Here’s this week’s WCJ Weekly Racing Roundup, where we check in with the organizations, racers, and championship battles shaping the 2026 personal watercraft racing season. As summer racing continues to build momentum, the IHRA Professional Watercraft Series moves closer to its championship finale, HydroDrags prepares for a major World Championship event with new improvements and procedures, and Nauti Water Racing returns to action with both regional competition and a major schedule shakeup ahead.

IHRA Professional Watercraft Series

With Round 3 at Lake of the Ozarks now in the rearview mirror, the IHRA Professional Watercraft Series is entering the championship stretch. Three events remain on the inaugural 2026 schedule, and with points battles tightening across nearly every division, the race for season titles is beginning to take shape.

Series officials recently opened hotel reservations for the Mercury Midwest Challenge, set for August 7-9 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Racers and teams are encouraged to reserve rooms before the July 26 deadline, as the event marks the first of three remaining stops before the season concludes with September races in Williamsburg, Virginia, and the World Cup at Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

One of the closest championship races continues to be the Endurance Team Championship, where Team Caldwell Racing Monster Energy leads with 520 points. Team JETX & Snyderbuilt sits just nine points behind at 511, while Team Farthing Racing remains well within striking distance with 492 points. With three events remaining, the title is still very much up for grabs.

Individual championships are shaping up just as closely. Jay Edworthy holds a narrow lead in Pro Endurance over Deven Farthing and Noah Skipps, while Garrett Loftin leads AM Endurance 300 and Baron Mernik tops the AM Endurance 200 standings.

Several other divisions remain highly competitive heading into Sheboygan. Straus Mernik continues to pace Sport Spec ahead of Talan Farthing, Sadie Mir leads Ski GP2, Kashe Crawford holds the advantage in Ski GP3, and Emy Garcia sits atop the Women’s Ski GP standings. Eric Lagopoulos leads Runabout GP3, Cash McClure heads the Junior Ski championship, Jason Seeley maintains a slim advantage in Runabout 1100 Limited, Mike “The Klipper” Klippenstein leads Vet Ski, Jeff Wright sits atop Vintage 550, and Coy Curtis continues to lead the Pro Ski championship over Revin Harris and Ryder Wildeboer.

Although the next green flag won’t drop until August, the championship picture is beginning to come into focus. With Sheboygan, Williamsburg, and the season-ending World Cup at Lake Havasu still to come, every remaining moto will carry significant championship implications.

HydroDrags

While the next FuelTech HydroDrags event is still several months away, preparations are already well underway for the 2026 World Championships, and series founder Billy Tew recently shared several event updates with The Watercraft Journal as organizers continue refining one of personal watercraft racing’s premier drag racing weekends.

Among the biggest improvements planned for this year’s event is a redesigned staging area intended to eliminate the lengthy waits racers experienced in previous years. Tew also confirmed the launch pad has been further secured, the electronic starting light system is now fully operational, and both the centerline and finish-line buoy systems have been upgraded with larger, brighter markers to improve visibility for racers and officials alike.

Several procedural changes are also being introduced. Racers will be required to complete a mandatory check-in before the riders meeting to receive their event wristbands and sign a secondary waiver. Every personal watercraft must display matching race numbers at least three inches tall on both sides of the hull, while technical inspections will be conducted before competition and again for the top four finishers in each class following the event. Approved machines must display a visible tech inspection sticker at the launch area, and all competitors will be required to wear an approved helmet, life jacket, neck protection, and closed-toe shoes while competing.

The 2026 FuelTech HydroDrags World Championships are scheduled for November 21-22 at Sunset Cove Amphitheater in Boca Raton, Florida. Organizers note that racing will conclude by 5 p.m. each day because of the earlier November sunset, and entries in each class will be limited. Competition will include Junior (13-16), Sea-Doo vs. Sea-Doo, Pro Stock, Pro Spec, Super Stock, Turbo No Nitrous, Unlimited, and Drag Slalom classes for both stand-up and runabout watercraft, with cash payouts awarded to the top three finishers in every division.

Registration is handled exclusively through the HydroDrags mobile app, which also serves as the series’ central information hub. Available for both Android and iOS devices in English and Spanish, the app provides racers and spectators with live brackets, real-time speed tracking, current rules, event news, ticket information, and additional race weekend updates.

Nauti Water Racing

Nauti Water Racing returns to action this weekend as the Mid-America WaterX Series heads to Branched Oak Recreation Area near Raymond, Nebraska, for Rounds 2 and 3 of the regional championship on July 11-12.

The organization continues its push to make racing more accessible by once again offering free entry for first-time racers, while experienced competitors will be chasing valuable championship points as the Mid-America season continues to build momentum following its June opener at Hillsdale Lake, Kansas. Racing begins Saturday morning following a riders meeting at 8 a.m., with two motos scheduled each day before awards conclude the weekend.

Beyond this weekend’s racing, Nauti Water Racing is also preparing for one of the biggest schedule changes of the season. After the cancellation of the planned Pro Watercross stop at Grand Lake, Oklahoma, organizers moved their Outlaw Series event in Paris, Texas, up to July 25-26. The weekend will now serve as a double-points event for the Dale’s Jetsports Series, significantly increasing the championship stakes.

Rather than simply changing dates, Nauti Water Racing is using the opportunity to introduce a completely redesigned race course. The Paris event will feature a mandatory “Joker Lane,” requiring every rider to take an alternate route once during each race, adding a strategic element rarely seen in personal watercraft competition. Organizers are also planning a shorter, more technical course designed to reward precision and close racing while improving the show for spectators.

Current national championship battles are already beginning to emerge across several classes. Travis Billings leads Junior Ski 10-12 Lites, while Mark Queen tops Junior Ski 13-15 Lites. Andrew Cecere has built a comfortable advantage in Ski 2-Stroke Limited, Sophia Benson holds a commanding lead in Women’s Ski Lites, and Brice Chambers continues to pace Pro-Am Ski Lites. One of the closest contests remains Pro-Am Ski GP, where Ryan Poper’s narrow lead over Brayden Sebben leaves little margin for error as the summer schedule heats up.

That’s a wrap on this week’s WCJ Weekly Racing Roundup. From championship points tightening across national series to organizers refining events and introducing new challenges for racers, the 2026 season continues to evolve at every level of personal watercraft competition. With the biggest battles of the year still ahead, the second half of the racing season promises plenty of action both on and off the water.

Lisa Caussin-Battaglia describes riding a jet ski not as control, but as connection.

“When you are on the jet ski,” she says, “you are not on the jet ski. You are with the jet ski. It’s like a dance.”

That idea—of rider and machine in motion together—has defined a career spent in one of the most physically demanding disciplines in personal watercraft sport.

And in Agadir, Morocco, it produced one of the standout performances of her career.

At the World Cup Mohammed VI of Jet Ski in Agadir, one of the most competitive international events in the discipline, Caussin-Battaglia delivered a multi-class performance that marked a new milestone in her racing profile.

Competing in the Runabout 1100 Women’s category, she secured gold, adding a silver medal in the Runabout 1100 mixed category and finishing 7th in endurance as the top female rider in a field of 18 competitors.

Beyond the individual results, the performance carried added significance for Monaco, marking the first female podium in runabout racing for the Principality.

It was a result that extended beyond a single class or discipline and reflected a broader versatility within UIM competition.

While the Agadir result drew attention in runabout competition, Caussin-Battaglia’s primary discipline has been stand-up jet ski racing on the UIM circuit, where she has competed at world championship level for more than a decade.

For more than a decade, she has been a consistent presence in international standings, regularly finishing inside the top 10 in world championship competition.

Her results include a 4th-place finish in 2020 and multiple 5th-place finishes across European and world championship events in 2021.

Rather than a single breakthrough moment, her career has been defined by steady progression in a highly technical and physically demanding sport.

The bridge between disciplines

The Agadir result highlights a reality of modern UIM competition: athletes are increasingly competing across multiple categories within the same racing ecosystem.

While Caussin-Battaglia is known primarily as a stand-up racer, her performance in runabout competition demonstrated adaptability across different machine platforms and race formats.

It also underscored the technical overlap within personal watercraft racing, where balance, wave reading, and racecraft translate across categories even as equipment and physical demands change.

Unlike many riders who begin in early childhood, Caussin-Battaglia discovered stand-up jet ski racing at 16 through a local sports introduction program in Monaco.

Her first experience was recreational rather than competitive.

“I tried it and I was like wow—it was fantastic,” she said. “The sensation of the sea, the salt, the waves… the element.”

Initially, she approached sport as exploration rather than ambition. That changed quickly once she entered structured training and competition.

Her first races came in mixed fields, often as the only woman on the start line.

“I finished the race and I was very happy,” she said. “I knew I wanted to be a true athlete.”

Stand-up jet ski racing is often underestimated from the outside, but the physical requirements are severe.

Riders operate at high speed over rough water conditions, absorbing continuous impact while maintaining balance and precision through buoy turns and race traffic.

Caussin-Battaglia describes the body mechanics in simple terms.

“You need to use your legs like suspension,” she said. “If you stay stiff, your back is destroyed in minutes.”

Her training reflects that reality: strength work, cardio, cycling, skiing, athletics, and endurance conditioning designed to prepare for both impact and sustained intensity.

It is a discipline where rider and machine must function as a single system under constant load.

Risk, reality, and commitment

Like many high-speed water sports, jet ski racing carries inherent risk.

Over the course of her career, Caussin-Battaglia has witnessed serious accidents within the broader racing environment, including fatal incidents.

Those experiences sit alongside the routine demands of training and competition, where risk is present but accepted as part of the sport’s structure rather than an exception to it.

At the elite level, participation in jet ski racing requires ongoing financial commitment.

Equipment, engines, maintenance, travel, and race entry costs form a continuous burden, and prize money alone does not consistently offset expenses across a season.

Caussin-Battaglia acknowledges the demands of sustaining a competitive program in a sport where access to equipment and resources directly affects performance potential.

It is a reality shared across much of international personal watercraft racing, where talent and funding often intersect.

Born and based in Monaco, Caussin-Battaglia competes under a national identity closely tied to high-profile motorsport, but less frequently associated with watercraft racing.

Her family background reflects a deep connection to water-based sport, including Olympic sailing representation and international rowing competition within her family.

For her, representing Monaco carries both visibility and responsibility.

“I am the first woman in Monaco to be recognized as a high-level athlete in mechanical sport,” she said. “It is important for me to show it is possible.”

Across disciplines, conditions, and competition formats, Caussin-Battaglia returns to the same description of her relationship with racing.

It is not control. It is not distance.

It is connection.

“It is like a dance,” she said.

And in a sport defined by speed, endurance, and constant adaptation, that remains the simplest and most accurate explanation of all.

Here’s this week’s WCJ Weekly Racing Roundup, where we check in with race organizations across North America as the 2026 season continues to build momentum in every direction. From HydroDrags preparing for its November championship push and Great Lakes Watercross gearing up for a major summer stop in Wisconsin, to Pro Watercross continuing its national tour in Texas and the Western Canadian Watercross Association kicking off its season in Alberta, the action continues to span every corner of the sport.

This week also saw PWC Sprint Racing open its Round 1 and Round 2 weekend in Ohio with a unique format and strong class payouts, while junior development and national tour racing remained a central focus across multiple series. As always, the depth of competition and range of regional styles continues to define the heartbeat of the sport as the season moves deeper into summer.

HydroDrags

While the next green flag may still be months away, preparations are already underway for the 2026 FuelTech HydroDrags World Championships presented by Chris J Performance.

Series showrunner Billy Tew recently announced that registration and discounted lodging information for the November championship event will be released soon, giving racers an opportunity to begin making plans for one of the sport’s premier straight-line racing weekends. Tew also noted that a limited run of long-sleeve athletic event shirts is currently being organized ahead of the fall finale.

Although HydroDrags is currently in its offseason stretch following the spring event, series representatives have remained active within the performance watercraft community. Members of the HydroDrags team recently attended JP Racing’s 3rd Annual Meet & Greet Ride, where racers and enthusiasts had an opportunity to learn more about the various HydroDrags classes, from junior divisions through the Unlimited ranks.

With registration details expected soon and the countdown to November already underway, anticipation is beginning to build for what has become one of the most anticipated drag racing events on the personal watercraft calendar.

Great Lakes Watercross

Great Lakes Watercross returns to action this weekend as the 2026 tour heads to Traxler Park in Janesville, Wisconsin, for Rounds 3 and 4 of the championship season. The June 27-28 event will be held in conjunction with Janesville’s annual Star-Spangled Saturday celebration, creating what could become one of the largest and most spectator-friendly stops on the Great Lakes calendar.

Hosted on the Rock River at RAJ Stadium, the event is being presented in partnership with the legendary Rock Aqua Jays water ski show team. Beyond the racing itself, fans can expect live music, carnival rides, food trucks, a nationally recognized water ski show, and a Saturday night fireworks display, giving racers and spectators plenty to enjoy both on and off the water.

On the competition side, several championship battles are already beginning to take shape following the opening rounds in Kendallville, Indiana. One of the tightest contests can be found in Ski GP2, where Camden Powell and Jay Finlinson enter Janesville tied atop the standings with 113 points each. Finlinson currently leads Ski GP, while Powell holds a narrow advantage in Ski GP3, setting up another important weekend for both title contenders.

The closest battle on the runabout side may be in Veterans Runabout Lites, where Edward Gahagan and Ryan Rasmussen are deadlocked with 108 points apiece, while Erich Nehls sits just two points back at 106. With so little separating the top three, every moto in Janesville could have significant championship implications.

Other current class leaders include Dustin Voss in Pro Am Ski Lites, Jason Seeley in Naturally Aspirated Runabout, Kyle Niquette in Runabout GP2, Justin Eblin in Sport Spec, Madison Elders in both Runabout Lites and Women’s Runabout Lites, Kali Bohat in Junior Runabout Lites, and Brad Bohat in Runabout GP3.

Registration remains open through Thursday afternoon (June 25), with early entries showing strong participation across the board. Runabout Lites leads the way with 10 registered competitors, while Vintage Ski 550, Veterans Runabout Lites, Runabout GP2, and several other classes are also expected to draw competitive fields.

Following Janesville, the series will continue to Harbor Beach, Michigan, on July 18-19 before heading to Racine, Wisconsin, and ultimately concluding the 2026 championship season at Red Arrow Park in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on August 22-23.

PWC Sprint Racing

PWC Sprint Racing opened its Round 1 and Round 2 weekend June 19–21 at Voice of America Park in West Chester, Ohio, bringing AJSA-sanctioned competition and a structured, multi-stage format designed to reward both raw speed and racecraft across the board.

The Ski GP3 class featured a notable payout structure for both Saturday’s Round 1 and Sunday’s Round 2 events, with $700 going to the winner, $200 for second, and $100 for third. Additional awards included $150 for the Iron Man winner and $100 for the B Main winner, with additional class payouts also planned throughout the weekend.

On the results side, Sunday’s Round 2 action saw Jeremy Buurma earn the Ski Open win, while Jax Rowe captured the GP3 victory. Rowe’s performance stood out across the weekend, with additional notes from Mike Remar dubbing it “The Rowe Show” following his strong showing. In other listed results, Kylie Meier was also noted as a Ski Open winner, while Jax Rowe again appeared atop the GP3 class results for Round 2.

The series continues to build its identity around a distinctive race format beginning with hot laps, where each racer completes a single practice lap before immediately running a timed hot lap. That time determines qualifying heat starting positions, with the fastest riders earning first gate choice for their heats.

From there, racers advance through a series of qualifying motos, with last chance qualifiers and potential B Main events depending on class size. A unique inverted qualifying heat is also used, where the field is flipped at the halfway mark of the race before restarting for the second half. The final segment is scored using a two-moto system, with the second half serving as the tie-breaker to determine starting positions for The Show.

Each class then culminates in The Show, a feature race of 12 to 15 laps (as determined by race officials), run under a winner-takes-all format to close out the weekend.

Pro Watercross

The Liqui Moly Pro Watercross National Tour continued its 2026 season with Round 5 at Buffalo Springs Lake in Lubbock, Texas, where the series placed a spotlight on the future of the sport during the IJSBA Junior Nationals while still delivering a full national tour stop across all classes.

Under the banner of “Ten Rounds. One Championship,” the event brought together Pro, Amateur, Novice, Women’s, Vintage, Freestyle, and Junior competitors, all racing for national points in a 4-moto format with Motos 1 and 2 contested on Saturday and Motos 3 and 4 on Sunday. Combined results determined overall awards, with the event also carrying national broadcast exposure through CBS Sports Network as part of the tour’s ongoing television partnership.

The weekend, however, was widely defined by its junior presence. The IJSBA Junior Nationals drew athletes from across the country, with organizers and teams highlighting the depth of talent and enthusiasm on display throughout the long race days at Buffalo Springs Lake. Junior riders in particular were praised for their consistency and commitment, with many noting the challenging conditions and full moto schedule as a testament to the dedication growing within the next generation of the sport.

Slalom results from the Junior Nationals showcased strong performances across multiple divisions. In Junior 1100 Mod, Tristen Hiebert posted a winning time of 26.32, while Ian Nuschke topped the Adult Runabout field at 24.87. Taylor Smith led Adult 4-Stroke Lites with a 27.91, while Junior 14–17 4-Stroke Lites saw Javier Falcon take top honors at 27.22. Additional winners included Cash McClure in Junior 10–13 Lites with a 27.85 and Briton Reinhard in Junior 14–17 Lites with a 26.18, among other class leaders across a broad junior and amateur field.

Beyond the racing itself, Buffalo Springs Lake earned consistent praise from racers and families throughout the weekend, with many noting the venue’s scenery and hospitality as a standout stop on the national schedule. The event combined racing with a festival-style atmosphere at a free spectator venue, adding to its appeal as both a competition and a community gathering.

The broadcast team also saw a last-minute change prior to the weekend, as Mikey Young was unable to attend due to weather-related travel issues. Joey Domingue stepped in alongside Dave Arnold and Kyla Desrosiers to deliver coverage, with livestream production provided by Charles Guinchard Photography and additional filming support from Digital Wave Productions for upcoming CBS Sports Network episodes.

Off the water, Pro Watercross emphasized the importance of the Junior Nationals within the broader national tour structure, noting the opportunity for young athletes to compete alongside riders from across the country while building momentum toward season-ending championships. The Lubbock stop also continued the series’ broader 2026 campaign messaging centered on growth, national exposure, and a structured championship chase.

The 2026 Pro Watercross National Tour continues next with stops scheduled in Avon Park, Florida, followed by Norman, Oklahoma, Vienna, New York, and ultimately Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where the season will culminate at the National Finals.

Western Canadian Watercross Association (WCWA)

The Western Canadian Watercross Association opened its 2026 season with Rounds 1 and 2 at Rattlesnake Lake near Medicine Hat, Alberta, bringing together racers, families, and supporters for the opening stop of the tour under clear skies and favorable water conditions at Golden Sheaf Park.

The opening weekend, sponsored by Conlon Motorsports St. Albert, marked the first points-paying rounds of the season, with organizers celebrating strong turnout and community support despite challenging early-season expectations around weather. While official winner listings were not fully detailed for all classes, series officials recognized Round 1 and 2 winners across the field and highlighted a successful start to the championship campaign.

Racers and teams noted that water levels and conditions ultimately cooperated, helping deliver a full weekend of racing alongside a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. The event also served as a key kickoff for the 2026 WCWA tour, with competitors beginning to establish early momentum in the championship chase.

The WCWA emphasized its grassroots structure and community-driven approach, offering four core competition divisions throughout the season: Stand Up/Ski, Sport/Spark, Runabout, and Freestyle. Each class is structured around rider experience and machine performance, helping support both new and experienced racers across western Canada.

Looking ahead, the tour continues with Rounds 3 and 4 scheduled for July 11–12 at Stafford Lake near Lethbridge, Alberta, followed by additional stops at Alberta Beach (Lac Ste. Anne) near Edmonton in August as the season progresses toward its championship stretch.

Alongside racing, the WCWA continues to promote accessibility and participation in the sport, encouraging new riders to join through its non-profit structure while maintaining a steady regional tour schedule across Alberta.

That’s a wrap on this week’s WCJ Weekly Racing Roundup. From national tours and championship chases to regional openers and junior showcases, the 2026 season continues to show the full range of what personal watercraft racing has to offer.