Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/551693
PWC 40 • August 17, 2015 • Powersports Business www.PowersportsBusiness.com PWC sales continued their year-over-year growth in June, but at a slower pace than recent months. PWC sales increased by 10 percent in June, down slightly from the 14 percent growth in May, according to the latest Info-Link Bellwether Report. 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). PWC year-over-year growth had exceeded 20 percent year-over-year growth as recently as April. PWC SHIPMENTS ON RISE IN MAY Data from the National Marine Manufacturers Association shows that PWC shipments increased 27.6 percent year-over-year through May, continuing to be a high-volume industry growth driver. The NMMA also reported that new PWC sales rose to 47,900 units in 2014, an increase of 21.6 percent compared to 2013. PRO WATERCROSS TOUR ANNOUNCES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE Pro Watercross announced the classes for the Pro Watercross World Cham- pionship, set for Sept. 21-27 in Naples, Fla. Registration for the Pro Watercross World Championship opened on Aug. 1, and com- petitors will have until Aug. 31 to receive early registration prices. On Sept. 1, class prices will increase. The host hotel for the Pro Watercross World Championship is the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, and reservations can be made by calling 800/237-7600 and mention- ing Pro Watercross, or by visiting www.ProWatercross.com/world and clicking "online reservations." Reservations must be made by Aug. 31 to receive the group rate. The awards banquet also will be at the hotel. The schedule of events follows. Note that it is not the race order, but simply the day that each of the classes will be competing. Tuesday, Sept. 22: Master Ski Stock; Novice Ski Limited; Veteran Ski GP; Novice Women Ski Ltd; Runabout Lites; Amateur Runabout 2-Stroke Limited; Amateur Runabout Stock; Runabout 800 SS; Novice Runabout Limited; and Amateur Runabout Box Stock. Wednesday, Sept. 23: Masters Ski GP; Novice Ski Stock; Veteran Ski Limited; Ama- teur Ski Lites; Amateur Runabout 1000 SS; Amateur Runabout 2-Stroke Open; Novice Runabout Stock; Runabout 800 Limited; and Veteran Runabout SS. Thursday, Sept. 24: Amateur Ski GP; Expert Ski Limited; Throwback Thursday; Vintage X2; Vintage Ski Limited 750; Vintage Ski 550; Freestyle 800; Expert Runabout Open; Pro-Am Runabout 1000 SS; Runabout N/A; Amateur Runabout 2-Stroke Stock; and Expert Runabout Limited. Friday, Sept. 25: Jr Ski 10-12 Lites; Jr Ski 13-15 Lites; Jr Ski 13-15 Stock; Pro-Am Ski Limited; Pro-Am Ski Lites; Pro-Am Runabout GP; Pro-Am Runabout Limited; Women's Runabout Limited; Sport Stock; Pro Freestyle; and Am Freestyle. Saturday, Sept. 26: Jr Ski 10-12 Stock; Jr Ski 13-15 Limited; Pro-Am Ski GP; Pro-Am Ski Open; Pro-Am Ski Stock; Pro-Am Wom- en's Ski Ltd; Pro-Am Runabout Box Stock; Pro-Am Runabout Open; Pro-Am Runabout SS; Pro-Am Runabout Stock; Sport GP; Pro Freestyle; and Am Freestyle. Sunday, Sept. 27: Jr Ski 10-12 Stock; Jr Ski 13-15 Limited; Pro-Am Ski GP; Pro-Am Ski Open; Pro-Am Ski Stock; Pro-Am Wom- en's Ski Ltd; Pro-Am Runabout Open; Pro- Am Runabout SS; Pro-Am Runabout Stock; Sport GP; and Pro Freestyle. (Competition concludes by 3 p.m.; banquet tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Naples Beach Hotel.) PSB DIGEST June sales of PWC once again increased, with a 10-percent year-over- year gain, according to the Info-Link Bell- wether Report. Craig Warner sets record at Long Beach to Catalina and Back race on Jet Ski Ultra 310R Craig Warner showed once again that he is the man to beat in PWC offshore endurance racing as the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider won his fourth straight Long Beach to Catalina and Back race, setting a world record time in the process on his Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310R. Warner completed the nearly 60-mile race in 51 minutes and 21 seconds, bettering the previous record set in 1995 by more than three minutes. Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra PWCs swept the overall podium, with Mark Gerner finish- ing second and Michael Perry finishing third overall and winning the Manufacturers Stock class. "The conditions were ideal for a fast, clean race," Warner said. "Today's results show just how versatile the Kawasaki Jet Ski watercraft is. Over the last four years we have faced rough and choppy conditions all the way to the flat ocean we saw this year. Each time my boat handled it perfectly." Warner's win is the eighth in a row for Kawasaki at the event, and Kawasaki riders took seven of the top-10 finishing positions in 2015. LONG BEACH TO CATALINA AND BACK RACE RESULTS 1. Craig Warner, Kawasaki, Pro/Am Open — 51 Minutes, 21 Seconds 2. Mark Gerner, Kawasaki, Pro/Am Open — 51:52 3. Michael Perry, Kawasaki, Mfg. Stock — 56:20 4. Jeff Lane, Kawasaki, Mfg. Stock — 56:31 5. Curtis Marker, Yamaha, 4 Stroke Stock — 58:58 6. Anthony Radetic, Kawasaki, Mfg. Stock — 1 Hour, 0 Minutes, 26 Sec 7. Tom Cruz, Kawasaki, Vet/Master — 1:00.50 8. Tera Laho, Yamaha, Mfg. Stock — 1:01.52 9. Ryan Ellefson, Yamaha, 4 Stroke Stock N/A — 1:02.22 10. Dustin Steward, Kawasaki, Mfg. Stock — 1:02:47 PSB It's a 4-peat for Kawasaki's Warner in 51 minutes and 21 seconds, bettering the previous record set in 1995 by more than three minutes. Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra PWCs swept the overall podium, with Mark Gerner finish- ing second and Michael Perry finishing third overall and winning the Manufacturers "The conditions were ideal for a fast, clean race," Warner said. years we have faced rough and choppy conditions all the way to the flat ocean we saw this year. Each time my Warner's win is the eighth in a row for Kawasaki at the event, and Kawasaki riders took seven of the top-10 finishing positions The Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310R swept the podium at the Long Beach to Catalina and Back race. PWC sales rise 10 percent in June