The National Water Ski Racing Association announced today the selections to the 2009 U.S. Elite Water Ski Racing Team, the U.S. Formula 2 Water Ski Racing Team and the U.S. Junior Water Ski Racing Team. Athletes selected to the teams will compete in the 2009 Water Ski Racing World Championships, July 18-25, in Antwerp, Belgium.
The teams were selected based upon performances from the 2008 season, up through the first three races of 2009. A five-person committee appointed by the NWSRA board of directors made the selections.
Athletes selected to the 2009 U.S. Elite Water Ski Racing Team were…Â Details
After traveling all the way from Vega-Baja, Puerto Rico, for a few days of personal watercraft racing in Central Florida, Julio Rivera will be going home a record holder.
During the HydroDrag Spring Nationals on Sunday, Rivera blazed down the C-54 canal in South Brevard at 100.5 mph —
the fastest speed ever officially recorded by a personal watercraft rider.
“The feeling of going that fast . . . is indescribable. It takes a lot of nerve,” said the 36-year old Rivera. “The competition is really tough, and these races get better every year. The speed and the adrenaline rush keep me coming back for more.” …Â Details
The next challenge for the bio-diesel fuelled 78 foot trimaran wave piercer Earthrace could be helping to save whales in Antarctica.
In June, 2008, ‘Earthrace’, with owner/skipper Pete Bethune and a volunteer crew circled the globe in 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes, slashing the previous record for a powerboat by an astonishing two weeks! During the long ocean legs Earthrace with a six tonne biofuel load powered up to 2,000 miles at 20 knots.
Bethune now has the New Zealand designed and built boat on the market for $1.5 million and its currently on a final tour of New Zealand after last year world record.
Powered by two 540-horsepower Cummins engines have a short range cruising speed of 30 knots and a top speed of 40 knots.
Earthrace could have a new future as a secret strike weapon against Japanese whalers in the Southern Oceans if the Kiwi skipper has his way…Â Details and PictureÂ
It’s only happened once, but already the new two race event format has brought a lot of opinions along with a lot of excitement for race fans and teams who now get to see two Grand Prix’s in one weekend instead of usual one as the U.I.M. F1 World Championship for power boating turns a new page in history in its 16 race schedule for the 2009 campaign.
What do the teams think of the new racing format?
“Its been great not only for our team, but for the spectators as well,†stated the Manager for Team Abu Dhabi and four-time World Champion Scott Gillman.
“Obviously we are pleased since each of our two drivers (Ahmad Al Hameli and Thani Al Qamzi) won a race at the Grand Prix of Portugal and I think it will take a mixture of time and education to have the race spectators understand that the first day of competition is as important as the second day which was our traditional Grand Prix time… DetailsÂ
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