New Racer w/ Noobie Questions

[Slimjim00]

Hello everyone, new guy here looking to race his first JetSki race.

From what I can see the Pro Watercross tour runs the closest race to me (Hartwell, GA) in a couple of weeks and I have a slew of questions before I sign up for this. I have already sent an email to the racing organization asking what classes I could run in without being a hazard to other folks (I can either bring a bone stock '89 650SX or a stock legal '94 750SX).

I know fully well going into this thing that I will get my *** kicked in whatever class I sign up for, but I think it will be a fun experience that will hopefully lead to me signing up for more races in the future. Anyways, here's a bunch of questions that have popped into my head so far...

• What class should I sign up for with these old skis and lack of JetSki racing experience (I currently road race motorcycles across the south, so I'm familiar being in a race environment [Flags/holding a line/rubbing elbows, etc])
• What do I need to do to these skis to be tech legal? They are extremely close to being bone stock.
• What type of safety gear do I need to wear? I have a wetsuit, booties, and life jacket. I'm assuming a motocross helmet of some sorts, does it need to be SNELL approved or will ECE suffice? Should I bring my road racing back protector to wear underneath my lifevest? Anything else I'm not thinking of?
• How do the Watercross guys run a race weekend? Are there qualifiers then a main, two moto format, or something else?
• How long does a typical moto/heat/qualifier/whateveryacall it usually run? ~15 minutes?

Anything else I can be overlooking? Can't wait to get out there and give it at try!

 

[user_error]

• What class should I sign up for with these old skis and lack of JetSki racing experience (I currently road race motorcycles across the south, so I'm familiar being in a race environment [Flags/holding a line/rubbing elbows, etc])

On the Pro-Watercross tour there are no beginner or novice classes unfortunately. There is amateur and Pro classes. You could sign up for amatuer lites, but honestly the tour is not geared towards beginners (to put it bluntly). There might be a vintage ski class that could talk your way into, that might be your best bet.

• What do I need to do to these skis to be tech legal? They are extremely close to being bone stock.

you need a tow loop in the front of the ski, bumpers/trim around it, zip ties and/or hoseclamps on all hoses(fuel, vent, and water). the tank vent needs to run into the handlepole, cannot be vented inside the hull. no intake grates deeper than .47" below bottom of hull.

• What type of safety gear do I need to wear? I have a wetsuit, booties, and life jacket. I'm assuming a motocross helmet of some sorts, does it need to be SNELL approved or will ECE suffice?

Helmet just needs to be DOT approved, and a motocross helmet is what a majority of people use. Bring gloves, goggles, life vest, wetsuit is personal preference although most wear them for protection, and wear shoes. they help alot. you need a back protector.

• Should I bring my road racing back protector to wear underneath my lifevest? Anything else I'm not thinking of?

yes bring a back protector, they are required. however, at the Sparks, NV tour stop they never checked for them.

• How do the Watercross guys run a race weekend? Are there qualifiers then a main, two moto format, or something else?

in larger classes there will be 3 motos, but i suspect a vintage class will have 2 motos. Doubtful there will be enough people to negate qualifying motos.

• How long does a typical moto/heat/qualifier/whateveryacall it usually run? ~15 minutes?

typical moto is 6 laps, usually about 10-15 minutes. if youre riding hard you will be tired when you are done.



Anything else I can be overlooking? Can't wait to get out there and give it at try!

All in all racing is so much fun and you will become a much better rider if you work at being aggressive and stay on the ski. If nothing else, go watch the races and see what they are all about. It can be pretty intimidating at first, especially at a large event like a tour stop.

Hope this helps

 

[jetpilot36]

• What class should I sign up for with these old skis and lack of JetSki racing experience (I currently road race motorcycles across the south, so I'm familiar being in a race environment [Flags/holding a line/rubbing elbows, etc])

• Beginner

• What do I need to do to these skis to be tech legal? They are extremely close to being bone stock

• make sure all the fuel lines have zip ties

• What type of safety gear do I need to wear? I have a wetsuit, booties, and life jacket. I'm assuming a motocross helmet of some sorts, does it need to be SNELL approved or will ECE suffice? Should I bring my road racing back protector to wear underneath my lifevest? Anything else I'm not thinking of

• i would wear a wet suit for protection, but its not necessary. gloves and a helmet and life vest at the very least. i used to wear goggles, but the foam in the goggles get waterlogged and they become extrmemly heavy and cumbersome.

• How do the Watercross guys run a race weekend? Are there qualifiers then a main, two moto format, or something else?

• should just be two motos in the beginner class. no qualifier. they might let you run a few practice laps before the race to get familiar with the couse.

• How long does a typical moto/heat/qualifier/whateveryacall it usually run? ~15 minutes

• sometimes 4 laps for beginner sometimes 8-10 just depends on whos running the races in your region. last time i raced, all the racers took a vote to see how many laps to run.