Swaid, who set a world record in 2024, and gained prominence with her HEAL Foundation, has now launched Checkered Flag Living. "Checkered Flag Living is more than a philosophy; it’s a movement to inspire intentional living, wellness, and personal growth."
Swaid, who set a world record in 2024, and gained prominence with her HEAL Foundation, has now launched Checkered Flag Living. “Checkered Flag Living is more than a philosophy; it’s a movement to inspire intentional living, wellness, and personal growth,” states organization literature.
For many fans of professional PWC racing, Christy Swaid’s name is permanently etched into the sport’s history. A six-time world champion, Swaid was one of the most dominant competitors of her era, carving out a reputation built on discipline, physical strength, and relentless focus.
But racing, as it turns out, was only the first chapter.
Christy Swaid of Homewood, Ala., holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest person to complete a backflip on a watercraft. She set the record in 2024 when she was 53 years old.Courtesy of HEAL Inc.
In 2024, Swaid once again made headlines after setting a Guinness World Record at age 53 — a milestone that underscored not only her athletic longevity, but her continued commitment to pushing physical limits long after stepping away from professional competition. The accomplishment drew attention well beyond the watercraft world, earning coverage from major outlets and even a feature from Porsche highlighting her performance and mindset.
For Swaid, the record wasn’t about nostalgia or revisiting the past.
It was about momentum.
Racing Built the Foundation
Swaid’s rise through the jet ski racing ranks came at a time when professional PWC competition was still fighting for mainstream recognition. Through six world championship titles, endorsement deals, hosting roles, and appearances as a stunt performer on projects ranging from Baywatch to feature films, she became one of the sport’s most visible ambassadors.
“Jet skiing was my calling,” Swaid has said. “Anything else would’ve been more difficult. But this door was wide open.”
That mindset — recognizing opportunity and committing fully to it — would become a through-line in her post-racing life.
From Competition to Community Impact
Well before her recent record-setting achievement, Swaid had already shifted her focus toward something bigger than podiums. She is the founder and CEO of HEAL United (Healthy Eating Active Living), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving children’s health through education, physical activity, and sustainable lifestyle habits.
HEAL United maintains strong ties to the racing and action sports communities, often using the appeal of motorsports and athletic role models to connect with younger audiences. The organization reflects a philosophy that mirrors Swaid’s own career: performance starts with preparation, discipline, and consistency.
In many ways, HEAL United represents an extension of the values racing instilled — just applied off the water.
A New Endeavor, Same Competitive Spirit
Following her 2024 world record, Swaid launched Checkered Flag Living, a new initiative focused on translating elite athlete habits into everyday life. The project blends performance coaching, wellness principles, and mindset training, aimed at helping individuals apply the same discipline used in professional sports to personal health and long-term goals.
While the branding nods clearly to motorsports culture, the message is broader: sustainable success doesn’t come from shortcuts — it comes from structure, intention, and showing up consistently.
Still Part of the Racing Story
Though no longer lining up on the start line, Swaid remains deeply connected to the racing world that shaped her. Her influence now shows up less in lap times and more in legacy — through mentorship, advocacy, and programs designed to inspire the next generation to live healthier, more active lives.
At a time when the sport itself is navigating fragmentation, shifting structures, and growing pains, Swaid’s story offers something refreshingly grounded: a reminder that racing’s impact doesn’t end when the engine shuts off.
The International Jet Sports Boating Association rang in the new year by offering an early look at its direction for 2026 — and while this initial post stops short of full detail, it signals a notable shift toward partnerships, restructuring, and long-term sustainability across the sport.
According to IJSBA, a more comprehensive white paper has been in development since before Christmas and is expected to spark broader industry discussion once released. In the meantime, the organization outlined several key priorities that frame where it believes personal watercraft racing — and organized PWC activity as a whole — needs to go.
Central to the plan is IJSBA’s intent to begin transitioning portions of race servicing for major events, including World Finals and U.S. Nationals, to third-party promoters or servicing groups. The organization confirmed it has already received multiple proposals tied to World Finals 2027 and emphasized that any future agreement is structured to keep the sport’s marquee event in Lake Havasu City through at least its 50th anniversary.
Beyond racing operations, IJSBA reiterated its push to expand the scope of the World Finals experience itself. Building on initiatives introduced in 2025, the association plans to further grow the trade show and increase recreational crossover opportunities — including fishing-focused activities, workshops, and low-impact competitive experiences — aimed at bringing more non-racing PWC enthusiasts into the event ecosystem.
The preview also highlights IJSBA’s emphasis on unifying regional and international entities while preserving individual autonomy. Rather than fragmenting the sport, the association says it is working toward a cooperative model designed to strengthen regional racing and create a sustainable foundation for future growth, even amid anticipated global economic and political challenges.
Additional focus areas include restructuring affiliate processes, refining U.S. membership programs, and increasing promoter participation in IJSBA’s digital and data platforms.
While many details remain forthcoming, IJSBA made it clear that cooperation — not conflict — will be the guiding principle moving forward, with the stated goal of keeping racing accessible, enjoyable, and viable for years to come.
Pro Watercross Flagged As IJSBA’s First 2026 US Partner
Just days after previewing a broad strategic action plan for 2026, the International Jet Sports Boating Association has announced its first premiere U.S. partnership — naming Pro Watercross as a key sanctioned promoter moving forward.
According to IJSBA, the partnership represents an early step in the organization’s evolving approach to race operations, exposure, and long-term sustainability. The collaboration is positioned as a multi-faceted effort focused on expanding opportunities across all levels of personal watercraft racing while increasing outreach to recreational enthusiasts and independent racers.
Under the agreement, Pro Watercross will return as an IJSBA-sanctioned promoter in 2026, with both organizations emphasizing a clear division of strengths. IJSBA will continue to oversee administrative, legal, and governance responsibilities, while Pro Watercross takes on an expanded role in shaping the competitive racing experience and national tour structure.
At the center of the partnership is the 2026 Pro Watercross National Tour, branded as The Road to Havasu. The tour is designed to prioritize affordability, accessibility, and visibility for privateer racers — a group repeatedly emphasized as the backbone of the sport. Pro Watercross officials say the tour’s format aims to reduce travel burdens by aligning national rounds with regional events, allowing racers to compete for both regional recognition and national points during a single weekend, without increased entry fees.
The nine-round national schedule will culminate with a championship finale in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, reinforcing the city’s role as the sport’s historic centerpiece. The season structure blends consistency and peak performance, counting each racer’s top four national results alongside their performance at the finale to determine the National Champion.
Media exposure also plays a central role in the partnership. Pro Watercross highlighted its national television relationships and a renewed storytelling focus that extends beyond front-runners, with the goal of delivering meaningful sponsor value and visibility across the entire field.
Both organizations framed the 2026 season as a foundation year, setting the stage for a potentially more unified national and world championship format in 2027 — including the possibility of combined National Tour and World Finals events in Lake Havasu.
In follow-up posts on social media, Pro Watercross echoed that message, emphasizing affordability, privateer support, and a renewed effort to make national-level racing more accessible without sacrificing professionalism or exposure.
Taken together, the two announcements offer an early look at how IJSBA’s broader 2026 action plan is beginning to take shape. The initial outline of long-term goals is now paired with a concrete partnership and a defined race structure, providing the first real indication of how those ideas may translate from planning to execution. With additional details expected in the coming weeks, 2026 is shaping up as a transition year that could help define the future framework of organized personal watercraft racing in the United States.
Both IJSBA press releases are included, in full, below
IJSBA Preview Of 2026 Action Plan
Happy New Year from the International Jet Sports Boating Association. This posting is a short preview of IJSBA’s upcoming action plan reveal for 2026. We have a pretty crazy white paper that we have been working on since before Christmas that we hope will foster a lot of discussion and demonstrate the direction IJSBA is on with our partners. In the meantime, we hope you will enjoy these bullet points and short discussion.
2026 IJSBA Plan Highlights:
IJSBA begins the process, in 2026, of preparing to partner with third party servicing groups, whether that be promoters or outside organizations, to service the racing portion of World Finals and US National efforts. We have received several proposals for World Finals 2027 and are in the process of developing these offers and preparing to work towards an agreement that will keep World Finals in Lake Havasu City up to, at least, the 50th anniversary.
IJSBA, in carrying on with new programs from 2025, will further increase the trade show to include more crossover opportunities and will, especially, increase the recreational direction which will add expansion into new PWC activities such as fishing expo and workshops as a means of uniting all PWC enthusiasts and providing resources for formal non racing activities.
IJSBA is working on unifying as many entities as possible working for a commons strength while empowering each entity’s autonomy without cost to them. This is a focus on making everything bigger rather than cutting it up into pieces. We believe that by the time we get to summer, we will have demonstrated that IJSBA’s continued operation using this methodology is the only sustainable path for regional racing.
IJSBA is restructuring the affiliate process to ensure that races are being produced and new members have relevant experience for the categories they race in neighboring countries.
IJSBA is restructuring the USA Membership program to encourage promoters to participate in IJSBA social media and contribute to the IJSBA database.
As announced in 2024, 2026 will be the year IJSBA finalizes outsourcing race management of World Finals in 2027. This may involve a consortium of more than one entity. IJSBA’s immediate goal is to ensure the support for United States Regional organizers continuing to give them the resources they need which IJSBA has been providing at virtually no cost. In 2025, IJSBA’s member services included dispute resolution, legal support services, product development consultation, and risk management assistance among other aid. At the 2025 Short Block World Finals, IJSBA held the first Poker Run in 20 years and had an uptick in vendor activity largely due to increased recreational enthusiast attendance at the event. IJSBA will take this even further in 2026 adding more elements to the SBT World Finals in October. This expansion will include fishing components, workshops, and low impact opportunities to experience organized competition.
IJSBA predicts difficult economic and political conditions globally. IJSBA’s key regional promoters were the only entities, world wide, that showed any form of growth in 2025. This indicates the importance of shoring up the foundation of affordable and easily accessible events where participants are enjoying their experience. We have been finalizing agreements with our global partners that will emphasize more local growth. This is where tomorrows racers will come from and we also expect these relationships will prepare our leaders of tomorrow to be ready for new responsibilities.
Most of all, the goal of IJSBA will be to ensure that racing operations stay available and sustainable. We intend to forger new partnerships that involve all parties playing to their strengths and making the entire sport grow over the practice of cutting it up into pieces. History has shown, consistently, that when there is cooperation, the sport grows. Conflict makes racing smaller and more unpleasant. This is our mantra and how we will move forward. We are confident that with our local partners we have a new system that will ensure World Finals stays in Lake Havasu City through our 50th anniversary and, hopefully, beyond. This gives whatever partners join the team to know how and where to plan for the globe’s signature event.
Please stay tuned to IJSBA for more announcements coming shortly. If you have questions or comments regarding this posting, please contact IJSBA by emailing [email protected].
IJSBA Announces Pro Watercross As First Premiere USA Partner For 2026
IJSBA announces Pro Watercross as first premiere partner in the United States of America. This partnership will be intsrumental in strong directions for 2026 as well as new faces and new perspectives helping to forge an evolving identity for racing. 2026 will see a muti faceted approach which centers around exposure and opportunities for all levels of Personal Watercraft Racing as well as further outreach to enthusiasts. Please see their press release below.
Official Pro Watercross Press Release – January 4, 2026
Honoring the Legacy. Redefining the Future.
For nearly half a century, Lake Havasu and the International Jet Sports Boating Association have built their legacies side by side, together shaping one of the most recognized venues in personal watercraft racing. As we launch the 2026 Pro Watercross National Tour, dubbed “The Road To Havasu”, we aren’t just racing for trophies, we are racing to preserve a 45-year tradition while ushering in a bold new era of unity for the sport. This allows IJSBA to play to its strength in maintaining administrative roles and legal aspects of the sport while giving Pro Watercross more opportunity to find new directions for the racing.
In 2026, Pro Watercross will return to the IJSBA as a sanctioned promoter, a thoughtfully considered move that sets the stage for a transformative chapter in 2027. This marks the beginning of a fresh outlook on how the National Champion is crowned and how the sport evolves, while unifying the sport from within. We are retooling the tour to ensure the World Finals in Lake Havasu truly benefits the Privateer Racer by optimizing the Havasu experience to reward the immense effort and travel costs invested to compete in the Jet Ski Capital of the World.
The independent racer is at the core of what we are doing, they are the athletes who wrench on their own skis and fund their own travel. These racers make up the vast majority of our base, and are the lifeblood of this tour. We are committed to making racing more affordable without sacrificing the professional stage we believe Pro Watercross racers deserve. This is a race program for everyone. The budget racer will be given the same attention and opportunity as the big trailer teams.
By strategically aligning multiple National Tour stops with Regional Races, we are reducing the travel burden. This unified format allows racers to “stretch their dollar” by competing for both regional recognition and national points during a single, high-impact weekend. The cost to enter these National Tour events will remain the same as a Regional event! We plan to give you an elevated experience in racing whether you attend one round or the entire season.
Visibility and viewership should be for all, benefitting everyone in our sport; the sponsors, promoters, venue locations and participants, including privateers. Our partnership with National television networking provides a massive platform to help reach all audiences passionate about racing. We aren’t just filming the leaders; we are telling the “Narrative of the Hunt,” highlighting the grit of racers throughout the entire field. Every stop is designed to generate professional media. We provide the high-quality photos, video clips, and TV airtime racers need to deliver real ROI to their local sponsors.
The 2026 season features a robust nine-stop schedule, culminating in the prestigious Championship Finale in Lake Havasu City, AZ, home to the iconic London Bridge and Body Beach. To ensure a fair pursuit of the title, the 2026 Tour Champion will be determined by a racer’s top four scores from the regular season, combined with their performance at the Road to Havasu Finale. Top finishers will be invited to pit out of the Pro Watercross VIP Pit area and will receive additional coverage at World Finals.
In the event that certain classes do not meet the minimum score requirements for this formula, the champion will be determined by total overall points accumulated throughout the season. This dual-layered structure rewards both season-long consistency and peak performance on the grandest stage.
Class offerings will be prioritized based on national high-point statistics, ensuring deep fields and high-octane racing in the most popular categories.
We believe in honoring the dedication of those who drive this sport forward. Recognition will be extended to the top five finishers in each class.
To match the prestige of a National Title, Trophy Extreme will be the official award provider for the 2026 Tour Champions! These one-of-a-kind awards are being custom-engineered to a scale and quality that reflects the magnitude of a national victory.
The 2026 season serves as the foundation to a transformative 2027, as we are building a future of combined events that will further streamline the path to the World Finals. Solidifying the Havasu experience as the gold standard of racing, we believe in continuing this experience for generations to come. We honor the 45-year history of the sport while prioritizing a future where the independent racer can thrive, get noticed, and win. IJSBA has invited Pro Watercross to be a unifying conduit for changes in the racing program and developing different perspectives that come from a collective national effort.
As we look toward 2027, we are exploring a unified combo-event where the National Tour and the World Finals converge. This approach aims to streamline the championship process, allowing independent athletes to compete for both National and World honors in a single, high-impact residency, maximizing both their resources and their media exposure on high profile national television coverage.
By the time our conversation with Sam Nehme turned toward racing, it was clear he wasn’t speaking as a disinterested outsider — but as someone who has lived nearly every chapter of the sport.
Nehme says fans shouldn’t expect to see him lining up on the start line again. His days of racing full-time are behind him. Still, he remains closely connected, supporting riders, attending events, and keeping a close eye on where the sport is headed.
“You won’t see me racing,” Nehme said. “But you’ll definitely see me involved in any way I can. I love the sport, and I want to see it get better.”
That perspective — invested but realistic — frames how Nehme views the current state of PWC racing.
When Racing Stops Feeling Fun
One of the clearest through-lines in Nehme’s assessment is how the atmosphere at races has shifted over the years. Where events once felt communal and energizing, he believes the experience today often feels tense, procedural, and adversarial.
He points to strict technical enforcement as one example. While oversight matters, Nehme argues that aggressive tear-downs don’t make sense in a sport where most racers aren’t competing for meaningful prize money.
“If you’re racing for a trophy, it’s hard to put a racer through that,” he said. “These guys don’t have the money to tear motors apart and put them back together.”
That pressure, he believes, pushes people away — not just financially, but emotionally. Racers want to compete hard, but they also want to enjoy the weekend and return to work Monday without regret.
“When it’s still fun, people stay,” Nehme said. “When it stops being fun, they leave.”
Too Many Titles, Not Enough Meaning
Nehme also sees structural issues that go beyond any single race weekend. Chief among them: fragmentation.
There are more organizations, more tours, and more titles than ever — and he believes that abundance has diluted their value.
“There used to be a national champion and a world champion,” he said. “Now everybody’s a champion. It doesn’t hold the same meaning anymore.”
That confusion doesn’t just affect racers — it affects fans. With overlapping schedules, competing tours, and different rulebooks, Nehme says it’s difficult for spectators to know what they’re watching or why it matters.
“Other sports don’t work like this,” he said. “There’s one tour, one championship. You follow the racers, you follow the points, and it all leads somewhere.”
The Money and Marketing Problem
At the core of many of these challenges, Nehme says, is money — or more accurately, the lack of it.
Without real sponsorship dollars, racing remains closer to a hobby than a profession. That reality affects everything from payouts to promotion to production quality.
“Until racers are racing for real money, it’s not a real sport,” he said. “And sponsors aren’t going to invest if there aren’t spectators.”
Nehme believes past promoters often struggled to deliver measurable returns, burning through sponsors who didn’t see enough visibility or engagement. Without consistent crowds or polished media coverage, those partnerships rarely lasted.
“If the return isn’t there, they’re gone,” he said.
A Cautious Optimism for Something New
That context is what shapes Nehme’s response to the recent announcement of a new national race series backed by the International Hot Rod Association.
He sees opportunity — but only if it’s done differently.
“I think it’s something the industry needs,” Nehme said. “Starting fresh gives you a chance to fix the things that haven’t worked.”
Professionalism, he says, will be critical. Decisions need to be clear, consistent, and guided by the rulebook — not relationships or emotions. Listening to racers matters, but so does making difficult calls for the good of the sport as a whole.
Nehme also believes change may be necessary in how racing itself is presented.
“Maybe it’s not the same format we’ve always had,” he said. “Maybe it becomes something that spectators understand better and enjoy watching.”
Because, in his view, everything flows from that one missing piece.
“This sport won’t grow until it becomes a spectator sport,” Nehme said. “Once you have fans, you’ll have sponsors. And once you have sponsors, the rest can start to fall into place.”
Still a Fan — Just Competing Somewhere Else
Despite the challenges, Nehme doesn’t sound detached. If anything, watching from the sidelines makes his connection to the sport more complex.
“Every time I watch, I want to jump back in,” he admitted. “That never really goes away.”
Ultimately, though, his priorities have shifted. His focus now is on his family and on continuing to grow Broward Motorsports — a different kind of competition, but one he approaches with the same intensity.
“I’m still competing,” Nehme said. “Just in a different arena.”
And even now, he remains a fan — of the racers, the effort, and the next generation finding their way into the sport.
“I respect anyone who keeps showing up,” he said. “Because I know what it takes.”
The first time Sam Nehme mentioned expansion, it was early last spring — a quick heads-up that Broward Motorsports was adding another store. When we reached out to talk about it, his response was straightforward: give it a week or two. A second deal was already in motion.
A couple of weeks stretched into months. Between Nehme’s rapidly growing business and a packed racing and publishing calendar on our end, the conversation kept getting bumped. By the time we finally caught up last week, that expansion — growing Broward Motorsports from six dealerships to eight, with new locations in Orlando and Port Richey — had moved well beyond the tentative early stages, giving the longtime Florida operator a much stronger footprint across Central and West Florida.
In an industry where headlines often swing between doom and optimism, Nehme’s timing raised an obvious question: why expand now?
For Nehme, the answer starts with geography — and ends with discipline.
Florida, he explains, continues to behave differently than much of the country. While parts of the powersports market have cooled elsewhere, his original six stores were trending ahead of the previous year’s numbers. From his perspective, the expansion wasn’t a gamble so much as a continuation of momentum.
“We’re in the right place,” Nehme said. “When I look at our existing stores, they’re above last year. So in my mind, we’re growing — and that’s a good place to be.”
But he’s quick to point out that growth hasn’t come from simply following the same dealership playbook as everyone else. Nehme believes Broward Motorsports succeeds because it refuses to operate like an “average” dealer, leaning instead into creative marketing, unconventional thinking, and a willingness to adapt early rather than react late.
That mindset, he says, matters more now than ever.
Understanding the Modern Customer
Despite his deep roots in watercraft racing, Nehme sees today’s powersports customer less as a racer and more as a family buyer. The majority of people walking into his showrooms aren’t chasing lap times or aftermarket performance gains — they’re looking for reliability, simplicity, and experiences they can share.
“They want a jet ski, a cover, a few life jackets, a trailer — and they want to go have fun,” he said. “They want it to work.”
That shift has shaped how Broward Motorsports does business. While performance parts and race-derived products still have their place, Nehme believes the aftermarket performance segment is far smaller than it once was. Modern four-stroke watercraft are faster, more reliable, and more capable straight off the showroom floor than anything riders saw in the two-stroke era.
As a result, Nehme’s focus has increasingly moved toward volume — selling new watercraft, supporting them through service and warranty work, and building long-term customer relationships. Across all eight locations, Broward Motorsports now sells an estimated 4,000 personal watercraft per year, on top of business in motorcycles, side-by-sides, and other off-road vehicles.
“That’s where the real money is,” Nehme said. “Selling units, servicing them, and taking care of customers over time. That part of the business isn’t going away.”
BMS Orlando
Passion Helps — But It Isn’t Enough
Nehme doesn’t shy away from the role passion has played in his success. Like many in the industry, he started as an enthusiast long before becoming a business owner. But he’s equally candid about the danger of letting passion blur judgment.
“Passion is huge,” he said. “But if you can’t separate passion from reality and business, you can really hurt yourself.”
He’s seen it happen repeatedly: riders or collectors opening dealerships driven by enthusiasm, only to discover how demanding, time-consuming, and unforgiving the business can be. Success, Nehme argues, requires eventually outgrowing the enthusiast mindset and treating the operation like a true enterprise.
That same clarity influenced his own choices over the years, including when — and how — he chose to step back from certain aspects of the sport he loves. Refocusing on business, he says, directly contributed to Broward Motorsports’ continued growth and eventual expansion into new markets.
Expansion Without Chasing It
Interestingly, Nehme isn’t actively hunting for more dealerships. Most opportunities, he says, come to him.
When owners are ready to sell, manufacturer reps and industry contacts often point them his way — knowing Broward Motorsports is a serious buyer that closes deals cleanly. That’s exactly how the Orlando and Port Richey locations came together, even though acquiring two stores back-to-back wasn’t originally part of the plan.
“It was tough,” Nehme admitted. “I probably wouldn’t do it that way again. But it made sense to enter Central Florida with more than one store.”
The result is a broader regional presence and operational efficiencies that position the company well for continued growth. And if there’s one thing Nehme is certain of, it’s that he isn’t finished.
“Never done expanding,” he said. “Once I sit still too long, I get anxious.”
A Business Still Worth Building
For young riders and aspiring entrepreneurs watching from the outside, Nehme’s advice is direct. Racing success, he says, doesn’t translate into business success — and shouldn’t be mistaken for it. Building a dealership or powersports business requires full commitment, focus, and the willingness to work aggressively toward long-term stability before chasing passion projects.
In Nehme’s view, the opportunity is still there.
“In America, it’s 100 percent viable,” he said. “But it’s not going to be handed to you. You’ve got to believe in yourself and put in the work.”
As Broward Motorsports continues to grow across Florida, that philosophy — more than any single product or trend — appears to be the constant behind Nehme’s success.
Editor’s Note: This interview was originally intended to focus on Broward Motorsports’ expansion, but the conversation quickly widened to the state of PWC riding and racing. We’ll publish that portion of our discussion with Sam Nehme tomorrow in Part 2.
“$%&#,” I growled not quietly enough for my kids not to hear. Skip passed.
The news of Andrew “Skip” Donovan‘s passing came through my feed via fellow Australian photographer Jeff Lakeford. A couple of weeks earlier, IFWA and IJSBA World Champion, and friend to me since he was just out of high school, Mark Gomez had posted the prognosis: Skip was in palliative care with not much time left.
I came to know Skip through his “Photo By Skip” photography business. The Watercraft Journal was murdering the competition on its international freeride coverage, and Skip saw an opportunity to offer his services – to which, I was more than eager to accept. Skip loved freeride, and it was evident in his coverage.
Over 3-plus-years, Skip provided WCJ coverage of the Australian freeride scene; particularly, the Rip N’ Ride; as well as QPWC races, AJSBA Nationals and even the King’s Cup in Thailand. Admittedly, Skip’s spelling was reliably atrocious – enough to make Australia’s public schools a running joke between us – but his photos were always primo.
It only made sense that this level of exposure would draw in headhunters and Skip was whisked away by Michael Ratti at Pro Rider seeing that Mike lived in Australia and could keep him busier than WCJ. Skip tried to walk the tightrope between the two magazines, but PR made it clear it was either one or the other. He chose the other.
After news of Skip’s passing hit, I sought answers. I reached out to a few contacts and gratefully, Craig Milne called and filled in some gaps. Being a Gold Coast native and an active outdoorsman, Skip developed a melanoma in 2019. VHA addressed the skin cancer and Skip was cleared after a year of treatment.
By 2023, Skip was feeling ill and went in to be tested. The results were catastrophic: Stage IV cancer and it was everywhere. Australian TGA laws (Therapeutic Goods Act 1989) permit patients whom doctors deem “terminal” to attempt “unconventional” treatment. He did so for over a year but it wasn’t successful.
Skip entered end-of-life care, which did its best to keep him as pain-free as possible. It was shortly after his 52nd birthday (December 8th, 1973) that he passed on Sunday, December 14th. Skip is survived by his mother, Elizabeth; father, Michael; brother, Nathan; and his sister, Rebecca and her son, Flynn.
Skip was exactly what the sport of freeride needed. He loved it all: the aerials, the athletes, the sounds, the shoreline, everything. His stoke was infectious. Losing Skip to PR took a big chunk of our freeride coverage, and that hurt, as I’ve always supported it (ask Gomez, Ross Champion, Taylor Curtis and the Bright brothers).
…but losing Skip to cancer hurts worse. The world just feels a little dimmer.
It’s simple. It’s entirely American made. It’s uncomplicated. And it’s absolutely effective. That’s been our takeaway from the Sand Gator Shallow Water Anchor. Designed and manufactured out of their Lake Forest, IL facility, the Sand Gator has taken the stake-style small vessel anchor and made it darn near flawless.
The serrated edges aren’t sharp, so it’s not going to cut or saw through anything in your watercraft’s storage compartment but has enough bite to dig into sandy and pebbly shorelines; and it’s compact enough to fit in most all PWC storage cubbies but digs deep enough to hold down even full-sized PWC in surf.
In easily checking off our surprisingly basic requirements (when so many others don’t), we had little trouble announcing that the Sand Gator Shallow Water Anchor will be The Watercraft Journal’s “Official Anchor of The Year” for 2026. And with that announcement comes quite a bit of news:
Sand Gator’s owner, Jeff Giannelli wrote: “We’re thrilled to be working with WCJ in 2026 and are happy to share a special 10% discount just for WCJ readers.”
In addition to seeing a Sand Gator used in all future PWC reviews and trips on WCJ in 2026, a full length product review and inclusion in our 2026 Christmas Gift Buyer’s Guide; all readers are gifted a 10-percent discount on their purchase at www.thesandgator.com when they use the coupon code WATERCRAFT10 at check out.
Too often people are distracted by the sizzle and are disappointed by the steak. The Sand Gator leaves all of the bells and whistles aside (which, let’s admit, jacks up the price), and offers a top quality, American made anchor for an affordable price. Order yours with the cinch-top drain bag and bungee anchor strap for $85.99.
Yesterday, just hours before the New Year kicked off, the IHRA Pro Watercraft Racing Series officially announced Great Lakes Watercross (GLWC) as its first sanctioned regional partner, a move that signals how the organization plans to rebuild and connect personal watercraft racing across the country.
The partnership brings together the newly formed Pro Watercraft Racing Series (PWRS) and one of the most established regional promoters in the sport, creating a direct bridge between regional racing and national-level competition under the IHRA Pro Watercraft umbrella.
PWRS Managing Director Dustin Farthing said conversations with Jaymi and Brad Bohat, who operate Great Lakes Watercross, quickly revealed a shared vision focused on sustainability, racer experience, and long-term growth — not just expansion for expansion’s sake.
Great Lakes Watercross enters the partnership with serious momentum of its own. Just before Christmas, the series released its 2026 race schedule, outlining a 10-round season built around double-header weekends, a mix of flat water and big water venues, and increased cash payouts planned for the coming year.
The 2026 schedule opens on flat water in Indiana before moving into larger Great Lakes conditions, setting up a season that rewards versatility and consistency. The final three tour stops shift fully into big water racing, with a championship weekend slated for late August in Wisconsin.
In addition to its core Midwest schedule, Great Lakes Watercross will also host a standalone Labor Day weekend event in Williamsburg, Virginia, expanding its geographic reach while keeping series points focused on the main tour.
With the IHRA partnership now official, Great Lakes Watercross becomes a key piece of the Pro Watercraft Racing Series’ long-term plan — serving as a model regional pipeline for racers looking to advance toward national and world championship competition.
More regional and international partnership announcements are expected in the months ahead, but for now, the alignment between PWRS and Great Lakes Watercross offers one of the clearest looks yet at how the 2026 racing landscape is coming together.
Below is the full press release from the IHRA Pro Watercraft Racing Series, and the full season schedule announcement from Great Lakes Watercross.
Pro Watercraft Racing Series Welcomes Great Lakes Watercross as First Official Regional Partner
The IHRA Pro Watercraft Racing Series is proud to officially welcome Great Lakes Watercross as its first sanctioned regional series under the IHRA Pro Watercraft umbrella. This partnership marks a major milestone in IHRA’s mission to rebuild, align, and grow personal watercraft racing across the United States, creating a true pipeline from regional competition to the national and world championship level.
“We’re extremely excited to partner with one of the largest and most respected regional promoters in the United States,” said Dustin Farthing of IHRA Pro Watercraft Racing. “The Bohat’s and I had a long discussion about the goals of racing, and it was immediately clear we share the same commitment, building strong, sustainable series that put racers first. This partnership is exactly what the future of our sport should look like.”
Great Lakes Watercross has long been a cornerstone of regional watercraft racing, known for strong turnout, professional event execution, and a racer-focused mindset. Aligning with IHRA allows both organizations to strengthen opportunities for racers, sponsors, and host cities while creating a unified pathway to national and international competition.
“Partnering with IHRA was a natural step for us,” said the Bohat family of Great Lakes Watercross. “We believe in the vision IHRA & Farthing are building and the direction the Pro Watercraft Series is heading. Our goals have always been about growing the sport, supporting racers, and delivering quality events, and this partnership allows us to do that at an even higher level.”
As the first official IHRA regional series, Great Lakes Watercross will play a key role in funneling racers, momentum, and growth into the IHRA Pro Watercraft Racing Series, setting the tone for future regional partnerships nationwide.
More announcements regarding additional regional & international affiliates, schedules, and more series details will be released soon. Happy New Year, this is the future of watercraft racing and it starts with 2026 just around the corner.
THE 2026 GREAT LAKES WATERCROSS SCHEDULE IS HERE!
The wait is finally over. We are incredibly excited to officially announce the 2026 race season! This year is going to be epic: 10 rounds of racing total, with 2 rounds of action every single weekend.
We are starting the season on the flat water of Indiana and turning up the heat as we head toward the big water of the Great Lakes for the final three tour stops. We are also bringing back even more cash payouts this year! Details on the payout structure and specific classes will be released early this spring once sponsor agreements are complete!
Grab your calendars and start planning. Here is where we are heading in 2026:
JUNE 12-14: Kendallville, Indiana – We return to Bixler Lake Campground to kick off the season. This is the perfect spot to find your speed on flat water. Camping: Reserve through the City of Kendallville at (260) 242-6898.
JUNE 26-28: Janesville, Wisconsin – We’ll be racing on the Rock River at Traxler Park. We are proud to partner with the Rock Aqua Jays for this event, as they host a national water ski show the same weekend!
JULY 17-19: Harbor Beach, Michigan – The third annual Harbor Beach Cup! The big water season officially begins here. Camping/Pits: Reservations are open now through the city athttps://www.harborbeach.com/watercross-racers
JULY 31 – AUGUST 2: Racine, Wisconsin – We are back on the beautiful shores of North Beach for a high-stakes Double Points weekend. You won’t want to miss the points chase & big waves here!
AUGUST 21-23: Manitowoc, Wisconsin (Championship Weekend) – The series finale at Red Arrow Park! This is where we crown our 2026 season champions!
LABOR DAY WEEKEND: Williamsburg, Virginia The Battle at Williamsburg at Jamestown Beach – This is going to be a huge family-fun weekend just a few miles from Busch Gardens. Expect massive crowds and a great holiday atmosphere to wrap up the year. This event will be a stand alone event and not part of the 2026 GLW Series points.
The IJSBA has taken the next step in its 2026 rulemaking process, releasing the Managing Director’s official recommendations for changes to the upcoming Competition Rule Book — and opening the door for two more weeks of community feedback before any action is taken.
This update follows the two-part process we recently covered at The Watercraft Journal, first when IJSBA solicited public input on potential rule changes, and again when that rule suggestion period was extended due to the volume and complexity of responses received. What initially appeared to be a relatively narrow discussion ultimately evolved into one of the more involved technical debates the organization has seen in years.
According to IJSBA, the bulk of the conversation centered on three areas: fuel regulation in Stock and economy-focused classes, propulsion parity in Sport Spec, and compression limits in Ski Lites — all framed by a broader concern about cost control, fairness, and enforceability across different venues and conditions.
On fuel regulation, the Managing Director acknowledged a clear majority of racers favor prohibiting expensive and exotic fuels in Stock and economy classes. However, concerns over enforcement, lack of consensus on testing parameters, and promoter readiness led to a recommendation to delay fuel regulation until 2027, using 2026 to develop clear standards while simultaneously reducing the demand for those fuels through other rule adjustments.
For Sport Spec, the recommendations take a targeted and conditional approach. To address parity concerns — particularly those raised around World Finals conditions — IJSBA is recommending limited allowance of a specific aftermarket jet pump for Wave Blasters, restricted to the 2026 SBT World Finals unless promoters explicitly declare qualifying conditions in advance. The proposal also signals a broader shift toward venue-based rule considerations, factoring in elements like elevation, track size, and water conditions rather than blanket class-wide changes.
In Ski Lites, the Managing Director is recommending compression limits at the 2026 World Finals as an immediate step to curb reliance on high-cost fuels, with further restrictions — including minimum base gasket thickness — proposed for implementation beginning in 2027. IJSBA also plans to develop elevation-based compression guidelines moving forward.
With no Stock class changes on the table and only community-driven classes affected, IJSBA has opted to pause for additional feedback. The organization will accept public comments on these recommendations through January 13, 2026, before forwarding all input to the Board of Directors for final consideration.
January officially signals the start of boat show season, and for watercraft enthusiasts, it’s one of the best ways to get a firsthand look at what’s coming in the new year. Yamaha recently reminded fans that Discover Boating has events lined up across the country, making it easy to see the newest WaveRunners, ask questions, and get a feel for the 2026 lineup.
Boat shows are more than just a chance to ogle the latest models—they’re an opportunity. If you’re in the market for a new WaveRunner, or just curious about what’s new, shows let you compare models side by side in a no-pressure environment. Many dealers attending these events also bring leftover units from the previous model year, often with enticing discounts. Even if you’re not planning to buy, you can climb aboard, test the ergonomics, and see what changes Yamaha and other manufacturers have made.
The 2026 season promises to be exciting. Yamaha isn’t alone: other manufacturers are expected to unveil updates to their personal watercraft lines, giving visitors a sneak peek at performance tweaks, tech upgrades, and styling changes. It’s a chance to see, feel, and interact with models before they hit dealer floors, which is invaluable for anyone making a serious purchasing decision—or just dreaming about their next adventure on the water.
2025 Atlanta Boat Show
Here’s a snapshot of the January schedule for those ready to plan their first show:
Whether you’re hunting for a deal on last year’s model, comparing the newest technology, or just soaking in the watercraft atmosphere, boat shows are a great way to kick off the year.
If you’ve ever thought about unlocking more power from your Yamaha WaveRunner, RIVA Racing just published one of the most straightforward guides yet. Earlier this month, they released a short instructional video that walks viewers through the process of reflashing an ECU on 2018 and newer Yamaha models using the Maptuner Nano HDMI tuning device and nothing more than a smartphone.
The process is shown start-to-finish in just a few minutes on a modern Yamaha performance model with its seat removed while the user follows along on the MyMaptuner app. After confirming both the craft’s and the phone’s batteries are fully charged, the demo shows how to access the ECU and connect the included programming cable. From there, the Maptuner Nano syncs to the mobile app via Bluetooth.
With only a handful of simple prompts — enter license code, add your vehicle, browse RIVA’s tuning library and download the appropriate performance file — the ECU is ready to accept the flash. Once the file loads and the device pulses purple to confirm programming, it’s as easy as syncing one last time and you’re ready to ride. Just as importantly, users can switch back to stock settings anytime they choose. There’s no limit to how many skis you can manage — simply purchase one tuning license per craft.
And here’s the perfectly-timed twist: the exact Maptuner Nano units featured in the video are currently discounted as part of RIVA’s End of Year Sale. Both versions — one for 1.8/1.9L engines and one for TR-1 models — are available now for $890.84 (regularly $989).
But tuning devices aren’t the only thing on sale. RIVA’s year-ending blowout includes up to 40% off sitewide across performance parts, accessories, and gear. Savings vary by category, including:
Up to 20% off impellers, air intake, exhaust and engine components including superchargers and cooling parts
10% off RIVA Racing performance kits
15% off OEM parts
Up to 40% off select hull components and electrical items
20% off steering and handling equipment
Up to 20% off riding gear and 60% off JetPilot apparel
10% off maintenance essentials like oil, cleaners, sealants, batteries, tools and chargers
The sale runs through 11:59 p.m. EST on January 1, 2026, giving riders just a few days left to grab core upgrades for winter projects or early-season boosts. And, as always, shipping is free in the U.S. on orders of $150 or more.
RIVA summed it up perfectly in a post earlier this week: they have everything you need to go faster. And with discounts covering nearly every corner of their catalog, now is one of the best times all year to build your setup for 2026.
Racing Built the Foundation
A New Endeavor, Same Competitive Spirit
The serrated edges aren’t sharp, so it’s not going to cut or saw through anything in your watercraft’s storage compartment but has enough bite to dig into sandy and pebbly shorelines; and it’s compact enough to fit in most all PWC storage cubbies but digs deep enough to hold down even full-sized PWC in surf.
