With the 2015 racing series beginning to gel, we’re starting to see racers and teams shore up sponsorships and announce their plans for the year’s events. Yesterday, we were alerted that industry graphics leader, IPD Graphics has recently joined in a partnership with Pro Watercraft Racing as the official graphics sponsor for Pro Watercraft’s race team.

IPD Graphics published the following press release on their Facebook page: “Proud to announce [that] IPD signed on to be the Official Graphic Sponsor of the Pro Watercraft Racing Team for 2015! Pro Watercraft Racing is lead by handling mastermind Chris Hagest, and is responsible for creating the best handling products in the industry and used by the top riders in the industry, riders such as Stian Schjetlein, Kevin Reiterer, Jimmy Wilson, etc.”

IPD Graphics’ own Casey Mauldin explained to The Watercraft Journal, “We’re excited to announce that IPD Graphics has just signed the deal with Pro Watercraft Racing to be the official graphic supplier for the Pro Watercraft Race Team for the 2015 race season.

“We’ve long been advocates of Pro Watercraft Racing’s brand of handling products, and have much appreciation for CEO Chris Hagest in bringing the JR Star program to light.

“Pro Watercraft Racing is bringing in some big guns this year in Stian Schjetlein from Norway to race the Pro Ski classes, along with Guy Vinatieri for the Amateur Ski classes. We are more than excited to be affiliated with this great company and great team, and look forward to what they can bring in 2015.”

There’s seemingly no end to the photos, videos and coverage pouring out of last month’s Thrust Innovations Daytona Freeride. While none could compete with The Watercraft Journal’s stellar 48 hour post-event coverage and massive photo gallery thanks to our own Pavi Machotkova, we had to bow in respect to the absolutely unrivaled footage from Seth Zaluski’s Spectrum Innovations. The videography house has captured some of the best action and event action imaginable, and this year’s video recap from Daytona Beach, FL is no different.

Seth explained to Pro Rider Magazine, “From my eyes, the Daytona Freeride offers the best of both worlds – riding and filming. First, I already knew it would be a dope event where I not only get to ride, but also spend time with friends from around the country! Then there’s the knowing that three, 18 hour days of non-stop filming, in addition to riding, was approaching.

“Taking on the challenge of riding and filming the event can be stressful but rewarding, with last year’s video receiving over 10,000 views from over 45 countries. Well, here we are again, the event is over and the edit is done, but not before hitting record on my cameras over 1500 times, which leads to 1500 five to ten second clips that have to be viewed, cut down, selected and put into project form. Then, the edit itself takes me roughly 40 hours of post production upon returning to home.”

So far, Spectrum’s 2015 Daytona video has reaped in over 5,750 views in only a couple of weeks. We want to help Seth in his goal to exceed last year’s 10,000 views.

Everything in Australia wants to kill you. At least, that’s what the Internet wants you to believe. But the heavy surf conditions and treacherous undercurrents of many of Australia’s beaches actually throw some credibility to the meme. That is why Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) exists, to help keep ocean-goers safe from harm. Recently, SLSA representatives from across the continent tested the latest in Sea-Doo Personal Watercraft, Evinrude E-TEC engines and Can-Am All Terrain Vehicles in their respective fields.

As reported by OZPWC, “the event started at BRP offices where the group were shared information about how BRP plans to continue to support the SLS movement to help save lives on Australian beaches. Product testing was then conducted at Wanda Beach and included testing on the new Sea-Doo Spark and Search and Rescue watercrafts.”

Coastal Risk and Safety Manager, Anthony Bradstreet from SLSA explained, “BRP product help Australia’s surf lifesavers patrol and perform rescues with greater efficiency and rapid response. BRP understands our core mission of saving lives, and this next generation of product they are bringing to the market, will further support this mission.”

BRP has remained a sponsor of SLSA for the past five years, having provided equipment for over 160 clubs around Australia. Through the BRP Equipment Grant, the company has proven its commitment to SLSA in assisting with the delivery of lifesaving equipment since its establishment in 2009.

“Surf Life Saving (SLSA) is an iconic community service across Australia. BRP’s products are well suited to the demanding surf conditions and provide the unparalleled maneuverability and high performance essential for effective beach patrols,” said Gregoire DuPont, Vice President and Regional General Manager BRP Asia-Pacific.

Hey! Did you know that treasured comedian Dan Aykroyd played a pivotal character in 1984’s “Indiana Jones And The Temple of Doom?” Yeah, many don’t because the scene featuring the former Ghostbuster was all but completely scrapped, leaving the “Saturday Night Live” alum with a single line of dialogue and a few forgettable seconds of screen time. Alas, “that’s Hollywood as they say,” and we got a wee bit of a taste of that when we watched the long-awaited web series “Roustabout,” documenting comedian Kurt Braunohler’s jet ski adventure from Chicago to New Orleans.

The Watercraft Journal was invited to not only participate in the Comedy Central show, but reach out to its hundreds of thousands of readers throughout the United States and abroad and help support Braunohler’s quest to raise $50,000 for sustainable livestock in African villages. The premise seemed noble enough, but the method was somewhat flawed: the comedian would ride an ostentatiously-wrapped Yamaha FX HO from Chicago, Illinois to New Orleans, Louisiana, riding down the Mississippi. Of course, those familiar with these waters would highly recommend another route. But again, that’s Hollywood, folks.

Fatefully, the trip – dubbed “Roustabout” – would be a near unmitigated failure. Braunohler would circumvent much of Ol’ Miss for the Tennessee River or simply by land (that’s what they call “Hollywood magic,” folks) and would fail to raise little more than half of his funding goal. That’s not to say that the result of filming (back in June of 2014) wouldn’t result in some entertaining television (although the language is significantly not safe for work (NSFW)). And, unless you’re really glaring closely at your screen, you’ll likely miss the mere seconds of The Watercraft Journal’s Editor-in-Chief Kevin Shaw aboard a brand new black and blue 2014 Yamaha FX SVHO (see Episode 8).

Nevertheless, we’re happy to have played a (very) small part of this endeavor, and hope that you might see it a worthwhile cause to donate – even if in some small way – to this charitable effort.

As this year is shaping up to be a wild one – at least as far as the future of personal watercraft racing is concerned – we’ve seen companies of all shapes and sizes scramble to decide where to send their sponsored riders. Of the three OE manufacturers, Kawasaki has remained the most withdrawn from the racing world. With fewer and fewer riders brandishing the iconic Kawi Green hue on the water, some have begun to fear for the worst.

Thankfully, those fears can be assuaged for the most part. Kawasaki USA has formally announced the return of reigning sponsored Kawasaki rider Craig Warner (who previously relocated from his Corona, California home to Lithia Springs, Georgia to man one of the many Mountain Motorsports stores famously owned by Dustin Farthing and Ryan Hardwick before leaving to captain WWR Racing), as well as unveiling the world champ’s 2015 race schedule.

Kawasaki’s reported, “Craig Warner has flown the Kawasaki Jet Ski flag in competition with glowing results. The multi-time world champion is a force to be reckoned with in endurance racing as well, as he rides his Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310R at peak levels.”

Unsurprisingly, Warner will represent the Big K at next month’s 11th annual Mark Hahn Memorial Havasu 300 (which Warner famously conquered twice before), the grueling Long Beach-to-Catalina Offshore Championship in July, wherein he reigns the all-time champion, having won 5 times (with three wins consecutively), and a presence at this year’s IJSBA World Finals in October.

Jettrim. What comes to mind when you hear that name? How about custom upholstery, seat covers? Bitchin’ Stitchin’? Jet Ski Museum? How about the man, the face behind Jettrim, the one man with the largest heart, the Legendary Gary Hart, known to many as “Super G.”

Who knew back in 1979 that a small business that came about from a high school hobby would turn into Hart’s Upholstery and blow up into what is known today as Jettrim! It was Gary’s passion and dedication that made Jettrim a phenomenal success. His knowledge was so vast that it led him into so many facets of upholstery that even Gary i’m sure was surprised at times. Jettrim was not only the mecca for upholstered Jet ski parts, but you could pretty much ask for anything and a few bitchin’ stitches later, viola! A masterpiece!

Sadly, on November 13, 2014 the world lost an amazing person. Gary’s passing left his wife Kelly to run Jettrim came with challenges. Kelly has had to make some hard decisions, and has decided to turn the reigns over and pass ownership over Frank Walsh as of February 1, 2015. Frank knew both Kelly and Gary very well and is dedicated to carrying on the legacy of Gary and Jettrim. Frank brings with him the enthusiasm of many sports and will be adding new products as time goes by.

And although we can’t divulge any top secrets, we can let you know of an exciting change coming: the return of Dean Morton! Dean and Gary worked together for almost 20 years, and with Dean’s return on January 26th, he’s sure to be an instrumental piece to what makes Jettrim the best in their field! Oh, and don’t count Kelly out! Kelly will be staying on as the bookkeeper and working the phones and continuing the Jettrim sponsorship programs as usual.

So if you find yourself in Havasu, stop by Jettrim and say “Hi” to Kelly, Nugget and give Frank your new ideas, he’d love to hear them!

Many of us are doomed to learn life’s lessons the hard way. Y’know what we mean. You were the kid throwing sticks at electrified fences and taunting that one mean dog through the chain link fence. Well thankfully, you’re not alone. We spied this tragedy of Margaritaville-proportions over at late model Chevy-enthusiast site LSXtv.com (which yours truly once helmed for a short season) and just had to share in the fail-worthy joy.

When faced with the task of launching a personal watercraft one must consider a few factors, particularly the state of the launch ramp in comparison to the type of vehicle you’re using to launch from. We’ve seen our fair share of unusual launch vehicles, but a trailer hitch tied to the back of a 5th generation Chevrolet Camaro is new, even for us. Add to that a miserable attempt to launch from a sandy beach, and you’ve got disaster on your hands.

Of course, the V6-equipped, slip-track Jeep Liberty doesn’t offer much in the way of help in digging the doomed Camaro from the oncoming surf, woefully digging into the soft, paradisaical sand. We don’t get much more than some rapid-fire Portuguese and a lot of bystanders watching the drama unfold – heck, we don’t even know if the Camaro makes it out. But, what we do see is a $35,000 Camaro earn a salvage title.