The decision was made that we would debut the ski – christened “Copperhead” – at the magazine’s booth at the World Finals. In preparation for the busy weekend, I had the technicians at Meguiar’s headquarters carefully detail Copperhead from top to bottom. The day I arrived, it was unequivocally the best it had ever looked. Every inch glistened. Every surface was supremely slick.
To preserve it as best as possible, I quickly covered the Ultra and drove it the five-and-a-half hours to Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
Yet, when I arrived, almost all of the hours of cleaning, buffing and polishing were gone. The persistent fluttering of the heavy canvas PWC cover scuffed the paint, plastic and rubber. The whole ski was equally covered in the fine mesquite dust. I was appalled.
With a ratcheting strap that can be tightened and loosened, and Guardian’s unique Tri-Layer stretchy, breathable material in the center, the Trailerable cover fits snug and comfortably while underway or standing still.Four of these clips are located around the perimeter of the Tri-Layer Trailerable PWC cover, latching under the rail.
From that day on I swore I would never drive with a PWC cover on a ski again. That is, until today.
The Tri-Layer Trailerable Ratchet PWC Cover from Guardian puts its money where its mouth is – right in the name of the ski cover. When first looking over the ski cover, I was understandably hesitant. What would make this cover not flap like machine gun fire against a freshly cleaned runabout?
The secret to Guardian’s PWC cover is found in the soft, stretchy “Tri-Layer” material that runs down the center of the cover. Feeling a lot like the same breathable Lycra material used on the Slippery Fuse wetsuit we reviewed here a couple of months ago, the cover manages to actually diffuse the wind passing over the ski. Rather than flowing over the cover, causing it to flap, the wind actually passes through the cover.
Also unique to this cover is a Ratchet Fastening System, a lockable strap that cinches down the cover around the ski, beneath the bond line.
Featuring four large breathers, two on each side, the cover keeps out dust and contaminants while letting moisture escape. It’s even slightly reflective for added nighttime visibility, which is pretty cool.Because of the “Tri-Layer” material, we’d suggest using this cover for skis kept indoors, although it manages to deflect moisture as well as heavier canvas covers.
Now, because of the weather and time constraints we couldn’t gauge how the cover holds up under prolonged exposure to sun bleaching and elements, so again, we’d suggest using this for skis kept indoors or that are parked under a cover/garage port.
At $179.99, the Guardian Tri-Layer Trailerable Ratchet PWC Cover isn’t cheap, what you’re getting is significantly better than most covers you’ll encounter – even the ones that might’ve come with your ski or those really expensive aftermarket covers. Again, the biggest factor for us was its behavior while being towed, and its here that the Tri-Layer PWC Cover is without a doubt head and shoulders above the competition.
Did you miss your chance to compete in this year’s 10th anniversary of the Mark Hahn Memorial Havasu 300? Have you always wanted to test your mettle on the Hahn’s field of battle but couldn’t beforehand? For many the Hahn is simply too big of a challenge to tackle at first blush. For others, the massive cost of fuel, staffing for a pit crew and building a top performance ski to survive 300 grueling miles is just too daunting. We understand. We’re kinda in the same boat.
That’s why we’re so excited for RPM Racing Enterprises’ 2014 Jettribe Lake Perris PWC Gran Prix Endurance Race. Presented by Hydro-Turf and Tech One Racing, the Lake Perris Grand Prix is a two-part enduro that sends racers streaking around a 5.25-mile lap for one hour and one lap twice. Yup, when you finish the first heat, you get nearly an hour to refuel and recharge before going out a second time.
As for The Watercraft Journal, we love RPM Enterprises’ zero-mod Manufacturer Stock class. Unlike other “box stock” classes found in other series, RPM is the only promoter we know of strictly adhering to the idea of “from the factory floor” stock. This makes it a true battle of racer versus racer, and PWC vs. PWC.
Of course, don’t count out some of the Southwest’s fastest, most dedicated racers who will be there, fresh from their stellar showing at this year’s Hahn 300. It’s happening this March 22nd, so you better get a move on and enter now. Click HERE for the entry form.
Here’s the official announcement:
RPM Racing Enterprises is proud to announce The 2014 Jettribe Lake Perris PWC Gran Prix Endurance Race presented by Hydro-Turf & Tech One Racing Saturday, March 22nd.
The format is going to be two (2) – One (1) hour plus 1 lap heats. Combined laps from both heats will be used to determine overall winner and winners in all classes. Course size is approximately 5 1/4 miles long. (See Attached Map of Race Course)
Classes: Pro Am 4 Stroke Open 4 Stroke Stock 4 Stroke N/A Open Vet/Master Open Mfg. Stock Sport Open Stand Up Open
Team are allowed in all classes however, it is NOT mandatory, with 2 riders (maximum) in the runabout classes and 3 riders (maximum) in the stand up and sport classes. (Note: Virtually same format as the Mark Hahn 300 but Aux. tanks are allowed in Runabout only.)
FRIDAY March 21st 8:00 am Sail Cove Pits opens for teams to Check – In 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm Check-In/Safety Inspection
SATURDAY, March 22nd 6:30 am – 8:00 am Registration/Safety Inspection – Pit Area: Sail Cove 8:00 am – 8:30 am Rider’s Meeting (Sail Cove) PWC Endurance Racers 9:00 am – 10:05 am Race #1 PWC Endurance Gran Prix (1 hour + 1 lap) 10:05 am – 10:55 am Intermission 11:00 am – 12:05 pm Race #2 PWC Endurance Gran Prix (1 hour + 1 lap) 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Awards Ceremony
Pre-registration form is attached. Please COMPLETELY fill out the registration form, save it to your files and email it to [email protected] or mail it with check or credit card info to RPM RACING ENT. 1803 Morgan Lane Redondo Beach, CA 90278 Do NOT FAX! If filling out by hand, please scan and email to [email protected] Note: No CC will be accepted on-site, cash or check only!
Entry to Park: All Participants will be charged $5 to enter the Lake Perris State Park, however no launch fee’s will be charged! Spectators will pay the regular day use fee of $10.
Camping Info: On-site camping in Pit Area (Sail Cove), no hook ups (self contained) – $20/night- again, just show up and let them know at the gate that you will be camping in the pits (self contained) at Sail Cove for the race. My staff will collect this fee for the Park on either Friday afternoon or Sat. morning. On-site camping w/hook ups- $30/night – no need to make reservations, just show up and this rate will be honored. Note: Must state you are a racer, family or crew participating in the event.
VERY IMPORTANT!!! PLEASE READ!!! Quagga Mussel Inspection: No participating skis/runabouts may be allowed on the water at Lake Perris if found to have been in the water of 7 days prior to the race. So, please keep your skis/boats out of any local lakes for at least two week prior to this event.
Here’s what the Park Rangers will be looking for: The Park will have Quagga Mussel inspections upon entry to the park. All participants should be aware of the policies and procedures. The Park does not allow any boats/skis that have come from other infected bodies of water without a 14 day waiting period.
The Park Inspector will be looking for: *Standing Water in the hull- please make sure any and all standing water is completely dried out of the hull prior to coming through the gate (If you are concerned, please pull over and check the hull(s) prior to coming into the Park. You must make sure NO standing water, condensation or moisture is visible. If found you will be red tagged and the runabout/ski will NOT be allowed to participate in the event!! *No weeds or debris on or in the hull. Again, please check your ski/runabout prior to pulling up to the gate to insure no debris/weeds are found on the ski. Here is a link to CA State park inspection: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24696
Host Hotel: Holiday Inn Express, Moreno Valley (approx. 5.4 miles from Lake Perris State Park) 24630 Sunnymead Blvd., Moreno Valley, CA 92553 $89/night (single or double occupancy) 1st come, 1st served, limited amount of rooms. When making your reservation, please use group code “Lake Perris Open” (951) 243-0075 If there is a problem, ask for Andre Goodrich. Note: Racer rate expires on August 6th so don’t delay. http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/en/moreno-valley/vayca/hoteldetail
Questions and Answers: Question: Are auxiliary fuel tanks allowed. Answer: Yes, professionally installed auxiliary tanks are allowed. Tanks will be inspected for installation and safety. Any tank deemed unsafe will be rejected in tech inspection.
Any questions please contact Ross at [email protected] or (310) 318-4012
Ross Wallach President/Race Director RPM RACING ENTERPRISES 1803 Morgan Lane Redondo Beach, CA 90278 Phone (310) 318-4012
While many of us in the northern latitudes are still struggling with icy roads and frozen lakes, our friends south of the equator are having no such troubles. We recently caught wind that the Jetskishop.com is preparing for its annual Tangalooma Adventure Ride. The Queensland, Australia dealer and service center has been hosting this overnight trip to Tangalooma Island for several years now.
In the attached videos, and by perusing their YouTube channel, you might find 1) a lot of the skis are Honda Aquatraxes, and 2) a very iconic Repsol-wrapped F-15X. Not only does the Jetskishop.com cater to all things personal watercraft, including the now-discontinued Honda, but they also have a very vibrant presence in local jet ski racing, with James Tod’s tricked-out turbo Honda being a mainstay of the QPWC racing series.
This year, the Jetskishop.com crew are booking at the Tangalooma Island Resort on March 29th, which is only a few weeks away! Previous trips have included Honda Quad bike tour, a night ride, and plenty of new friends and riding to enjoy.
C’mon admit, we’ve all done it. We’ve all been guilty of one really good wipeout or two. It’s part of the fun of pushing your jet ski (or yourself, for that matter) just a little past the limits. Hopefully, you were able to dust yourself off, climb back on and keep on riding. “Any landing you can walk away from is a good one,” is how the saying goes, right?
Well, The Watercraft Journal is proud to announce the beginning of the first-ever Jet Renu Wipeout Showdown! This photo contest is as easy to enter as it is to win! All you need to do is email in your best “wipeout” picture (this includes crashes, sinking or just falling off of your personal watercraft) along with your contact info (name, mailing address, phone number and email). We will then publish your picture on the official Watercraft Journal Facebook page in a special photo gallery titled “Jet Renu Wipeout Showdown.” The picture that gets the most “Likes” by the end of the month wins!
And win big will they! We have a seriously awesome prize from our friends at Jet Renu: a huge detail kit that includes Jet Renu’s Pink Quick Shine, a gallon of Pink+ Shine & Waterspot Remover, Clear Glass Cleaner, Blue Plastic Polish and their MX DriWash and RenuShield MX sprays! It’s a $100-plus value that can be yours just by publicly humiliating yourself in front of tens of thousands of people! Doesn’t that sound fun?
Again, to enter, just email your picture RIGHT NOW to [email protected] and get your friends and family to “Like” your picture on The Watercraft Journal official Facebook page. The picture with the most “Likes” by the end of Monday, March 31st, 2014 will win!
Ugh. Seriously, what gives? It was shorts weather last week! Well, for many of you either swimming in rain or wading through unwanted snow, we feel your pain…and so does Cargo Wave. Our favorite PWC trailer manufacturers are pretty sick and tired of the chilly weather too, but they won’t let the cold temps bring them down.
In a recent update, Cargo Wave announced the all-new Cargo Ski Adapters for your single place PWC trailer. These wheel-chocked skis are proto-tested, and according to the update, with “some tweaks, we’ll be set to go! Finished product very soon so stay tuned!”
Meanwhile, in another statement by Paul Thomas at Cargo Wave, “[We’ve] been crazy, busy, cold, snowy, busy, busy few weeks! [We] had a nice project for a few weeks at the Cargo Wave World Headquarters in Lakeland. The upcoming Spring Flood Run and Raffle is getting dialed in. Please visit floodrun.org for info on our Yamaha WaveRunner and Cargo Wave Combo raffle giveaway benefiting Gillette’s Children’s Hospital!”
It’s a discouraging thing for a personal watercraft enthusiast to wake in the morning to a front lawn blanketed in freshly fallen snow…particularly as they have been impatiently anticipating the final throes of winter to ebb. Many of us can’t help but feel just a modicum of despair when we watch the mercury slink down the thermometer yet again. Oh Spring, where art thou?
Nevertheless, The Watercraft Journal has yet to slow down. In fact, the circumstances are quite the opposite. Throughout the midst of this blistering season, the feverish pace of growth has yet to cease. Not only did The Watercraft Journal grow in readership – both new and returning – but in published content, advertisers and greater reach.
News articles published in February: 25
Feature articles published in February: 12
Total word count: 13,071 words*
*When this number is translated to print publication standards equals a 118-page magazine. Please note that this number does not include an average of two uniquely-written news articles published daily.
More Readers, More Frequently and More Often
Even with the deficit of February’s shortened calendar, the readership of The Watercraft Journal has grown both in sheer readership and in welcoming new, enthusiastic readers. Not only that, but in addition to its partnership with GreenHulk.net, The Watercraft Journal is welcoming more readers from more diverse of sources like X-H2O and Jalopnik.
January
Total number unique readers: 6,520
Total number of articles read: 19,281
Percentage of new readers: 53.4%
February
Total number unique readers: 7,372*
Total number of articles read: 20,172
Percentage of new readers: 57.8%
*This number is considered equal to an individual sale of a single copy of a magazine.
Getting The Word Out
Some are a little unclear about The Watercraft Journal’s use of social media. Much like how any print magazine worth its salt will shell over big bucks to purchase the premier spot on the newsstand, so too do we, only Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and our weekly newsletter are our newsstand. Because, there’s a few billion people using these mediums versus the few thousands frequenting brick-and-mortar bookstores.
January Facebook readers: 1,944
January Facebook weekly reach: 28,075
Top Five countries: United States, Australia, United Kingdom, France, South Africa
February Facebook readers: 4,476
February Facebook weekly reach: 87,034
Top Five countries: Argentina, United States, Brazil, Greece, Chile
Any Minute Now…
While the Northern Hemisphere is still waiting out our Endless Winter, The Watercraft Journal will continue to carry the torch of excitement for when the ice thaws, the leaves begin to sprout and temperatures fatefully begin to rise. There’s a lot of great content coming this month, including more freeride surf action, some awesome PWC fishing, the world’s fastest PWC and of course, more daily news, reviews and interviews from the fastest growing personal watercraft magazine, The Watercraft Journal.
Ross Champion and Carl Gramberg invited the whole Champion Timepieces Freeride team for an exclusive weekend in Ensenada, Mexico.
Most people look forward to the weekend as their opportunity to spend some much needed time at home with friends and family, running errands, or just relaxing away from the daily grind of work.
Last week, I found myself looking forward to the coming weekend, not only to get away after a long work week, but excited to jump the border to Mexico and celebrate a long weekend with friends Ross Champion and Carl Gramberg for the release of their new Champion Timepiece watches.
Ross and Carl had been planning this trip for months and their goal was simple; head to Mexico with the Champion Timepiece Freeride Team, consisting of some of the best freeride jet skiers in the world. Yes, you heard me right, the world.
Team riders include Zack and Jake Bright, Jake Montadon, Marc Sickerling, Pete McAfee, Randy Laine, Mark Gomez, Mike Serlin, Darin Anderson and of course, Champion Timepiece co-founders, Ross Champion and Carl Gramberg.
Freeride is like no other watercraft sport; even in the small and windy conditions, riders continue to push each other in a fun and friendly competition every time they ride.Chris Rosner made short work out of the smallish surf as the crowd gathering on the beach applauds.
From Southern California to South Africa, these riders traveled from far and wide to join in the celebration, good weather, and great freeriding. Although a few of the Team Riders were unable to make the trip, the rest of team packed up and headed south of the border to ride in some of the most remote locations in Baja.
South of Ensenada, down a 25-mile dirt road, the team set up camp for two full days of freeriding. This exclusive team photo shoot was only the start of what was to be a great weekend in Mexico. The undisclosed location provided the team with great waves and even better photos.
Saturday afternoon, the Champion Timepiece team arrived at Estero Beach Resort, where a group of their Southern Californian friends were riding the waves while awaiting their arrival. Riders such as Eddie Bettencourt, Chris Rosner, Curtis Udall, Josh Bernard, John Howe, Matt Smith, Derek Fischer, Fred the Frenchmen, and George the Greek, were occupying the beach until the Champion team arrived.
The group became quite the tourist attraction with around 20 jet skis riding the stretch of beach out in front of the resort. Crowds lined the beach watching the riders as they had a blast while dodging each other, trying new tricks and cheering each other on.Although conditions weren’t anywhere near perfect, with only 2-3 foot waves and a strong south wind, you know what they say, “When in Mexico, you just ride no matter what,” I guess.
It was amazing to see the amplitude of aerial tricks as the shifting tide created ever changing wave faces.
Everyone took advantage of the last few minutes of daylight, trading and trying every different jet ski in the vast array of machines in the group. This was a great opportunity for everyone to ride the different hulls and motor setups on the flat water of the lagoon to get a feel for the differences in each machine. It was so inviting that even The Watercraft Journal‘s photographer, Brittany Behringer, got out there for a spin around the lagoon for her second ride ever on a standup jet ski.
As the sun was setting, Mark Gomez put on a flat water freestyle show for everyone on the beach, riding his new Rickter hull, setup by TC Freeride. Although most of the group had never seen Mark ride on the flat water, he proved that his new Rickter/DASA setup launches him to a whole new amplitude, all while looking fresh with his beautiful white and blue paint job and matching JetPilot gear. But Mark showed everyone that his freestyle skills were much more than just looking good.
As the sun started to set, the riders headed back to the launch ramp exhilarated and exhausted after hours of fun riding in the surf.The Estero beach launch area has a beautiful beach and is often empty. The beach was about just about to get busy.
After all of the jet skis were loaded up or pulled up on the beach, everyone decided to storm the resort hot tub for a little relaxation.
At one point, there were about 25 people all crammed into one hot tub (and yes, it wasn’t all just guys; there were four girls who braved the waters).
It was great catching up with everyone and getting all the details about the team shoot portion of the trip. Chris Rosner and Mark Gomez even made a poor attempt at flirting in Spanish with some of the local girls.
Following the hot tub session, everyone went back to their rooms to freshen up for a group dinner at the resort restaurant to celebrate and get their first look at the new Champion Timepiece watch.
All 30 people joined in to share dinner, drinks and some pretty good laughs.
The new Champion Timepieces Fusion is a very sleek and lightweight watch specifically designed for jet ski enthusiasts. Much of the watch is created from the very same materials that has made our sport what it is today, namely Billet Aluminum and Carbon Fiber. The quality of this watch came at no surprise, as Carl Gramberg is the billet master and founder of Cold Fusion. With great people and a great product, we look forward to seeing Champion Timepieces take off.Mark Gomez just lifted off and was checking his Champion Timepiece for his estimated time of arrival.
The next morning arrived with 2-to-3 foot, glassy surf conditions. The Burn/Krash Industries rig unloaded Jake and Zack Bright’s new Predator skis, as well as a JB1. Riders took advantage of the glassy conditions, only returning to refill for fuel. The shallow waters were crystal clear giving the ultimate views to the sandy ocean floor below.
Although the ride from the lagoon to the surf had some lingering sand bars, the shallow waters didn’t stop the riders from displaying their full bag of tricks. Huge backflip variations, underflips, barrel roll re-entries, and many great surf turns were a common sight that morning.
The Watercraft Journal‘s photographer, Josh Bernard, got some amazing photos from the sandbar with his Cannon 1DX inside a water housing. The waves and riders were far from the beach and could only be seen from a distance, but it didn’t stop our photographers from jumping in the water to get the shot.
In addition to Ross’ signature Blowsion-painted FP1 “Champion Timepieces” edition ski, the Jake Bright’s killer Krash Industries boat.Chris Rosner: Destroyer of Tacos.
After a few hours of riding the glassy conditions, most of the group started packing up, as Sunday headed into the afternoon and the line back at the border can make for a really long wait.
Everyone had a great time seeing old friends and making new ones. There is something about the roar of a jet ski engine, the smell of gasoline and some great waves that really brings a group together.
As the group packed their skis and loaded up the cars, Ross Champion added, “I’m very appreciative of everyone that came down to the Fusion release party in Estero Beach. It was a great way to end an amazing trip.”
Mexico gifted us some amazing weather and sunsets the few days we were there.
Coming in after Sea-Doo, Yamaha is the second OE manufacturer to throw its support behind the grassroots-level racing series. Predicated upon the idea that far more people want to race who are dissuaded because of the cost of building over-the-top runabouts to compete, the AquaX series permits only minor changes to the handling components (sponsons, props, intake grates, ride plates, etc.) as well as steering and seat covers.
The best part is that PWC attrition is kept at a minimum as riders are more concerned with having a good time than worrying about keeping their skis from scattering across the water. We anticipate good things from the second year of this series and look forward to seeing starting lines full of racers.
Here’s the original press release:
Yamaha has embraced the vision of AquaX and will be helping to take the fast-growing championship to the next level as a supporting sponsor.
“AquaX and Yamaha are alike in recognizing the importance of growing participation in personal watercraft racing, which is why we are pleased to support AquaX in its efforts to provide additional organized platforms for doing this” explained Yamaha race director and former freestyle world champion Scott Watkins. P1 AquaX is promoted more to the amateur racer and recreational riders, and was successfully launched in the USA last year after establishing itself in the UK over the last three years.
Speaking at the head office of P1 AquaX USA in Orlando, Michelle Petro said: “Our championship is designed to provide an accessible and affordable platform for motorsport enthusiasts and to help develop the sport of watercraft racing from the ground up. The emphasis is on fun, safety and healthy competition, and this support from Yamaha clearly shows that leading manufacturers recognize the value of our concept and this.”
Yamaha rider Ron Levy was crowned 250 AquaX champion in the USA last year, and Yamaha will this summer be contesting the 300 class with its new FX Super Vortex High Output (SVHO) craft. Having completely overhauled the pump setup and installed supercharged power matched with upgraded performance components, Yamaha will be in search of more honors this season. One rider eager to make his mark is Troy Snyder, who raced in the final round of the P1 AquaX USA Championship last year. “I’m very happy to be riding for a manufacturer that rolls out the red carpet for its riders and can’t wait to use the power of the new SVHO power plant” enthused Troy.
The 5-venue AquaX season gets underway at Daytona Beach on 26/27 April.
All of us are very excited to announce that America’s most noted PWC fisherman, “JetSki Brian” Lockwood, author of www.jetskibrian.com as well as the proprietor of Jet Ski Fishing and Adventures Inc. has partnered with the Internet’s fastest growing personal watercraft magazine, The Watercraft Journal
We are champing at the bit to begin sharing the many awesome feature articles that Brian has already written on his blog here. Late in the summer of last year, Brian’s exploits earned him quite a bit of attention after capturing some absolutely gorgeous whale breaching images with his camera. “The fishing wasn’t all that great,” Brian laughed, “but the whales were magnificent.” According to the report, “He has now taken jet ski fishing to great lengths and has caught just about every fish you can off the coast of Virginia. His ultimate goal is to land a blue fin tuna.”
In addition to being a seasoned fisherman who has taken the Virginian coast by storm on his PWC, Brian is also quite the talented photographer and chef! Most of Brian’s blog posts include a quick look at how he turns the day’s catch into a scrumptious meal.
Brian first came into the world of PWC fishing by using PWC to catch some bait fish, but as fishing by watercraft soon revealed itself as an affordable and entertaining alternative way to enjoy the sport he loved. Brian soon after began modifying his Yamaha WaveRunner with reel holders, a GPS fish finder, a bait tank, and extra fuel cell and even a windshield. Never one to shy away even when the weather turns, Brian can be seen layered up, from a drysuit to a rescue jumper, keeping himself warm and dry even in the wettest of seasons.
Pictured: Jettribe’s RS-15 on somebody who is definitely not comfortable modeling wetsuits.
Although winter is putting up one heck of a fight, temperatures across the Northern Hemisphere are finally ticking upwards (albeit a little too slow for this Southern Californian’s blood). Nevertheless, for most of us who are still trekking out into the water, it’s still wetsuit weather. That is why its still important that we at The Watercraft Journal continue providing our in-depth reviews of some of the best gear your can get your hands on.
Jettribe continues as one of the only riding apparel manufacturers tailored specifically for personal watercraft enthusiasts and racers. The brand philosophy of race-grade equipment and gear for everyday use holds true in nearly everything they produce, most notably their RS-15 Race Suit. The red/black/white affair is one of Jettribe’s more attractive offerings in our opinion, as it is one of their more subdued designs.
The two-tone suit is clean, attractive and uncomplicated, featuring red stitching and highlights. Even with its racy features (more on those in a minute), the RS-15 suit’s subtlety is more our style.
In fact, much of Jettribe’s design aesthetic is a cacophonous collision of brilliant colors, zigzagging angles and patterns, which is outstanding for maximum visibility – particularly out on the race track, but might not be the most appealing to everyday casual riders.
Jettribe’s commitment to the personal watercraft industry – particularly to PWC racing – is evident in their incorporation of race-grade features and materials in to all of their products.The RS-15 features heavy duty rubber-injected knee pads to provide extra traction and knee protection.
Made from a two 3mm neoprene panels front and back (and around the legs), with thinner 2mm white panels along the sides, the underarms and waist, the thicker neoprene provides increased warmth and protection while the thinner side panels permit greater flexibility and comfort. We noted the difference in the two materials immediately, and were thankful for the improved range of motion.
The flexibility in the arms and shoulders was great, and the thinner 2mm underarms provided much needed breathability. We did note some bunching of material behind the knees, but that came as an exchange for the warmth the thicker 3mm neoprene provided. Since we’re still riding in pretty cold weather, we’ll happily live with some extra material behind the knees for staying warm longer.
Unlike traditional neoprene which is designed for users to remain submerged the whole time, Jettribe’s proprietary material is designed to provide an insular “barrier which slows down the conduction of heat, allowing the body’s heat to be retained.”
It’s funny when our favorite part of the RS-15 is the elongated zipper tether. It only comes from years of trying desperately to reach straps that have been way to dang short. Thank you Jettribe for sweating the small stuff.
And trap in heat is does. Even with air temperatures in the mid-40s, we were dripping with sweat. It was only when on the throttle did we find relief, as the thinner side panels provided some thankful cooling.
Our only major gripes with the RS-15 were secondary: mainly some extra bunching up in the knees and the “Jet Grip” printing that didn’t stay on for very long.
As mentioned, Jettribe’s commitment to the core industry, particularly PWC racing, is evident it its incorporation of so many features even into its most entry level products. The RS-15 includes rubber-coated eye-rings at the end of each zipper, the two located behind each ankle, and at the end of a much-appreciated elongated tether for the back.
The RS-15 also features Jettribe’s “Jet Grip” textured printing along the inner thighs and legs. While this is intended to provide seat additional traction, we found it a little awkward while walking (like corduroy pants). Additionally, after a season of riding, don’t expect to see much of it left. The printing tends to peel off after hours of use.
The RS-15 also features large rubber-injected knee pads for added grip and protection. While most recreational riders won’t have much need for these, they do help in boarding runabouts or getting up on a standup rather well. They’re well integrated into the material and didn’t show any signs of tearing even after all the time we put on the suit.
All in all, the RS-15 was one of the better products we had the pleasure of using from Jettribe. The inter-locking flat stitches were comfortable against our ski, the fitment was comfortable and flexibility and range of motion (especially for a thicker wetsuit) was the best we’ve seen from the brand.
