The race is on for WCWA jet skiers

The first two rounds of Western Canadian Watercross Association races are in the bag after the season opener at Rattlesnake Dam last weekend.

Spectators were treated to some exciting, fast-paced jet ski events that included categories for beginners all the way up to races for the elite professional jet skiers, who came to compete from all across the western provinces.

Fifty-five racers, including 12 new racers, some local, competed in the two-day competition that was a world finals qualifying event.

"These are grassroots racers. There are a few pros here, but we're here for the new racers and we have 12 new faces this weekend," said Rarick.

Southeast Alberta has produced some world-class jet skiers, including Rarick himself, who is a fivetime world champion. Promoting the sport at the grassroots level is vital.

"It's absolutely critical. Medicine Hat has brought out some incredibly fast racers over the years and we've got some newcomers Miller Wuitchik, and Chris Eccles has started back. We've got Ian Dressen from Calgary. These are essentially the new racers who are learning how to maneuver around this sort of stuff," he said.

The track was designed to be similar to those used at world championship races.

"This is a world class track. It's a very similar track to what we would race at world finals in Lake Hacasu City, Arizona. All the racers are feeling it because it's a very rough track on the west section and there's a lot of switch-back turns," said Rarick.

Rounds 3 and 4 will take place in Alix on July 7-8. After the first two rounds of racing, the current standings are:

BEGINNER

1. Daniel Turner- 120 points

2. Maverick Young- 96

3. Dyson Fischer- 89

NOVICE LITES

1. Payton Chestolowski- 120

2. Blair Hull- 92, Daniel Turner- 92

NOVICE OPEN

1. Payton Chestolowski- 120

2. Blair Hull- 106

3. Ian Stafford- 96

WOMEN'S LITES

1. Tammy Rarick- 120

2. Morgan Victoria- 101, Lana Bibeau- 101 WOMEN'S OPEN

1. Lana Bibeau- 120 AMATEUR OPEN

1. Steve Chestolowski- 108

2. Brad Hoffman- 106

3. Luke Bibeau- 103

PRO-AM LITES

1. Ryan Turner- 103

2. Elliot Ginter- 101

3. Brady Fisher- 92

PRO-AM OPEN

1. Robbie Langley- 113, Brady Fisher- 113

3. Steve Chestolowski- 96

VET OPEN

1. Kim Richardson- 113

2. Brad Hoffman-108

3. Steve Chestolowski- 101

SPORT SPEC

1. Doug Christensen- 120

2. Lahyan Seville- 106

3. Genevera Hunt- 91, Jack Scrimshaw-91 RUNABOUT

1. Tammy Rarick- 113

2. Cory Rarick- 108

3. Doug Christensen- 91 FREESTYLE

1. Ryan Turner, 113, Chad Hinkson- 113

3. Trevor Dudeck- 96

These two racers in the Vet Open Class were nose-to-nose as they sped from one side of the track to the other.

This racer in the Vet Open race makes a splash as he rounds a buoy.

Some of the elite racers charge around the track in the Pro-Am Lite category.

Photos by Jamie Rieger WATERCROSSED: The holders watch the racers leave the starting line at the Western Canadian Watercross Association event at Rattlesnake Dam site on June 24. The two-day competition saw beginners, as well elite jet skiers who ar vying for a berth the...

The chase is on around the buoy in the Beginner’s Class race on Sunday morning at Rattlesnake Dam. It is located about 23 km northwest of Seven Persons and 29 km west of Medicine Hat.