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 2nd 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 28th 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!
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