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 remained 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.
