Successful Season Sheds Light for a Promising Year at the Worlds for Alec Hohnadell

Look forward to seeing you in Havasu soon. Should be a good World Finals for us. We are back home and Tim Judge is here rebuilding our skis and we have built a buoy course to train for the World Finals.



We showed up to the Anderson SC race and it was a great event just like last year. Nice race site with lots of vendors and really good spectator turn out. I was having some problems with my skis but was able to finish all my races but they were not running their best. I was in the points lead in the UWP Tour Points for Expert Ski Limited and did not want to lose any ground this race. I won one moto but was beaten two motos by returning veteran David Cabrera. I managed a second place overall victory. I also raced Pro-Am Ski stock with 3 mid pack finishes and could only manage an overall 6th. Place Finish. I would later figure out why my skis were not running their usual in Charleston the next weekend.


We decided to stay in Georgia and enjoy some of the fun events while waiting for the Charleston race the following weekend. We went on the zipline over the canopy of the Blue Ridge Mountains and had a blast. We also

went on my first White-Water Rafting trip and that was awesome. Some of the other racers and I went and it was a lot of fun. We pulled up right along the road in front of the race site in Charleston WV. The site really is awesome as
you are downtown and they close off the road for the race. I was still in the Points lead for the Expert Ski Limited class and was determined to try and stay in the lead. I had a good start to the Pro-Am Ski Stock Class by earning a 2nd.
Place in the first moto although my ski was not running it's best. I was brought back afetr the start in Expert Ski Limited and forced to start with a dead engine and my lanyard on my helmet. I was able to catch up and steal several
positions but finished a disappointing 5th. Place in the first moto which assured I would not win a 1st. Place overall. I did finish very well the last two motos which was enough to win a 2nd. Place Overall in Expert Ski Limited. My
ski finally blew it's motor in the Pro-Am Ski Stock race and finished poorly the second moto. I rode a borrowed ski in the third moto but was not comfortable enough to finish above mid pack earning me a 5th. Place Overall Finish.


I had won all but two races in the Expert Ski Limited Class and this was enough to secure my IJSBA UWP Tour Championship 1st. Place Victory. Thanks for all your support Jettribe!

Alec Hohnadell #11

Rick Sherker Recap: Charleston, WV IJSBA Nationals

Rd. 8 – Charleston, WV
The final round of the UWP-IJSBA tour took place this past weekend in Charleston, WV, where for the third straight year they welcomed us in and bent over backwards to make everything perfect. Magic island had a lot going on with the EVP volleyball finals taking place, a live band, rock climbing wall, several food vendors, the jet ski races, and of course the Jettribe trailer selling all the best gear available.

The Weekend had its ups and downs. Saturday was a tough day, getting a 4th place finish in GP Ski, then breaking down a few laps into the first moto of stock class while running in 2nd, ending up 8th. Unfortunately my stock ski was unrepairable for Sunday’s motos, however I was able to borrow a boat for Sunday. On Sunday things went better, I was able to salvage stock class and do just good enough to hold my second place overall for the national tour which was tough with it being a double points round. In Gp ski, I had great starts in both moto 2 and 3, but was not able to get out in front of Chris Macclugage on either of them. I finished second in both motos, giving me second overall for the round and second overall for the national tour.

It was a little sad leaving West Virginia from the final round of the tour, but those feelings quickly disappeared with the thought of the World Finals coming up so quickly. Havasu or bust.

Black Star Motorsports IJSBA Nationals Recap

The UWP-IJSBA crew saved the best round for last. Charleston, WV would play host to the National Championship and final round of the UWP-IJSBA National Tour. Local boys Trey and Cameron Frame of Black Star Motorsports had a lot of pressure to perform infront of the home crowd. The city turned out in droves to check out the action. Cameron was able to win the N/A Spec class, while brother Trey scored enough to maintain the National Title in that class. The other classes would prove to be much tougher on the brothers. They would be plagued by mechanical difficulties in their last motos of Stock and Open. Most heart breaking would be Trey's breakdown while leading the Open class. Although the weekend didn't go as planned, the overall points chase on tour was tight. In the end Trey would win the N/A Spec class and earn a 3rd Overall in Open. Cameron would earn a 2nd overall in N/A Spec and 4th Overall in Pro Stock. Alec Hohnadell would also earn a Championship in Expert Ski Limited and respectable 4th in Pro Ski Stock. Now the season is over, but Havasu is just around the corner. The team is prepairing for a good showing on the biggest stage for jet ski racing and the spec tical that is the World Finals!

Weekend of Ups & Downs for Jettribe Team at IJSBA Nationals

This past weekend the Jettribe Race Team made their way out to one last race before they make the long trek out to Lake Havasu, AZ for the World Finals. he team headed down to Charleston, WV for the final round of the IJSBA National Tour, which is what these riders had been preparing for all season long.

Upon arriving at the site, racers were welcomed with open arms by the whole town. There was a whole main street that was even blocked off right next to the river so that us racers could have a pit area so close to the action. There were also lots of activities going on in the town itself that provided much entertainment after a long day of races. And the racers’ party on Saturday night that was at the host hotel was exactly what all the racers needed to unwind and have a good time.

But the weekend wasn’t all fun and games for the Jettribe Team, who had to endure several ups and downs. Incidents, such as breaking trailer axles on the trip down and boats breaking before or even during races, plagued the team all weekend. But unexpected drama is all part of the racing game and, although it is always frustrating, these seasoned riders expect it to happen at some point and take it in stride. As all racers know, half the excitement of races such as the Nationals and the World Finals is waiting to see what unexpected events might happen that could make or break a championship title.

Now on to the race results! Rick Sherker finished 2^nd in Pro-Am Ski GP for the weekend and took home 2^nd overall for the entire tour, while also finishing 6^th in Pro-Am Ski Stock Spec for the weekend and taking 2^nd for the tour. Alec Hohnadell finished 9^th in the GP Ski class and took home 8^th overall, he also finished 5^th in Pro-Am Ski Stock Spec and finished 4^th overall for the tour, and he finished 2^nd overall in Expert Ski Limited with a 1^st place overall tour title. Chelsea Schneider took 3^rd in Novice Women’s Ski Limited and finished 2^nd overall for the entire tour. Trey Frame finished 6^th in Pro-Am Runabout Open with a 3^rd overall for the tour and was also crowned the National Champion in Runabout N/A Spec and took 1^st overall for the tour. Trey’s brother Cameron finished 8^th in Pro-Am Runabout Stock with a 4^th overall for the tour and finished 2^nd in Runabout N/A Spec with a 2^nd overall for the tour. Fellow team rider Derek Correll also made an appearance at the races this past weekend but was too busy selling Jettribe swag to all of the fans, which didn’t leave any time for racing!

The Jettribe Team will be out in full force at the World Finals coming up very quickly and we hope to see you all there! Until then, stay safe and ride hard!

Team Mean/Jettribe Team USA Heading Back to Thailand

This past weekend the racers of Team Mean/Jettribe Team USA had a very successful weekend of racing at the 7^th round of the IJSBA National Tour at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina. This is definitely one devoted team of racers who live and breathe the sport. That’s why they’re a part of the Jettribe Race Team. Ever since Jettribe started sponsoring racers a few years back we have looked for racers who will not only positively represent our company but the sport of PWC racing as a whole. We don’t always expect our racers to win all the time, but what we do expect is that they put their whole heart into every race and this team of riders is the very definition of what the sport of racing should be.

Team Mean, which is made up of Louis Milone (mechanic/manager) and racers Christine, Laura, and Jessica Milone, Jeremy Schandelmayer, Wilson Tai, and Derek Correll have worked their butts off this season. You can catch them out at the World Finals this October in Lake Havasu City, AZ but the team will also being heading out to the World King’s Cup in Thailand for the second year in a row. We are coming back to Thailand stronger and in force; Louis Milone has been working hard all year to prepare for this. This is one of the very few times that Team Mean/Jettribe will ride in US waters and will fire up their motors in international waters after Havasu. So keep an eye out for these fast riders!

National Guard/Black Star Motorsports Team has Successful Weekend at Lake Hartwell

Round 7 of the UWP-IJSBA National Tour headed to Anderson, SC this past weekend. The setting would be a beautiful State Park on Lake Hartwell. With two rounds to go, the National Guard/Black Star Motorsports team was ready to go. Jettribe’s Derek Correll had a great position just behind the scoring tower and was hustling Jettribe gear to the masses. The racing was fast and furious with Jettribe pro rider Trey Frame pulling off a 2^nd overall in the Pro Runabout Open class and his brother Cameron putting in a top finish in Pro Stock and N/A Spec. the team’s ski class racer Alec Hohnadell finished a 2^nd in Expert Ski Limited and 1^st overall in Junior Ski 13-15. Everyone is gearing up for Charleston, WV next weekend, which is the setting or the UWP-IJSBA National Championship! Points are tight and racing all season has been close. Stay tuned, it’s gonna be a nail biter!

Rick Sherker Recap: Lake Hartwell

anderson, sc

Round 7 of the UWP-IJSBA tour took place this past weekend on Lake Hartwell in Saddlers Creek State park in Anderson, SC.  The pits were scattered throughout a wooded recreation area close to the water.  Other than a few brief and quick moving storms through the area, the weather was beautiful all weekend.  The course layout was a traditional left handed course, but this time the split was located on the right side which changed things up a little.  Luckily for me and a few other well prepared riders, the slippery red clay from the shorelines of Lake Hartwell proved to be little match for the hundreds of grippers on the bottom of my RS-15 Race shoes, giving me plenty of traction in what was without a doubt the toughest test so far this year on the national tour.

For me, racing started at 11:30 on Saturday with moto one of GP Ski.  The first start was red flagged as Chris Macclugage was called for jumping the start.  On the restart, Bill Haig was in front at the first turn buoy, with Rob Flores tucked underneath around the sweeper, with myself on the outside in third.  By the end of the big sweeper coming out onto the front straight, I found myself in first with the holeshot and Flores in second after a mistake by Bill Haig picking up an extra buoy that was supposed to be skipped on the start.  I went on to win the moto followed by Flores in second, Wilson in third, and Chris Macclugage in fourth.

At 1:30 I had moto one of Stock Spec Ski which turned out to be a rough one for me.  Starting out towards the end of the gate really hurt on this course.  I came out fifth on the start and just couldn’t seem to make any progress working up to the front after continuously following a train through the much faster outside split.  Finally, I took the risk and tried the inside only to lose another position where I ended up finishing a frustrating sixth place finish.

Saturday evening, there was a racer’s party in the center of Anderson at Bullfeathers Bar and Restaurant where we once again, all racer’s were welcomed with free food and a couple of free drinks.

For me, Sunday started with moto 2 of Stock Spec ski where I was able to improve slightly with a third place finish behind Rob Flores and Josh Block.  In moto two of Gp, I got a good start from the pole, just edging out Rob Flores at the first turn, but behind Jimmy Wilson who got a great jump out of the gate getting the holeshot.  We finished in that order with Wilson getting his first moto win of the season.  I finished second and Flores third.  Going into moto three I was sitting in first place for the overall, but had little breathing room, only one point in front of Jimmy meaning I had to beat him to get the overall and just three points in front of Rob meaning he could beat me, but I would have to be right behind him.  It turned out to be the mentally longest 15 lap motto for me all season.  This time Chris Macclugage got out first and grabbed the holeshot, Wilson went down at the first turn, Bill Haig came out second, Rob flores third, and I came out in fourth.  From lap one I knew if Rob made a pass on Bill I was going to have to do the same quickly, and from lap one, Rob kept the pressure on Bill.   Also knowing that as things stood, I would take the overall.  So for 15 long laps I watched, making a few runs of my own to make a pass on Flores to distract him from focusing on getting around Bill, but trying not to risk making a mistake of my own.  Luckily for me Bill Haig made no mistakes and things stayed the way they were.  I was able to earn the overall win in GP Ski with a 1,2,4 finish with Rob Flores taking second with a 2,3,3 finish, and Chris Macclugage in third with a 4,5,1 finish.  The third moto of Stock class was another disappointing one for me that kept me out of the top three for the first time this season, finishing fourth overall – but has motivated me to try and make a statement in the final round.

All in all, it was a great weekend of racing, with one of the best racer and spectator turnouts all season.  The pits were full of local venders selling food, and local dealers like Watercrafters and Mountain Motorsports and tour sponsors including Jettribe and Optima Racing selling gear and parts.  I look forward to Rd. 8 this weekend in Charleston, WV for the final round of the UWP-IJSBA National Tour which will be a double points round, making the points race for the national championship very interesting for sure!