spark is a compact platform with a price close to 40% lower than the closest competitive model⁶ and at half the weight, making it easy to store and tow, and a blast to ride.

The Sea-Doo #SPARKSOMEFUN Test Ride event is free to the boating public⁷ and is managed by the Sea-Doo events team – comprised of industry and product experts – and partnering authorized Sea-Doo watercraft dealer, America’s Motorsports. Each Sea-Doo #SPARKSOMEFUN Event is designed for both experienced and first time boating families to live the Sea-Doo lifestyle in a casual, fun filled atmosphere. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience first hand the fun the Sea-Doo Spark delivers starting at $4999. They will also be able to try the full-sized Sea-Doo GTI, WAKE PRO 215 and luxury benchmark, GTX Limited iS 260 back-to-back to help them decide on the right Sea-Doo model to fit their watersports needs.

The America’s Motorsports Sea-Doo #SPARKSOMEFUN Test Ride Event will take place:
WHEN:             Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3rd from 10AM-5PM
WHERE:           Nashville Shores, 4001 Bell Road, Hermitage, Tennessee , 37076
HOW:               Talk to a America’s Motorsposrts sales representative to determine which time is best for you.
WHO:               Those 18 years or older with a valid drivers licence with “good” credit. One minor may ride as a passenger as long as both feet firmly touch both footwells of the watercraft. Riders will be required to wear a PFD (provided) and protective bottoms (neoprene shorts will be provided). Protective eyewear, footwear, and gloves are recommended while not provided.
WHY:               To experience the different Sea-Doo models back-to-back to determine which Sea-Doo watercraft is right for you.

OK, let’s be a tad more specific: meatheads love the Kawasaki JetSki 650 TS, that is according to Rob Lowe’s hilarious string of DirecTV advertisements. The television spots feature the seminal “St. Elmo’s Fire” Hollywood star squaring off against somewhat less glamorous doppelgangers, with the prior representing DirecTV and the other traditional cable service.

Recently, Lowe’s ads have come under fire from from ‘”shy bladder” groups, cable companies, and the Better Business Bureau’ according to The Atlantic. Unfortunately, several groups representing individuals didn’t find Lowe’s ads all that funny, and they, together with the National Advertising Division (NAD), sought to shut them down.

https://youtu.be/KGeJV7_0Wsg

The International Paruresis Association (IPA), which advocates for the 21 million Americans who, as Lowe’s alter ego put it, “can’t go with other people in the room,” cried discrimination while NAD’s complaint was “that DirecTV wasn’t being truthful about the reliability, picture quality, and customer satisfaction of its service when placed beside cable.”

Nearly a dozen of these 30-second spots have been made with Lowe pairing up against “Creepy Rob Lowe,” “Painfully Awkward Rob Lowe,” and “Deadbeat Dad Rob Lowe.” The ad in question though, is “Meathead Rob Lowe” who provides a glimpse of his garage well-stocked with a year’s worth of protein supplements and shake mix, speed bag and resistance bands, and of course, his own tanning bed. But the real kicker is the gold-flamed ’95 650cc TS behind it.

Sure, we’re OK with making fun of excessively hairy people or those with nervous bladders, but seriously, why do you ya gotta hate on jet skis, Rob?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-7OsUzUT9w

How would you like to grace the pages of Jobe PWC’s 2016 catalog? Nope, you don’t have to be a professional model or a dashing personal trainer, but you do have to be a dyed-in-the-wool PWC enthusiast. All you need to do to enter is showcase your favorite “ruthless moment” by hashtagging #jobemoments on a Facebook or Instagram post. Once you do, your photo will be entered into a contest to be selected to be featured in Jobe’s next product catalog.

Oh, but there is one catch: your picture has to “reference” Jobe. Creativity is encouraged, so put on your thinking caps and get to work. There could be 15,000 copies of Jobe’s 2016 catalog with your face in it!

Below is the original release:

What’s you ruthless moment? Jobe launched a new campaign called Jobe ruthless moments. This campaign is created for all the Jobe fans who want to share their favourite moments with the world. Jobe’s giving YOU the chance with this new campaign to be in the official 2016 Jobe PWC catalogue! Do you want to take your moment of glory? Join the Jobe ruthless moments!

Jobe wants to show the world the Jobe ruthless family is all over the world. With the new campaign you can join the Jobe ruthless family by yourself. Use the hashtag #Jobemoments on Facebook or Instagram and have a chance your photo will be featured in over 15.000 printed catalogues!

There’s only one restriction to this unique campaign: the photo needs a reference to Jobe. Be as creative as possible! How cool is it to build your own Jobe sand castle and post this?! The Jobe PWC athletes are also joining this campaign, so get inspired by them and share all your Jobe moments!

Go to www.jobepwc.com/moments for more info!