Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/499779
PWC PWC once again helped powerboat sales con- tinue their growth trend in February, accord- ing to the Info-Link Bellwether report. PWC sales increased by more than 20 percent year-over-year in February on a 12-month basis, Info-Link data shows. It's not an uncommon trend, as PWC sales have seen double-digit growth since April 2014. The Bellwether report tracks boat sales across the country based on new U.S. boat registrations. Bellwether states are geographi- cally dispersed states representing roughly half of the U.S. boat market (varies by market segment and time of year). NMMA: PWC WHOLESALE SHIPMENTS RISE IN 2014 Wholesale shipments of personal watercraft were up 6.3 percent year-over-year in 2014, according to data from the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Traditional powerboats were up 0.5 percent for 2014, with corresponding dollars up 14 percent. Inboard boats (up 10.5 percent YOY) and fiberglass outboard boats (up 4.6 percent YOY) also had strong years in 2014. JETCROSS CANCELS FRANCE CUP JX Sports, promoter of the Jetcross Series, regrets to announce the cancellation of the Jet- cross France Cup race that was scheduled to take place in Vichy, France, May 16-17. "Due to several issues beyond our control, it is a great pity for us to have to cancel the Jetcross French series, which would have been the only one event in original birthplace of the Jetcross Series. We were greatly looking forward to taking the Jetcross to France, as we are well aware there is a great following there, but this will unfortunately have to wait a little longer," said Julien Bastien, managing direc- tor of JX Sports. "We are working towards setting up next year to find a solution and to definitely be in France by 2016, but now we have to stay focused on the main point of the season with the first World Cup in Jetcross history, which will be held in Doncaster, England, from the 24th of July until the 26th of July 2015," Bas- tien added. ANALYST SAYS SPARK DRIVING SEA-DOO GROWTH UBS Investment Research analyst Robin M. Farley in April reported in a research note provided to Powersports Business that it "sounds as if after a great year for personal watercraft segment, CY2015 is facing difficult comps. Excluding Spark, BRP's PWC seg- ment season to date is flat YOY, so Spark has been driving most of the double digit growth in this segment." PSB DIGEST YouTube filmmaker will be part of Ultimate Beach Party BRP is working with famed YouTube film- maker Devin Super Tramp to bring the dream of owning a Sea-Doo watercraft to the masses with the #SPARKSOMEFUN Ultimate Sea-Doo Beach Party Sweepstakes. In 2014, BRP teamed up with Devin Super Tramp (Devin Graham) as part of the launch for the Sea-Doo Spark watercraft in a wakeskate video with the Nike wakes- kate team that has been viewed more than 1.8 million times. This year, BRP is again teaming with Devin Super Tramp to show fans how fun and easy it is to live out their dream of owning a Sea-Doo watercraft by creating the Ultimate Sea-Doo Beach Party. The winner will realize his or her dream as the event will then be filmed and show- cased early this summer. The Ultimate Sea-Doo Beach Party sweep- stakes asks fans to share an image or video, up to 15 seconds, showing how they like to Spark Some Fun. People enter by visiting sea-doo.com by either desktop or mobile or by posting an image or video on Twitter or Instagram and tagging it #SPARKSOMEFUN. The entries are collected in a gallery for all to see, and after the collection period ends, the top five entries will be put up for fan vote with the entrant receiving the most votes being named the winner. The winner will receive a new Sea-Doo Spark watercraft, and he or she and two guests will join Sea-Doo X-TEAM riders and wake athletes at the Ultimate Sea-Doo Beach Party in South Florida, while Devin Super Tramp will capture the fun in 4K for an upcoming video feature. Additional sweepstakes details: Sweepstakes began Tuesday, March 24, 2015 Sweepstakes entries end Friday, April 30, 2015 The top five go to public vote May 2-6, 2015 Winner will be announced the second week of May Ultimate Sea-Doo Beach Party will take place in late May in South Florida and be filmed by Devin Super Tramp. PSB Sea-Doo promotion aims to grow consumer base 38 • May 4, 2015 • Powersports Business www.PowersportsBusiness.com The Ultimate Sea-Doo Beach Party sweepstakes encourages fans to share photos or videos of how they like to "Spark Some Fun." Info-Link: Feb. boat sales continue to rise PWC sales increased by more than 20 percent year-over-year in February, according to Info-Link's Bellwether report.