If you’re looking to find a Jet Ski event, you may be a little lost as to where to go. Lucky for you, there’s Jet Ski events going on all over the world — and we’re going to map it out for you.
Throughout the U.S. (and the world) there are Jet Ski rides and races going on all year — but they can be hard to find… To ease your pain, we’ve compiled a list of events for rec riding, racing, freestyle and more!
If you’re completely new to Jet Ski racing, have no fear. Most events will offer a beginner class. You are allowed to race beginner class on a PWC of any kind/engine, and are allowed to race that class 3 times before you are moved to a skill level and class that supports you and your machine.
There are several different series throughout the country that have their own championships. Most of the time, you earn points by competing in individual classes, and whoever has the most points at the end of the season is the series’ champion.
Several of these different series also have championship events. Some are simply a tour championship, but some may also have a BIG championship. These bigger championships usually include more riders, bigger tracks, and prize money. If you’re interested in attending one of the bigger championships, you may need to qualify for that event.
IMPORTANT: at this time, most events are still subject to changes due to government mandates and permits. For more information and updates we recommend following the race series on social media, or contacting the promoter.
CLOSED COURSE MOTO RACING
WEST COAST
JET JAM RACING – AWSA RACING
Jet Jam is a racing series primarily on the west coast. It is sanctioned by the AWSA. Their races feature compact classes and stand-up oriented tracks. They have a wide variety of classes for beginners and older model skis. These races are part of their own series, with their own series championship. They are not associated with the IJSBA, you will need an AWSA membership to compete.
March 27-28: Lake Havasu City, AZ
April 10-11: Lake Havasu City, AZ
May 15-16: Lake Havasu City, AZ
June 5-6: Porterville, CA
June 19-20: Wheatland, CA
July 30 – August 1: Lathrop, CA
September 17-19: Lake Havasu City, AZ
For more information on the Jet Jam series, visit their website here.
BEST OF THE WEST – RPM RACING
The RPM Racing “Jettribe Best of the West” tour is an IJSBA sanctioned west coast race tour. These events will help you qualify for the IJSBA World Finals, and each day of racing counts as a qualifying round. These events follow traditional IJSBA classes and race formats. Beginners welcome. You will need an IJSBA membership to compete.
April 17-18: Huntington Beach, CA*
May 1-2: Specific site TBD: Parker, AZ
June 12 & 13: Ventura, CA (This event is pending final approval, follow for updates)*
August 14 & 15: Lake Elsinore
*These events are moto-surf and freeride events. Motos will take place in the ocean, and they will also have freeride events (similar to freestyle.
For more information, visit their website here.
NORTHWEST
Northwest Jet Sport Tour
The Northwest Jet Sports tour has several stops in Washington for closed-course Jet Ski racing.
July 16-18: Pateros, WA
Fore more information, visit the NorthWest Jet Sports tour Facebook page.
MIDWEST
Nauti Water Racing
The Nauti Water tour is an IJSBA sanctioned closed-course jetski racing series centered in the midwest. These races will qualify you for the IJSBA World Finals and each day of racing counts as a round. You will need an IJSBA membership to compete.
May 22-23: Sommerville, TX
June 4-5: Wichita, KS
June 19-20:Pomona, KS
July 3-4: Llano, TX
July 24-25: Lawrence, KS
August 14-15: Lincoln, NE
August 28-29: El Dorado, KS
For more information on the Nauti Water tour, check out their Facebook page here.
TEXAS
Jettribe Texas Watercross Championship
Jettribe has recently relocated to Texas and will be putting on a Texas series of closed course jetski racing that will be sanctioned by the IJSBA. Open to beginners. You will need an IJSBA membership to compete.
May 22-23: Lake Sommerville, TX
July 3-4: Llano, TX
July 24-25: Sulpher Springs, TX
THE GREAT LAKES
Great Lakes Watercross
Great Lakes Watercross offers a wide variety of races classes on their series tour across the Great Lakes. They are sanctioned by the IJSBA and will qualify you for the IJSBA World Finals. Beginners welcome. More info and dates to come. You will need an IJSBA membership to compete.
For more information, check out the Great Lakes Watercross Facebook page.
EAST COAST
East Coast Watercross
The east coast series is arguably the biggest series on the east coast in terms of attendance. This series is IJSBA sanctioned and will qualify you for the IJSBA World Championships. You will need an IJSBA membership to compete.
June 5-6: Webster, MA
July 31-August 1: Plattsburg, NY
August 21-22: Watkins Glen, NY
For more information on the East Coast Watercross racing series, check out their website here.
Pro Watercross
The Pro Watercross tour is primarily in the southern half of the United States, and ends with its own series championship. You will need a Pro Watercross membership to compete.
April 10-11: Sebring, FL
May 1-2: Saint Augistine, FL
May 8-9 : Panama City Beach, FL
June 5-6: South Padre Island, TX
June 19-20: Hartwell, GA
July 24-25: Racine, WI
August 28-29: Lake Charles, LA
November 4-7: Naples, FL
Find more info on Pro Watercross here.
OFF SHORE RACING
ENDURANCE
Mark Hahn Memorial
February 27
This is a single-day, 300 mile endurance race taking place in Lake Havasu City, AZ
P1AquaX
P1AquaX is a fast-growing offshore endurance racing series that takes place all over the world. They have several rounds in the United States.
April 17-18: Daytona Beach, FL
May 1-1: Kissimmee, FL
May 20-23: Cocoa Beach, FL
June 26-27: Sarasota, FL
July 10-11: Michigan City, IN
July 31- August 1: La Porte, IN
August 7-8: Michigan City, IN
Sept 4-5: St. Petersburg, FL
FREERIDE
If you’re just looking to jetski and have a good time, check out these events. These may sometimes include a one off race or freestyle event.
Wave Daze – Virginia Beach (currently TBA)
Run Whatcha Brung Poker Run (Cancelled for 2021)
FREESTYLE
If racing isn’t your thing, check out these freestyle events! Freestyle is an event where each rider goes out individually and performances a short routine of tricks for the crowd, and is ranked by a panel of judges.
*Most closed course events will also have freestyle exhibitions during intermission, send the series an email to see if you can show up and show off!
CHAMPIONSHIP SYSTEMS
In the U.S. there are several different series, some of which have their own championships. This is important to keep in mind when you are choosing which events you want to attend. Let us break it down for you.
All Jet Ski tours will have a “tour championship”. A tour championship is determined based on the rider who accumlates the most points in an indivusal class. The more events or wins you rack up, the more likely you are to win. Some series also have a stand alone championship at the end of the season which will feature bigger lineups, prize money, etc. This is a show up and win event and usually requires that you qualify before you can enter.
AWSA Championship
The AWSA will be having their own championship apart from the tour championship in 2020. The tour championship is determined by the overall points in individual classes throughout the series. The championship will be a separate event, held in September. In order to qualify for this event, you must race an AWSA sanctioned event.
IJSBA World Series Championship / IJSBA World Finals
The IJSBA recently introduced the World Series, which is comprised of 3 major championships. If you win the most points from the three events, you become a “World Series” champion. One of these World Series rounds is the famous World Finals in Lake Havasu City, AZ. The World Finals take place the first week of October and typically sees athletes from 40+ different countries in attendance. In order to qualify you must race two rounds of IJSBA sanctioned racing prior to the World Finals.
Pro Watercross Championship
The Pro Watercross tour also has their own championship. This event takes place in Naples, FL. In order to take part in this event, you must race a Pro Watercross tour event prior to the championship.
INTERNATIONAL RACING SERIES
There’s a lot of racing around the world, but here are some of the big international series out there.
Aquabike European Championships
It may seem a little intimidating, but with a little research you’ll be ready to go. There’s Jet Ski racing going on all over the country throughout the year, and the world! If you have any questions, or need help tracking down your local race series, don’t hesitate to call the PWC people at Pro Watercraft.
If you’re not sure what you need to have to go racing, check out our article on 5 things you NEED to go racing, here.