Photo Contest Winner

Hey Jettribe fans, we have finally picked a winner for our Photo Contest. Please go to http://www.jettribe.com/ to check out the winner under the social forums tab and see all the cool and unique photos that have been sent in!

Jettribe to Receive 40 Foot Sea Container

Hey Jettribe fans and customers, we are very excited because we will be receiving our 40 foot sea container this week! Our sea container is a large transporting vessel that travels on a freight all the way from our warehouse in Vietnam to our warehouse in California. And what’s inside it? A whole lot of Jettribe gear! The container will be carrying items ranging from our RS-15 Race Series gear to the board shorts, hoodies, t-shirts, and tank tops that you love most.

We just want to thank all of our customers, dealers, and distributors for being so patient. We have been swamped with back orders! And for those of you who are on our waiting list for Jettribe’s cool gear and have not heard from us please resend your orders. This is our first container of the season and we are shipping these 40 foot container back to back twice a month. We are all so grateful and thankful for our unprecedented growth to our fans and riders. You guys are awesome!

2011 MAGIC Trade Show

We sent Jettribe’s president, Tony Vo out to the MAGIC Trade Show. Jettribe goes twice a year to check out the season’s fashion shows and see some friends in the fashion industry at the same time. It’s worth keeping updated with the latest trends and ideas. Hey, it’s in Vegas- life is tough!

So what is this event all about? The MAGIC trade show is “the preeminent trade event in the international fashion industry, hosting global buyers and sellers of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, footwear, accessories and sourcing resources.”

Another good question is: just who is MAGIC? MAGIC is described as “an incubator of fashion…where new trends surface and develop into what will be seen on the consumer. The show’s goal is to connect and inspire the fashion community, fuse diverse trends, while offering unbeatable service to its customers.”

Long story short, MAGIC is where it’s at and we’re excited to be going to this event! It should be awesome…and Vegas makes it even better!

And now that we’re back from the trade show we’ll give you a rundown on our experience. It was crazy to see so many hot babes in one place! But what is not so cool is that most of the babes probably have never been on a watercraft.

We definitely had a blast, but most of our time was spent attending and sitting in lots of meetings and discussion panels. Even though Jettribe is a Core Watercraft Co, we do our best to stay in tune with the fashion industry. Plus, most of the Jettribe staff here came from a fashion background and our parent company produces for some of the top brands in the industry. Brands including: Hurley, Diesel, O’ Neal, and so on..... So we have to be pretty much on our game as far as the latest and greatest of trends and colors schemes for the next season.

Tony had a chance to sit and chat with some of the industry’s top brands and collectively express views on some alarming issues that are coming down the pipeline. We are all very concerned to see the increasing cost in raw materials and labor out of Southeast Asia! In the last 15 years we have not seen such unpredictable costs. In the next 12 months we have no idea what our prices will be from Southeast Asia. What does this mean to the Jettribe end user? Higher costs for your boardshorts and riding boots. Jettribe is a true international company, we have our own Asia operation for over 10 years and we watch the fluctuation of the US dollars compared to the cost of cotton to the prices for crude oil. Why? We want to bring the best riding gear to you for the best prices.

It was a true honor for Tony of Jettribe to sit and chat with Tyler "President and CEO" of ARC'TERYX, a top outdoor gear company. With their annual sales well over 130,000 million dollars, they make Jettribe in comparison look like a Girl Scout and lemonade stand!! Plus, to hang out with Michael "COO" of a very large firm that owns a bunch of fashion brands like XOXO, Babyphat, and PhatPharm is an eye opener. Kellwood is a true monster with sales of $850 million last year.

Not only was Tony truly inspired by these great brands and their enormous success. But what is really great is that these guys are very approachable and so down to earth. We mostly talked about our true passion for the work that we do and our family and kids. When it comes down to it, brands big or small all experience the same issues of building, growing and struggles.

Time spent with these top industry associates has given Jettribe a huge boost in the future of our core brand! Watch out, there will be many great things coming down the pipeline for Jettribe and our watercraft industry.

The Last To Fall

Jettribe, as well as the watercraft community has experience a great loss because Ride Magazine will no longer be active. This means that the presence of a great media has gone away. We at Jettribe have been around since the hay days seeing Splash, Jetsport, Personal Watercraft Illustrated, Watercraft World, and lastly Ride.

Now it is up to us fans to not only maintain a positive image for our PWC love but to help it grow in a positive manner. We all love this industry and lifestyle and we all have to pitch in. We encourage all watercraft fans to spread positive news and events about our sport by any means possible through their personal social sites and send any and all news and personal experience to Jettribe at racersupport@jettribe.com.

We will spread the news on all of our sites.

February 8, 2011

Like many non-profit organizations across our nation, the AWA has faced its share of budget challenges. Unlike some entities, this Association cannot ethically run a deficit, nor incur any debt.

In keeping with these sound fiscal policies we were forced to curtail issues and page counts of the member's magazine Ride. Such reductions were as disappointing as they were necessary. As the economy contracted over the past few years, the Association continued to fund Ride PWC Magazine, often at a net loss.

Unfortunately, we have reached the same point that our fellow personal watercraft publications experienced recently; we can no longer, under the current economic environment, afford to publish Ride at the expense of our primary role; the PWC communities' access watchdog.

This is a matter of dollars and cents. We have long extolled the generosity of our advertisers to the membership. Every dollar you invested on the pages of Ride freed up a dollar to directly support our legislative and educational programs. Those efforts are the very purpose of AWA's mission and we will continue to operate in this direct action role until the ugly specter of boating access discrimination is abolished.

There are simply not enough advertising pages to support the expense of the publication.

This is not a decision we take lightly. The eight time award winning Ride set a standard of inclusiveness and outreach in the personal watercraft community. However, when it comes to PWC access protection and expansion, the Association must focus on what is truly important to our membership at large.

We share in the disappointment of this outcome. I assure you we have made every effort to forestall this action. In the end, it is the responsible thing to do given the current economic reality.

*Taken from IJSBA official website*

The Last To Fall

No More Stand-Ups for Kawasaki

It was with heavy hearts that the Jettribe family received the news that Kawasaki is no longer making stand-ups. Kawasaki first started making stand-ups in 1973 when they came out with the WSAA Jet Ski 400 and the WSAB Jet Ski 400. The 440 was introduced in 1978 and the 550 came along four years later in 1982. In the mid-1970s the birth of closed course racing came about with the help of Doug Silverstein, Steve Stricklin, Brian Bendix, and Larry Rippenkroeger. Most racers rode modified 440s and 550s. Throughout the next few decades Kawasaki produced the 650, the 750, and last of all the SX-R 800.

We at Jettribe are a core group of stand up riders and the 550 SX stand up was how it started for us. We all even still ride our 750 SX now. Tony raced in region 1 in Southern California with his 1993 750 stand up and there were about 50 riders per class. The stand up was the seed that started Jettribe and has changed so many aspects of our lives.

We will forever miss the stand up.

Jettribe Fashion

The Jettribe Staff just got back from our fashion trade show we attend every season. It was crazy to see so many hot babes in one place! But what is not so cool is that most of the babes probably have never been on a watercraft.
We definitely had a blast, but most of our time was spent attending and sitting in lots of meetings and discusssion panels. Even though Jettribe is a Core Watercaft Co, we do our best to stay in tune with the fashion industry. Plus, most of Jettribe staff here came from a fashion background and our parent company produces for some of the top brands in the industry. Brands including: Hurley, Diesel, Oneal, and so on..... So we have to be pretty much on our game as far as the lastest and greatest of trends and colors schemes for the next season.
Tony had a chance to sit and chat with some of the industry top brands and collectively express views on some alarming issues that are coming down the pipeline. We are all very concerned to see the increasing cost in raw materials and labor out of South East Asia! In the last 15 years we have not seen such unpredictable costs . In the next 12 months we have no idea what our prices will be from South East Aisa. What does this mean to the Jettribe end user? Higher cost for your boardshorts and riding boots. Jettribe is a true international company, we have our own Asia operation for over 10 years and we watch the fluctuation of the US dollars compared to the cost of cotton to the prices for crude oil. Why? We want to bring the best riding gear to you for the best prices.
It was a true honor for Tony of Jettribe to sit and chat with Tyler "President and CEO" of  ARC'TERYX, a top outdoor gear company. With their annual sales well over 130,000 million dollars,  they make Jettribe in comparison look like a girl scout and lemonade stand!! Plus, to hang out with Michael "COO" of a very large firm that owns a bunch of fashions brands like XOXO, babyphat   and  PhatPharm is an eye opener. Kellwood is a true monster with sales of  $850 million last year.
Not only was Tony truly inspired by these great brands and their enormous success. But what is really great is that these guys are very approachable and so down to earth. We mostly talked about our true passion for the work that we do and our family and kids. When it comes down to it, brands big or small all experience the same issues of building, growing and struggles.
Time spent with these top industry associates has given Jettribe a huge boost in the future of our core brand! Watch out, there will be many great things coming down the pipeline for Jettribe and our watercraft industry.

Mike Young's Schedule For 2011

2011 H2X Racing Promotions Event Schedules

Sea Doo Hydro-X Spring Nationals

March 26-27                           Lake Fairview                         Orlando, FL

April 16-17                              Markham Park                       Fort Lauderdale, FL   

May 7-8                                  Wooten Park                         Tavares, FL

Sea Doo Pro Hydro-X Tour

April 30 – May 1                    Lake Tobesofkee                    Macon, GA

June 4-5                                  Springmaid Pier                     Myrtle Beach, SC

June 25-26                              Wooten Park                         Tavares, FL

SunFun Freeride

June 3                                     Springmaid Pier                     Myrtle Beach, SC

IJSBA Riva Hydro-Drag & Slalom National Championships

November 4-6                                    USA Waterski                         Lakeland, FL

• For event info contact Mike Young at mpyoungjr@aol.com or 850-376-5495
• New website coming in February
• Myrtle Beach will be APBA sanctioned and all other events will be IJSBA sanctioned

IJSBA National Tour 2011

May 14-15: Super Cup of Watercross in Panama City Beach, Florida

May 28-29: US Open of Watercross in Montgomery, Alabama

June 18-19: Grand Prix of Watercross in Racine, Wisconsin

July 9-10: Toyota Water Jam in Rochester, New York

July 16-17: Canadian Nationals in Belle River, Ontario Canada

July 30-31: Liberty Cup in Colonial Beach, Virginia

August 13-14: Triple Crown of Watercross in Anderson, South Carolina

August 20-21: The Governors’ Cup in Charleston, West Virginia

Jettribe 2010 Season Article

Jettribe is a core watercraft brand that is dedicated to creating gear and clothing for PWC enthusiasts and racers all over the world. Jettribe goes above and beyond in order to ensure that riders and racers have all of their needs met for every single ride. Throughout the 2010 season Jettribe made appearances at the IJSBA and APBA National Tours, the World Finals in Lake Havasu, and the King’s Cup in Thailand; and we showcased fantastic gear along the way. Here is what we have to say about such a successful season!

The Daytona Free Ride brought back the true core PWC sport as close to where it all began. Stand-up riders stuffed their skis in the trunks of their cars and some of the runabout riders even used their cars to pull their boats. The Free Ride showed that all you need is your ski and some gas to have a great time with your fellow riders.

The Mark Hahn 300 was also a great race to start the season off with. The weather was ideal for the riders as well as for our booth set up. It was so great to be back on the racing scene again for another successful season.

When the APBA kicked off its first National Tour race in Parker, AZ we made sure that we were there to join them. It was a fantastic event and the fact that the race was basically in our backyard made it even better.

We decided to pay a visit down south to Region 7’s race in Tavares, FL and it turned out to be an absolutely amazing event right from the very start. Mike Young and his staff were absolutely great and the whole weekend was a huge success.

We headed back down south to hit the first race of the IJSBA’s National Tour in Panama City Beach, FL so that we could be part of the excitement right from the start! AJ and his staff were fantastic and put on a terrific event. We couldn’t wait to see how much more excitement the rest of the tour would bring!

At the IJSBA’s Syracuse, NY race our 32-foot stacker Jettribe tour rig made its debut appearance so that we could transport even more of our gear. It was also a great Jettribe family reunion for many of our team riders, who gave some phenomenal performances all weekend!

Our crew was so excited to make the trip out to Myrtle Beach, SC again this year for rounds 3 & 4 of the APBA National Tour. We got a great spot right on the beach where we were able to watch the racers battle with the killer ocean surf. It was also great to see the rest of our Jettribe family that wasn’t able to make it to the race in Syracuse.

At the IJSBA National Tour race in Rochester, NY we were able to show off the new graphics on our dulley. It was so great to be back at one of AJ’s races again. Our new RS-15 Race Series Boots were also released for the first time and were selling like crazy!

The APBA’s National Tour stop in Belle River, Ontario was also an exciting race to be at. It was so great to be a part of jet-ski racing finally coming back to this part of Canada after a decade. Many of our team riders were also able to make it to the races and made us proud by getting podium finishes all weekend! It’s been such a great season, thanks to everyone who has helped us and supported us!

We headed down south again for another APBA National Tour stop in Colonial Beach, VA where we were welcomed by the town with open arms. The town was quaint and peaceful, but it was also an ideal spot for a race. The racing action took place along a large pier and the weather was great all weekend; both factors provided a fantastic atmosphere for all of the race fans!

A week later we headed down to Lake Hartwell, GA for one of the last stops on the IJSBA National Tour. This was one of the best events we have seen yet; the locals turned out in record numbers! AJ Handler and his crew, as well as the town, also showed us an immense amount of hospitality. AJ was constantly providing the Jettribe crew with burgers for lunch while we were busy working at our booth all weekend. And the racers’ party that was hosted by Watercrafters was a great opportunity for us to kick back and relax with the racers and have a chance to just be ourselves for awhile. What a great time!

The following weekend we headed back up north a little bit until we reached Charleston, WV for the grand finale of the IJSBA National Tour. This is always a favorite event of ours and we love the warm and friendly town atmosphere. This race was especially memorable because we had a special guest come out to enjoy the races: Governor Joe Manchin! The annual women’s volleyball games were also going on so it was nice to see some familiar faces that we got to meet last year. We also put on a fashion show to highlight some of our 2011 gear and to get everyone in the mood for our upcoming fashion show that we have been putting on at the World Finals. It was a very exciting weekend!

Over Labor Day weekend part of the Jettribe race team packed up their racing gear (as well as some Jettribe merchandise) and headed to Nashville, TN for the annual APBA Nationals. This is also a favorite site for the Jettribe crew with the camping area and water park right at the race site! Several of our team members were working hard all weekend to sell some of our Jettribe merchandise in order to help fund their trip to Thailand for the King’s Cup. Many of our riders also placed very well, bringing home many top 10 and podium finishes!

For the first time ever we headed up to Pacific City, OR for the Blowsion Surf Slam! This site was absolutely incredible; the site had beautiful and lush scenery that made the weekend so enjoyable. The Blowsion crew greeted us with open arms and was very accommodating to us. Over the weekend we stayed at a quaint bed and breakfast that made us feel right at home. We got to interact with a huge amount of stand-up riders who showed up from all over the world and proved that they are some of the most hardcore riders out there. We will definitely be back next year!

The Jettribe crew finally headed out to Lake Havasu City, AZ to spend 2 weeks out at the World Finals where we truly feel at home. We were so excited to be back and we couldn’t wait to see all of our old friends again. We also got to meet many new friends who we have been corresponding with throughout the season. Yet again, Quakysense and the IJSBA put on another outstanding event that brought in riders from all over the world to represent their countries. Our race team was also out in full force to represent the US, and they certainly made us proud! Our 2^nd annual fashion show was also a huge success yet again and our 2011 gear was very well received by the racers and fans. Now we have one more race of the season (the World King’s Cup in Thailand) to look forward to!

Team USA PWC Race Team Heads Out to Thailand

Jettribe Team USA accomplished something that none of our team members ever thought could be possible. The whole team spent a year scraping together funds to make the trip of a lifetime a reality.

At midnight on Sunday, November 28^th Jettribe Team USA came together at the Bangkok International Airport for one more race of the 2010 season: the World King’s Cup in Phitsanulok, Thailand!

Our first few days in Bangkok included wrenching on boats and organizing merchandise at Sam’s warehouse, site seeing, and eating as much Thai food as we could get our hands on!

On Wednesday we headed off to the race site in Phitsanulok and we were so impressed by what we saw: our own pit area, huge grand stands for the many fans, and Thailand’s own version of Vendor Alley! What more could we ask for?!

Thursday was a day of practicing for the racers and later that night we joined all of the other racers at the opening ceremony. The ceremony was absolutely amazing and we were so impressed with how much work the promoters put into making it a memorable experience for all of the race teams. Our team was even able to meet some of the dignitaries who were at the ceremony.

On Friday our team kicked it into high gear for the first day of fiberglass warfare! Our racers couldn’t have been happier to experience the moment that they had all been waiting for: the chance to race on international water for the first time and to be a part of one of the most prestigious races in the world! Our team raced hard all weekend and all of our riders were exhausted after each day but glowing with excitement at the fact that they were racing in a foreign country with some of the best racers in the world. Although our team doesn’t always win their races, there couldn’t have been a better team to represent the US in such a positive light.

On Sunday night after the races were finally over we packed up our equipment as fast as we could to get back to the hotel for the closing awards ceremony. As with the opening ceremony, they really hauled out the red carpet for this occasion…literally! After the Princess was finished presenting the King’s Cup awards to the four pro racers who won them we were given the honor of being the only racing team to personally meet the Princess (thanks to Tony Vo’s persistence) and present her with one of our team pit shirts. It was the experience of a lifetime for us to be given such an opportunity!

Despite the fact that we ran into a few problems throughout our trip (flat tires, blown motors, and broken steering cables) the trip was still amazing. We also made a ton of new friends and we were so impressed by how friendly and helpful everyone was. Thailand is definitely the “Land of Smiles”! We can’t wait for next year’s race and we’ll be back bigger and better than ever before!

After an amazing week in Thailand we packed our bags for a vacation in Vietnam. Tony wanted the team to experience and learn about the diverse and rich culture that Asia has to offer.

The team not only got to see a new country but they also got to see the Jettribe Vietnam facility where all of the products are made. To the racers’ surprise, the Jettribe Vietnam facility “Totally Rocks!” It was such an eye opener to see all of the Jettribe gear being built.

While in Vietnam we were overwhelmed by all of the amazing sites, scents, sounds, and friendly people.

During our first night in Saigon we slept on the conference room floor. The next day we headed to the beach resort town of Mui Ne-Phan Thiet. During the trip to the resort town the racers were overwhelmed by how much diversity there was; we saw tropical rain forests, white sand beaches, high mountains, and the sand dunes of Bau Sen.

It was such a good feeling to be away from cell phones and the internet for a few days. Relaxing by the pool during the day and star gazing on the beach at night was just the vacation that we needed.

Our last day in Saigon was well spent; we had a chance to visit a temple that Tony Vo’s Grandma has resided at for over 42 years. She is a monk by definition at 99 years young and she is strong as can be. It was an honor and privilege to experience the true behind the scene of Tony’s family and his heritage.

To our great dismay, our vacation had finally come to an end. Throughout our time in Asia we met so many cool people and made relationships that will last a lifetime. It was so awesome to see our team together and acting just like family. We were definitely sad to leave, but it gives us something to look forward to for December 2011!

But wait, there’s more…

Not only did we have a fantastic racing season, but Jettribe also had a very successful season of showcasing our RS-15 Race Series gear!

When it comes to Jettribe’s RS-15 Race Series gear, each product is designed with the rider’s comfort, flexibility, durability, and performance in mind. All of our riding gear is tested by our very own sponsored team of racers, who literally use and abuse these products.

Our race boots are custom designed with a Gecko grip molded sole that provides for better traction and grip; the soles also have raised contact points to accommodate a racer’s aggressive stance. The extra high neoprene cut prevents rocks and gravel from getting into the boot itself, the front zipper entry allows riders to easily slip them on or off, and the three Velcro straps ensure a snug fit.

Our racing gloves are designed with “TPR” knuckle protectors, which are sonic welded on! Some of our other features include: a pre-curved pattern that is specifically designed to hug the natural curve of your finger, heavy weight 4-way stretch Lyrca, and Neoprene for maximum flexibility and comfort. The gloves are also designed with thumb pull tabs, silicon non-slip texture for additional grip, elastic binding around the edges to flex and stretch with finger and hand movements, stretchable Neoprene wrist straps, and Jet Grip silicone directly injected into the throttle and trim fingers to minimize finger slippage.

Our side-entry life vests look great but are also incredibly functional with quick release side entry on both sides. The thumb-pull D rings allow for quick tightening while riding.

Our moto pants are not only designed to protect a rider’s legs from the typical bumps and bruises experienced during riding, but they also protect riders from the cold factors that are caused from being wet and the extreme wind caused during riding. Other features that set our moto pants apart from others include: compression foam molded pads for added protection, tough but light nylon material, air mesh panels, Neoprene panels with Jet Grip silicone for maximum flexibility and grip, dual side pockets with drain holes, and our single pull tight system which allows for instant belt release or tightening.

Our tour coat is designed to keep cold air and water splashes away from the rider’s core source of body heat. Some additional features that set it apart from other riding coats include: removable zipper hood, Neoprene side panels for warmth and comfort as well as maximum flexibility, vented top center panels, air mesh to allow water to pass through, and dual side pockets to keep your hands warm.

Our wetsuit is built with strategically placed 2/3 mm Neoprene panels. The 3 mm are for the warmth and 2 mm are built in the panels with high movement: inner arms and legs. The Jet Grip texture print placed on the inner thigh panels and legs provide the rider with additional traction while riding. The “injected” PVC rubber knee pads offer grip and protection. All seems have our inter-locking flat stitches to provide a watertight seal and maximum thicknesses of Neoprene to retain a rider’s body heat while riding in various conditions. The Neoprene foam provides an insulation barrier which slows down the conduction of heat, allowing the body’s heat to be retained.

Finally, our leg guards are lighter and more flexible than most. The 5-layered front and side panels are extremely durable and absorb the impact and spread the energy. If you’re a racer (runabout or ski) these leg guards are for you!

2010 was a great season for us at Jettribe…we can’t wait to see what 2011 brings!