The 2023 boat show season in the US is only days away, with many shows launching during the first week in January. COVID-19 restrictions over the past few years were responsible for the cancellation or postponement of many boat shows across the country – leaving consumers unable to actually see the newest WaveRunner models in-person. Visit officialboatshows.com to find a boat show near you.

This year, COVID-19 restrictions are a thing of the past, and Yamaha will be back on deck in Nashville, followed by shows in Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York, and Louisville. There will be plenty of opportunities for enthusiasts to get out and see their favorite WaveRunner models in person before placing pre-orders or putting down deposits.

If your New Year’s Resolution involves purchasing a new 2023 Yamaha WaveRunner, then look no further than the 72-page high-resolution, full-color brochure now available directly from Yamaha HERE. This publication features detailed specifications on every model in the 2023 lineup, as well as product photos and comparison matrices that help consumers stay informed about the capacity, sizing, and capability of each model.

In looking back over 2022, the world of jet ski racing was pummeled by two deaths and several injuries that could’ve have been if not wholly avoidable, possibly assuaged. The PWC community mourned the loss of Eric Francis and Sung Won Kim this year, and left many contemplating how, if possible, such tragedies could be prevented.

This led many to begin voicing suggestions and recommendations that could be made to increase racer safety. This author even dedicated over a hour of The Watercraft Journal’s weekly live podcast to this topic providing a short list of basic safety equipment requirements as “low hanging fruit” offerings. While the entire podcast is linked below, here’s an abbreviated list:

• DOT/SNELL helmets aren’t enough. MIPS and/or LS2 rated helmets
• Lifeline/ballistics-style racing life vests
• Leatt neck braces or padded “donut” neck braces
• Back braces/back guards/bracing garments
• Full length legs wetsuits/johns; no shorts
• Boots and gloves; no tennis shoes, barefoot

While our podcast was circulated through some inner circles of the personal watercraft industry and among some racers, it does not serve as the end-all of this conversation (nor should it). Thankfully, the IJSBA board members, which are primarily OEM manufacturers, are equally concerned for rider safety and have asked that participants submit safety recommendations to [email protected].

Equally, the IJSBA is interested in racers submit any suggested rule changes separate from these safety recommendations as they are, in most aspects, separate topics to be addressed. The IJSBA provides a detailed step-by-step guide for submitting such changes to the 2023 rule book that should be followed. Any positive change must begin somewhere and this is a good step in the right direction.

After a couple of difficult years as far as keeping shelves stocked and supplies at the ready, RIVA Racing pulled ahead of the curve and now is enjoying quite a bit of surplus in a bunch of categories. Right now, RIVA is hosting a massive End of The Year Sale (or New Year Sale, as they show it) offering double-digit discounts on all major categories.

Here’s what Mike Hodges told The Watercraft Journal, “This is our biggest holiday sale yet! We’ve discounted practically all RIVA Racing parts and accessories, including 15% off all RIVA Performance Kits. Availability of raw materials and sub-components continues to improve and we’ve filled all open positions. The RIVA Crew is working full throttle building up inventory and most orders ship out within 1~2 business days.”

Right now, you can cut 20-percent off of select JetPilot riding gear and Yamaha FX Sound Systems; 15-percent off of select official Solas impellers; 15-percent off of Cold Air Intakes, Exhaust Kits and select fuel injection systems; same for ignition kits, towables and more. Honestly, if you passed on getting yourself anything for Christmas, you’re gonna want to reconsider because this is a huge deal.

The Radinn crew had a huge year in 2022 and their partnership with Red Bull topped things off. As a winner in Red Bull’s second Project Swell surf forecasting contest in 2004, I experienced how Red Bull puts on events. Everything is huge and everyone is treated like royalty. They spare no expense. The same can be said for the events Radinn took part in this year. The events were epic as expected when it comes to doing things with Red Bull.

It all began with the at the Red Bull Headquarters with some of the Red Bull athletes on hand to try out the boards. Alex Zika, Global Head of Event Marketing for Red Bull was there making sure the athletes were taken care of. He gave them Radinn Jetboards and said it was all about sharing the stoke and fun the boards provided. Zika wanted to see the Radinn crew at other events to see what possibilities they could bring to everyone in the extreme sports industry. Cliff diver Rhiannan Iffland was in the water on a and having a blast on a jetboard.

Next stop was Red Bull Wake the City where they met with Massaimillano Piffaretti, a Red Bull Wakeboarder. He and the other athletes on hand raved about shredding on the Radinn electric jetboards. The Radinn crew even took a trip to Nazare and hung out in the Red Bull Athlete Zone with some of the top big wave surfers. Some of those guys made waves with Radinn Jetboards. Check out their YouTube for more about the Radinn X Red Bull Experience 2022. We think it will be a thing for years to come with bringing electric innovation to all the events.

This industry can create rivals or friends. In most sports, rivalries can be created quickly and many times they can be fierce. But in the PWC industry, we see many people build great friendships. The Watercraft Journal has a number of contributors and generally speaking, most of them never meet.  Two of our contributors are JD from JD’s Waterworld and Chris from The Adventure State.

The Adventure State team were in Florida and their 2022 Kawasaki Ultra 310LX was having an electrical issue. Luckily Chris and Rish still had the 2020 Kawasaki Ultra 310X so were able to continue to enjoy their time on the water while in Florida. 

During a random conversation, JD was told that the guys from The Adventure State were having an electrical issue that resembled the same issue JD had just a few weeks prior. JD immediately called Chris and invited the team to come to JD’s house to troubleshoot the issue.

When Chris and Rish arrived, JD was full of smiles, introduced the guys to his family, showed them around and then dove heard first (literally) into the bow of the ski testing every wire. JD took the time to teach the guys stuff they did not know and was patient with them. They were finally able to locate the issue and decided to let the shop do the repairs.

Immediately afterward, JD told the guys to follow him to a boat ramp and even offered for the guys to use his second Kawasaki Ultra since the 2022 was down. Rish declined as he wanted to drone and enjoy some photography of the local area, but JD and Chris were off! They went through the river and out into the ocean. 

JD showed Chris all around Jupiter, Florida and the other local areas from the water and they even were able to enjoy some pretty intense wave jumping. On the ride back they rode at no-wake speeds and just enjoyed 45 minutes of conversation. They are now lifelong friends.

We hear story after story of someone needing assistance, having questions or looking for new friends and someone else in our industry steps up with an outstretched hand. Remember if you need help, just ask.  If you see someone that you could help benefit their circumstance, reach out.  You may have just gained a life long friend.

Powerboat P1, the premier international powerboat and personal watercraft sports promotor, has announced they will be joining forces with Hanoi-based WLS Corporation to host a world-class personal watercraft racing event by 2024, and ultimately, establish a “marine motorsports hub” in Vietnam.

The new partnership between the two organizations was forged following the Vietnam Sports Forum in Hanoi – an international conference with the theme ‘professionalism in sports business and marketing’ organized by WLS and sponsored by the Vietnamese Government and Ministry of Sport.

“Focused on sports marketing and management, Hanoi-based WLS organizes sports events in Vietnam aiming to make the country a world-class sports destination” according to a recent press release. Through the new partnership, P1 also aims to establish a personal watercraft academy for Vietnam’s emerging youth racers.

Head of International Business Development at Powerboat P1, Julien Bastien, explained, “Pursuing exciting opportunities and taking on new challenges is at the heart of our P1 business, and the shared goal in our partnership with WLS is for the sport of personal watercraft racing to help drive the business growth of Vietnam’s sports industry.”

The Executive Chairman of WLS Corporation, Le Quoc Vinh, said: “We organize the Vietnam Sports Forum with the aim of turning sports into a real economic industry that brings high value benefits to businesses, professional athletes and the Vietnamese sports industry in general, and we were delighted to have P1 participate in the event.”

The partnership between Powerboat P1 and WLS will streamline the process of identifying and selecting potential venues where future personal watercraft racing events like P1 AquaX and Jetcross racing could take place- as well as establishing the necessary facilities and infrastructure needed to host such events.

Like the passing of an old friend, we at The Watercraft Journal are saddened to announce the conclusion of industry mainstay Skat-Trak’s watercraft division. The company has been a major participant in the development of impellers and pumps since the 1980’s, assisting in propelling the OE’s and aftermarket further and faster than one can imagine. Skat-Trak pioneered far too many technologies and experimented with too many cutting-edge designs to list here.

Fatefully, the cost of continuing business in a dwindling economy, the nature of the personal watercraft industry and legal pitfalls of operating a foundry in California all played a role in strangling one of the most iconic brands in personal watercraft racing to death. After the closure of R&D Racing and untimely passing of Bill Chapin, the acquisition of Hydro-Turf and today’s news, it’s a particularly difficult pill to swallow for this Southern Californian.

I’ll just leave it with that. Skat-Trak isn’t closing its doors as it will still produce its paddle tires. And that’s some silver lining in an otherwise stormy announcement.

In a letter Skat-Trak’s President Greg Stuart wrote:
It is with heavy hearts we inform you that Skat-Trak has decided to stop the production of our Personal Watercraft impellers, pumps, nozzles, intake grates, and accessories. Our last day of sales for Watercraft product will be on Friday December 9th, 2022.

Fortunately, we will continue to offer our Skat-Trak line of Paddle Tires for sand use. The decision to close this portion of our business was not easy, but due to lack of sales, over seas production, and the poor economy, we could no longer justify the continuation and cost of production.

Over the years, Skat-Trak has enjoyed the relationships with our customers, racers, sponsored riders, and the sport of Personal Watercraft Racing.

We are extremely proud of all that we have accomplished and could not be more grateful to those who believed in us. Skat-Trak could not have been as successful as it was without your loyalty and business. We wish you all the best for your continued success.

Sincerely,
Greg Stuart