Friday, October 8, 2010

The Team Behind The Teamwork of Offshore

Russell Libby Pitting for Fellow Racer at 2010 Mark Hahn 
Dave "Pirate" Tew 

Dave "Pirate" Tew and Russell Libby 

Recognition in racing usually revolves around the racers who are on the course racing and that individual racer’s performance on the racecourse. I race and therefore understand how one can become self absorbed and myopic about performance on race day. The intensity, adrenalin and focus of highly competitive athletes on pre-race and race day can result in a loss of understanding or memory of who was there to support the cause or support you on that day. There are two that show up with the reliability of the sunrise to support racers and play a major role in the success of many of their fellow racers.  We remember.... 

Russell Libby
I could mention many people that I’ve seen support other racers over the years, but there are two that I can confidently state consistently go above and beyond all expectations and deserve all the recognition the offshore racing community can offer them. They are Dave “Pirate” Tew and former United States Marine Russell Libby.  Now keep in mind that both of these individuals are very capable offshore racers and riders and have competed in and done very well in the annual Long Beach to Catalina and Back Offshore National Championship Race. These are two accomplished offshore riders in their own right. But what makes these two gentlemen unique is that even when they don’t race, they are THERE on race day lending a hand to any and everyone that needs it. They are on the racecourse running safety, providing tows to broken craft, being a Pit Crew, providing friendly encouragement to a racer prior to stepping off, or a pat on the back if the racer breaks. They are THERE to pull trailers, program GPS navigation units, transport watercraft, help launch a craft, pull a craft out of the water or support a fellow member of their Club. At the recent Dana Point to Oceanside and Back Offshore Triple Crown Race, guess who was there doing all of the above? Pirate and Russell. These two men are leaders. Team players, integrity, truly giving, reliable - this is Russell Libby and Dave “Pirate” Tew.

On behalf of the Offshore Racing Community, we thank and honor both of them.

Russell Libby

Russell Libby 2010 Mark Hahn Race

Pirate


Thursday, September 30, 2010

The 2010 PWCOFFSHORE Racing WARRIOR AWARD, John Belton

September 26, 2010

The 2010 PWCOFFSHORE Racing WARRIOR AWARD:

John Belton aka "The Master"  
The annual PWCOFFSHORE.COM Warrior Award is awarded to the member of PWCOFFSHORE Racing that best demonstrates the core values of PWCOFFSHORE.COM Sponsored Racing. They are integrity, a collaborative spirit, inclusiveness and being tenacious on the race course. They demonstrate "Strength & Honor" both on and off the race course. This is the most prestigious award that PWCOFFSHORE.COM Racing awards to their racers.

The 2010 Warrior Award has been awarded to Mr. John Belton of PWCOFFSHORE.COM Racing. PWCOFFSHORE.COM is committed to both growing offshore racing and seeking excellence on the race course. John Belton has executed to this end for years both on and off the race course with humility, respect for others, class and an unconquerable spirit on the race course.

John has been riding and racing watercraft for over 25 years; an athlete with an indomitable spirit, Belton leads by example. John is an avid motorcyclist, mariner, sailboat racer, marathon runner, basketball player and Offshore PWC / Jet Ski Racer. There is nobody more experienced than Belton in negotiating The Long Beach to Catalina Channel on a PWC, this is validated by over 650 cross channel transits on a PWC. Yes, over 650, 58-mile round trip transits. There is no other PWC Racer even remotely close to that number of Long Beach to Catalina and Back runs. This experience and knowhow has resulted in John's nickname "The Master" of the channel. A class act to all, mentor to many, man of integrity – this is John Belton.

Congratulations John Belton for the tremendous success and thank you for your knowledge and contribution you have provided to Offshore PWC / Jet Ski Racing.

2010 PWCOFFSHORE.COM Warrior Award Winner: Mr. John Belton
2009 PWCOFFSHORE.COM Warrior Award Winner: Ms. Shawn Alladio

PWCOFFSHORE.COM is an AWA Charter Club
John Belton and PWCOFFSHORE.COM Sponsored Racing 2010 Sponsors are R&D Racing Products, Hydro-Turf, Fly Racing 



Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The July 18, 2010 APBA Offshore National Championship by Hot Products and SeaDoo in Long Beach Ca., USA. aka “The LB2CAT”

July 20, 2010

By PWCOFFSHORE
Pictures by http://www.pwcoffshore.com/

The July 18, 2010 APBA Offshore National Championship by Hot Products and SeaDoo in Long Beach Ca., USA. aka “The LB2CAT”

The biggest names in racing gathered for the 2010 APBA Offshore National Championship sponsored by Hot Products and Sea Doo. This is the second of three races for the Triple Crown of Offshore Racing Championship Series (TCO).

TAD Racing Tyler White with Doug White Looking on
The Long Beach to Catalina and Back Race Offshore Race is a 58 mile round trip race across the channel and back from the Queen Mary to a turn boat off the coast of Avalon and back to the Queen Mary. Professional Racers are doing the roundtrip in an hour’s time. Navigation, a fast craft and physical fitness all play a role in a successful race.



Pre-race:

Chris MacClugage
TAD Racing Texas
The sound of various race craft at the Queensway launch ramp peaked as the PRO Open boats started up. The sound was pure glory. It was clear that many showed up with their craft “set on kill” for this highly anticipated Offshore National Championship Race. There was much on the line this year for the race teams. TAD Racing traveled from Texas with team rider Tyler White seeking another podium finish on his RXTX with Andy Wise representing the team on a heavily modified Kawasaki. Incumbent Offshore National Champion Craig Warner was going for his third consecutive win and a 'three-peat'. This would be the only time in the LB2CAT history since Billy Womack that a racer could potentially win three Championships in a row. Chris MacClugage aka “Macc” of www.maccracing.com was back to protect his lead in the 2010 Triple Crown of Offshore racing his Yamaha. 2009 second place LB2CAT finisher and 2009 Incumbent 'Triple Crown of Offshore' Champion Mark Gerner of www.pwcoffshore.com race team executed a 'gloves off build' with Technician Aaron Cress on his Kawasaki ULTRA. This PWCOFFSHORE race boat was reportedly producing 400 horsepower of ocean racing fury. Robert Carreon of PWCOFFSHORE was racing his Piston Ultra with his sights on a podium high points finish as a contention for TCO points. Lee Phan had a quiet build going on with an ULTRA that was rumored to be ready to be in the mix. Many speculated that it was a Turbo Ultra (the first of its kind in a LB2CAT) but this could not be confirmed. Sean Conner had an extremely fast SeaDoo built by master technician Steve Friebe. Conner had engaged in an aggressive off water training regime. Chris Lawrence was said to have a craft that was going to blow the doors off of many on the course.


The intensity in the air on race morning was palatable. World class Racer Macc was off stretching in the grass by himself. One could see his racing mindset coming to the surface as Macc prepped himself and his craft. Craig Warner had his entourage from Kawasaki staging gear next to the Kawasaki Monster Energy Drink Van. World famous racer and safety instructor Ms. Shawn Alladio and the crew from www.K38WaterSafety.com were doing final gear reviews with www.liquidmilitia.com Clothing close by filming the events and supporting the offshore racers. KMG Racing was in force with Looter and Dave and Dawn Fekete leading the charge. Other classes had close to stock craft that were also highly tuned and racers that had been training for nearly a year in preparation fiord the race. Legendary offshore racer and PWCOFFSHORE Hall of Famer Billy Womack was in the parking lot shaking hands and encouraging racers. Yes, that Billy Womack, the man who played a huge role in taking our sport to the next level, and a pure class act to boot. Former LB2CAT Champion John Anick was there to support the scene. There was history, legacy racers and talent everywhere.

The Line:


Ross Wallach of RPM Racing Enterprises announced at 8 am “we have a green light, we are good to go.” The smell of race gas permeated the ocean air as over 40 craft with racers in full performance and safety gear made their way to the line for a 9 am start time. The vibe in the air was just plain intense. Many had their eye on Craig Warner and Chris MacClugage as they made their way to the line; this would be the first time in history that the two would battle for a prestigious Long Beach to Catalina and Back Championship. Many had anticipated flat water; however this would not be the case. There was discussion around 'five footers' outside the break-wall, and so it would be. Yes, there appeared to be a glow on the face of many of PWCOFFSHORE.com Racing’s Sponsored Racers, this is the sea state they seek out and train in. They appeared to be beaming in recognition of the possibilities. Notably Robert Carreon and Mark Gerner almost simultaneously making the sign of the cross and pointed looking up in the sky as they approached the line. So much had gone into preparing for this race; time, training, injuries, healing, countless hours by technicians working on the craft, mechanicals, decisions regarding setup, rebuilds – the sea state was up and it was time to produce results!. Hard Core Offshore was the theme of the morning, it could not be denied, and apprehension was in the air. Anticipation and soon, disappointment and rewards awaited those who stayed the course.

The Start:

Carreon
The PWCOFFSHORE.com film helicopter appeared. The orange flag went up and was quickly followed by a green flag. Over 10,000 horsepower roared to life as these craft rocketed across the water behind the Long Beach harbor break-wall. Those who have done this race before will tell you that the true race doesn’t start until you exit the harbor gate and encounter the Pacific and her potentially unforgiving channel between Long Beach and Catalina Island. Heartbreak: Many noticed that Macc was not there; after all of Macc’s preparation, he had an unfortunate mechanical that kept him from starting. Soon, others would follow and become part of the chain reaction that led to the victory of the second wave.

The Race:


Mark Gerner
Carreon 
Instantly there were two distinct race packs. The high horsepower modified PRO OPEN craft in front walking away and the stock (or close to stock) craft in a separate following pack. This year was unique; none of the racers could remember having this much capable talent and impeccably tuned powerful craft on the line. As the first pack of PRO racers exited the break-wall the racers encounter big ocean swells and sweeping fog. Nobody backed down or backed off the throttle. It was quite a sight to see. The higher horsepower craft launched through the air at 70 mph plus with skilled offshore racers putting on an incredible demonstration of riding prowess, skill and raw power. This race hasn’t seen this potential in years, if ever. Many of the craft were getting enormous air as the large swells outside the gate met the racers head-on; it was captured by the www.pwcoffshore.com helicopter tracking overhead. The first few miles looked like a war on the water. But, there would be a price to pay for this, by some of the competitors.

Out of the Queen’s gate Craig Warner took the lead by a small margin, followed closely by Sean Conner, Pat Roque, Lee Phan, Mark Gerner, Chris Lawrence, and Robert Carreon, Andy Wise and Tyler White all mixing it up close behind. Robert Carreon of PWCOFFSHORE broke a belt on his Kawasaki ULTRA 250X just outside the break wall and was out. Lee Phan fell back a bit, leaving Craig Warner, Pat Roque, Mark Gerner, Tyler White and then Sean Conner battling for holding positions to take the lead.  Picture to right Andy Wise TAD Racing


Picture to left is Andy Wise. Tyler White’s RXTX would break a few miles outside the break wall, followed by race leader and 'Back to Back' Champion Craig Warner about two miles out. Mark Gerner then took over the lead as the race headed into unexpected heavy fog conditions. Pat Roque de-laminated his hull about this same time and fell back a bit. Andy Wise of TAD Racing fell victim to a mechanical on his Kawasaki ULTRA 260X, followed by another breakdown by Chris Lawrence on his Yamaha. The PRO boats were taking a beating. 


With the fog growing thicker, Mark Gerner Pictured on the right
stayed on the throttle racing his heavily modified Kawasaki ULTRA250X and built a two-mile lead of the field and was first across the channel to the turn boat off Catalina Island. His turn boat time was 32 minutes, ahead loomed a faster return pace running with the swell. Unfortunately for Gerner, about a mile into the return leg back to Long Beach and with an impressive 2.5 mile lead, Gerner too would fall victim to a supercharger belt. His craft broke and he was out of the race.
Sean Conner left.  That left a former LB2CAT Overall winner Pat Roque of the Catalina Crew second position to the turn boat and assumed the lead. Roque was followed by Sean Conner of PWCOFFSHORE Racing on his RXT who was trailing Pat Roque by 60 yards. Kim Bushong of PWCOFFSHORE Racing tracked a distant third but still in an impressive position considering he was on an almost stock craft. More than halfway back to Long Beach Pat Roque, too, would suffer a mechanical and was out of the race. While Kim Bushong, a formidable rough water rider would pass Conner to take over first place and begin to build a sizable lead in the fog and outside the Queens Gate entrance into the harbor. Conner would ultimately fall back, losing his position to Paul Pham, and Vet/Master Class Kim Bushong of PWCOFFSHORE Racing would hold on for the overall win! Paul Pham finished second and newcomer Brian Steeves placed third overall in his first offshore race on a stock Yamaha SHO! The top three finishers battled 58 miles of changing course conditions and elements to take the podium. Navigation was also an extremely important element in this race. Many lost positions due to a navigational error or nursing a mechanical to the finish line.

Of note, first, second and third place finishers were all on nearly stock boats. The incredible carnage in the PRO OPEN class was so pervasive that Shawn Alladio of K38 Water Safety / Liquid Militia / PWCOFFSHORE Racing unselfishly stopped her own race and just resorted to tow and rescue for broken down racers scattered across the course. Alladio traveled across the channel all the way to Catalina Island to tow in the broken craft of teammate Mark Gerner who was waiting at Avalon.

Below Ms. Shawn Alladio takes Tyler White under Tow
It was utter destruction for many in the PRO Class. The PROS were holding heavily modified race rockets wide open in big water and it took a toll. The entire class minus two racers had issues. This is a testament to a number of things 1) The power these modified craft are now producing 2) The degree of intensity the PRO Pilots were pushing their craft in heavy water 3) How some of these racers were pushing the envelope with both the throttle and their modifications.

Kim Bushong
Kim Bushong
Kim Bushong has been racing watercraft for well over a decade. A world class athlete, Kim is a former top ten finisher in the Kona, Hawaii 'Iron Man'. It should be noted that he led his Iron Man race for the swim through the bike ride, after the marathon he still finished top ten. Kim started off on an old Tigershark Jet Ski and laughs about bouncing across the channel to Catalina Island back in the 90’s. He has well over 100 cross channel transits and is known to have a great deal of stamina, tolerance for pain and rough water riding capability. Bushong was in the top three at the LB2CAT a few years ago and blew a belt on his ULTRA and was out of the race, last year he finished 4th overall and now has taken the Championship!! There have been many hours of training and sweat equity from Kim over the years. What is unique about this year’s race is that Kim was on hiatus to pursue his latest venture which is international paddling competitions. Bushong has been traveling the globe for the last six months in pursuit of championships. Add the LB2CAT to the List Kim, you did it and you deserve it. After the race Kim said “You cannot control what others do, or how they are doing, no matter how bad you are doing, or perceive you are doing, or how bad you feel, never give up, fight to the end, If you put all you have into it, good things will happen, never, ever, give up. “ Amen to that Kim.


Tommy Kolleck of Southern California took the Amateur Open Class on his Kawasaki ULTRA 250X with an injured wrist. “Dynamic conditions” said Tommy. Brian Largarticha took the Superstock Limited, a new class that Brian himself initiated. He won racing his SeaDoo IS. Warren Frank won the Challenged Athlete Class on his Kawasaki ULTRA260X. Warren is an amputee that did this race on a prosthetic, quite impressive. Warren would also go on to win the PWCOFFSHORE.com Award for Excellence later in the day. Sean Conner took the PRO OPEN Class with one of the last remaining PRO boats running. Of course Kim Bushong won the Vet/Master Class. And the standout of the day was Brian Steeves, brand new racer, brand new to offshore, first race and he takes the podium and wins the Sportsman Class!

The field was also honored to see legendary Water Skier Mike Murphy on the course racing in the Vet Master Class. Mike Murphy is an inventor and groundbreaker in water sports. Anyone that knows waterskiing knows Murphy from winning the Catalina Water Ski Race to setting world speed records to his Fosters Beer Commercial to his world travels. This man has done it all.

For the new racers out there or the racers that don't want to invest the time and money in a full on race craft, you too can win this race and or be in the top three on the podium! We believe that two of the three podium boats were essentially 100% bone stock! Never again should it be spoken that “your craft is not fast enough” to win this race or participate in the LB2CAT Race! There are many dimensions of this race that make it possible for anyone to win on any give day.

Next Race of the TCO is in September from Dana Point to Oceanside and Back - be there!  http://www.pwcoffshore.com/ for information.

The race footage helicopters were all forced to turn back due to the increasing fog layer only a few miles into the race but were still able to get some fantastic pictures.

The little video we did get from the helicopter was hardcore!”

Kawasaki now has the greatest number of LB2CAT Offshore National Championship Titles, taking that away from Polaris.

Racer Quotes / Interviews Following the Race:

Ms. Shawn Alladio: 'The LB2CAT was everything that a hardened offshore racer could ask for. Except for the fog conditions. It is a shame all the top fueled race boats fell away in the race. There is no honor in a race that takes out the best, I know folks say 'that's racing' and to some degree it is. For me to see or hear about a real race challenge being earned across the line is my personal dream of this event. That challenged was handed down to the next tier level of racers who did just that. They stepped it up and stayed the course. Kim Bushong is not a surprise for the win, he's a focused and driven competitor. Anyone could have won this race in those conditions with the navigational and mechanical issues, on July 18th, it was Kim's race.'

Mark Gerner: “That was a race! I was so pleased about the sea state; this is water that I thrive in. I love the intensity of the rough and was eager to get the race started and not miss what appeared to be tough water outside the gate, that was a true offshore race and what we wish for! I felt the zone in this race, pushed the envelope, put the mouthpiece to good use, lost a GPS while hammering through a five footer at 65 mph, and have a few bumps and bruises, perfect. Just the way we like it. To be candid, it’s difficult to have a mechanical when you have that far of a lead and at that stage of the race. But that is racing, you have to finish to win it and this was not an uncommon story today. I would have loved to see Shawn Alladio on a Kawasaki ULTRA260 out there battling in that sea state, this is her kind of water also. I feel bad for Warner, Macc, Tyler White, Andy Wise, Carreon and all of the others that also worked so hard and had mechanicals, some barely got the opportunity to compete. That is racing and on any given day anything can happen. I would have enjoyed seeing everyone keep their craft rolling and truly battle it out in that sea sate for the entire race, epic. There was so much talent out there. I will go home tonight, have a glass of Merlot, wake up Monday morning and start the process of preparation for 2011. I will be even more motivated to win, I will be ready again. I will also continue to do all I can to support this truly fantastic event and wonderful community of offshore racers. All of which are like extended family to me. He / she who cross the line first is the Champion that is the bottom line. I am happy for my good friend Kim Bushong, Kim has worked so hard for over a decade in pursuit of a win here, it was his day and on an almost stock boat to boot! LB2CAT Platinum Club for the year 2010, Kim Bushong. You have to love it. Given that Kim is a world class athlete, he is incredibly humble down to earth and just a great guy - he deserves this. I am so very proud and happy for Kim. I am also very happy to see the number of new racers we have on the course! See you next year!”

Warren Frank: “Well I just think as a team that trains in fog and rough water, the conditions were absolutely ideal for us. To me the conditions defined "offshore racing" compared to the three other races I did which had flat water and clear visibility. Even for the top racers in the sport other than our team or riders that train in those conditions, I’m certain it messes up their game to navigate with a GPS while their hull is slamming up and down thousands of times in the race compared the going WOT on flat water with the ability to see Catalina very clearly as they exit Long Beach Harbor. Just the fact that I’ve trained in the past with Mark Gerner and Shawn Alladio in very thick fog going WOT made me feel comfortable. Even with 2 dead GPS's I didn’t panic and did what I thought would be best to finish the race as fast as possible even though I did mess up a little. But without my training in those conditions, things could have got a lot worse. Also in the past three races I totally over-trained on the water. I beat my body up to where I was aching in every joint non stop. I think for me personally its better to train on the water once a week and cross train with other activities like weights, stair climbs, swimming, mountain and spin bike. In previous races I kept my whole body weight back with my arms extended and if I hit a big bump Id hit the face portion of my helmet on the bars and my shoulders, elbows, forearms and hands would fatigue within 15 mins. This last race I positioned my upper body over and in front of the bars and taking much less strain and not getting nearly as fatigued as before. A few times when I took a big hit, I slammed my chest into the bars. I'm not sure if this position works for everyone or even if it’s good for the pump to hookup best but it worked for me. Endurance racing is not always about top speed WOT, it’s about keeping a good fast pace while riding as efficient as possible going in the straightest line possible.”

John “The Master of the Channel” Belton who has over 600 cross channel transits on a PWC: "This was probably the most difficult race I have ever done. Visibility was horrible along with an inconsistent swell pattern which made for a difficult ride".

Legendary Water Skier Mike Murphy: “It was a great race, I need to learn how to more effectively utilize my GPS System, I need to be able to better navigate in this kind of fog. This year there was nobody to follow really in the fog due to limited visibility on parts of the course. It was so fun! Shawn Alladio sacrificed her race to tow other racers and to just help other people, she knew there was a more important role for her and she made a sacrifice and I think that is just great. I thought that was really cool.

Robert Carreon: “This was the offshore race that would prove Man & machine would need to be as one. For some it was all that, For Kim Bushong, he proved that sometimes it's not a horsepower race, but steady wins the race. The water was big, the fog was thick, in the end, The Iron Man from www.Pwcoffshore.com came out on top. I was hoping for rough water, as the Ultra does well in that type of water. The winds were up in the morning. My ski had been running good. It felt strong, and was running as quick as ever. I told the scoring boat, just before they pulled out from the dock, Look for #21, I'll be the first guy to cross the line...And I was.But I was the first guy to break and cross the line. I'll be more specific next year. (true story, ask Arnold's wife).”

Ryan Levinson:  "I was on track to finish slightly ahead of my time from last year when I hit a random double up chop within sight of the final turn buoy and was ejected hard. On the first bounce I was ripped from the ski and landed mid way on my back across the seat hyper extending on the initial impact. At this point the ski turned violently and relaunched while throwing me laterally. On the second impact I landed hard on my left glute on the gunwale of the port side foot tray missing my tailbone by less than an inch. Then I hit the water at near WOT speed. I took a second to assess myself and ensure there were no major injuries then swam back to my craft which ended up at least 25 meters away. I remounted and rode the final 1/2 mile or so to the finish.  As for results, if you factor out the time lost during the ejection I did fairly well. Like mentioned above, without the crash I would have finished on pace with last year despite the more challenging conditions and my choice of a lighter ski with a smaller engine and a hull less well suited for rough water. Until the crash I was set to finish with the same margin of time behind Warren (1st in my division) who was riding a rough water ski with literally double the horsepower. For the most part I am pleased with my effort and thankful that I was able to push myself and my boat harder than ever before. This is largely due to foundation of training provided by Shawn Alladio, Mark Gerner, Mike Arnold, Hopper Frank, and the other racers who I was able to ride with and learn from over the year. In the end I made a mistake and I own it (along with the physical pain it brings). I could write more on what I "would have done" but what matters is what I did. I got careless as the finish approached and started thinking I was home free. In other words, I lost focus at the point in the race where there was maximum fatigue. Recipe for disaster. For 99% of the race my mantra was "Relax. Drive your boat." Right before the crash it was a mix of planning how I'd tell the story of the crossing, thinking about how stoked I was on my performance, trying to beat my time from last year, and hoping everyone else was safe. The next instant I was in the water. Lesson learned...  Special thanks to Mark, Ross, and Shawn for spearheading the efforts that welcomed us into the sport. To Warren and Fekete for stepping up to compete. To all the competitors for pushing me, inspiring me, and teaching me. And to mother nature for the good times, worthy challenges, and important life lessons. "
Pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31192104@N04/sets/72157624535737000/

Pos

Boat #

Name

Class

Time



1

98

Kim Bushong

Vet/Master

1:07:00



2

99

Paul Pham

Vet/Master

1:09:40



3

24

Brian Steeves

Sportsman

1:09:52



4

7

Sean Conner

Pro/Am

1:10:45



5

30-TCO

Santiago Kuan

Sportsman

1:12:13



6

2

Steve West

Pro/Am

1:13:45



7

6

John Belton

Vet/Master

1:14:06



8

8

Lee Phan

Pro/Am

1:16:10



9

25

Brian Largarticha

Super Stock Ltd

1:18:14



10

619

Warren Frank

Challenged

1:18:15



11

777

Tommy Kolleck

Amateur Open

1:18:35



12

62

Mike Murphy

Vet/Master

1:18:50



13

141

David Fekete

Challenged

1:19:12



14

34

Dean Brown

Amateur Open

1:19:32



15

55

Ian Settlemire

Super Stock Ltd

1:20:08



16

501

Todd Young

Military

1:20:10



17

100

David Hardenberger

Vet/Master

1:21:15



18

69

J.C. Driver

Military

1:21:22



19

411

Cheng Leu

Pro/Am

1:23:49



20

226

Dawn Fekete

Vet/Master

1:24:15



21

609

Ryan Levinson

Challenged

1:24:35



22

54

David Oppenheim

Sportsman

1:24:48



23

12-TCO

Michael Arnold

Military

1:34:15



24

232

Erik Banados

Sportsman

1:39:08



25

242

Ahmed Hamade

Super Stock Ltd

1:46:15



26

131

Shane Newton

Sportsman

2:13:09



27

4-TCO

Shawn Alladio

Mfg. Stock

DNF

















21

Robert Carreon

Pro/Am

DNF





1

Craig Warner

Pro/Am

DNF





3

Tyler White

Pro/Am

DNF





1-TCO

Mark Gerner

Pro/Am

DNF





151

Chris Lawrence

Pro/Am

DNF





23

Andy Wise

Vet/Master

DNF





296

Tony Hoa

Amateur

DNF





721

Akira Tanaka

Super Stock Ltd.

DNF





111

Jim Costello

Sportsman

DNF





77

Pat Roque

Vet/Master

DNF





30

Chris MacCluggage

Pro/Am

DNS







Pro/Am Open Overall





Pos

Boat #

Name

Mfg.

Time



1

7

Sean Conner

Sea-Doo RXT-X

1:10:45



2

2

Steve West

Kawasaki Ultra

1:13:45



3

8

Lee Phan

Kawasaki Ultra

1:16:10



4

411

Cheng Leu

Kawasaki Ultra

1:23:49



5

21

Robert Carreon

Kawasaki Ultra

DNF



6

1

Craig Warner

Kawasaki Ultra

DNF



7

3

Tyler White

Sea-Doo RXT-X

DNF



8

1-TCO

Mark Gerner

Kawasaki Ultra

DNF



9

151

Chris Lawrence

Yamaha SHO

DNF



















Vet/Master Open





1

98

Kim Bushong

Kawasaki Ultra

1:07:00



2

99

Paul Pham

Sea-Doo RXT

1:09:40



3

6

John Belton

Kawasaki Ultra

1:14:06



4

62

Mike Murphy

Yamaha HO Cruiser

1:18:50



5

100

David Hardenberger

Kawasaki Ultra

1:21:15



6

226

Dawn Fekete

Yamaha FXHO

1:24:15





23

Andy Wise

Sea-Doo RXP

DNF





77

Pat Roque

Sea-Doo RXP

DNF







Amateur Open





1

777

Tommy Kolleck

Kawasaki Ultra

1:18:35



2

34

Dean Brown

Kawasaki Ultra

1:19:32





296

Tony Hoa

Sea-Doo RXT

DNF







Manufacturer's Stock





1

4-TCO

Shawn Alladio

Kawasaki Ultra

6:40







Super Stock Ltd.





1

25

Brian Largarticha

Sea-Doo RXT-IS

1:18:14



2

55

Ian Settlemire

Sea-Doo RXP

1:20:08



3

242

Ahmed Hamade

Sea-Doo RXT-IS

1:46:15





721

Akira Tanaka

Kawasaki Ultra

DNF







Challenged Athlete





1

619

Warren Frank

Kawasaki Ultra

1:18:15



2

141

David Fekete

Yamaha FXHO

1:19:12



3

609

Ryan Levinson



1:24:35







Miltary Open





1

501

Todd Young

Kawi Ultra LX

1:20:10



2

69

J.C. Driver

Yamaha SHO

1:21:22



3

12-TCO

Michael Arnold

Sea-Doo RXT

1:34:15







Sportsman Open





1

24

Brian Steeves

Yamaha FX SHO

1:09:52



2

30-TCO

Santiago Kuan

Kawasaki Ultra

1:12:13



3

54

David Oppenheim

Yamaha FX HO

1:24:48



4

232

Erik Banados

Yamaha FHO

1:39:08



5

131

Shane Newton

Kawasaki 15F-FTX

2:13:09





111

Jim Costello

Yamaha HO Cruiser

DNF









PWCOFFSHORE.com Racing is sponsored by R&D, Hydro-Turf and Fly Racing

Thank you Brian Bowen, Adrianna Carreon, Russell Libby and Dave Pirate Tew - and all other supporters, you know who you are and you know why.

http://www.jetskioffshore.com/

http://www.lb2catrace.com/



Wednesday, May 26, 2010

The 2010 APBA Long Beach, Ca. USA to Catalina and Back Offshore National Championship Race, AKA the “LB2CAT” is scheduled for July 18, 2010

PWCOFFSHORE on May-9-10 10:53am

5/9/2010

The 2010 APBA Long Beach, Ca. USA to Catalina and Back Offshore National Championship Race, AKA the “LB2CAT” is scheduled for July 18, 2010 and will be brought to us by RPM Racing Enterprises and Ross Wallach.

The best offshore PWC / Jet Ski Racers in the world will assemble to take on this legendary and epic race! Many are forecasting the best gathering of talent ever and one of the best LB2CAT Races - ever. Kawasaki has swept the podium the last two years straight with the Kawasaki ULTRA 250x and 260x platforms. Last year’s standout racer was Factory Monster Kawasaki’s Craig Warner who won his second consecutive APBA Offshore National Championship and he will be pursuing his third straight Title this year! Mark Gerner of PWCOFFSHORE.com Sponsored Racing took second place on his Kawasaki ULTRA 250X in 2009 and third place went to former World Champion Chris Heinrich racing his Kawasaki ULTRA250X.

The race is a 60 mile round trip course that starts from behind the break wall in the shadow of the majestic Queen Mary for an approx. 30 mile sprint across the channel to a turn-boat off the coast of Avalon (Catalina Island), and then back to the finish line at the Queen Mary. Professional racers are completing this round trip in just less than 60 minutes, a reflection of the speed and raw power of contemporary watercraft. A well tuned, fast, reliable craft, navigation skills and physical fitness all play a role in the success of these racers. The water conditions in the channel are unpredictable and can be “ocean smooth” (the ocean is never completely flat) or could present rough water conditions similar to what we saw at the 2008 LB2CAT. Racers do their best to implement a “setup” on their craft that is best for the given sea state on race day.

Ms. Shawn Alladio of Liquid Militia / PWCOFFSHORE Sponsored Racing / K38 Water Safety fame will be there in force to take on yet another LB2CAT. Alladio has been the first woman to cross the line in literally every LB2CAT she has participated in. Chis MacCluggage of MACC Racing won the 2010 Dana Point to Avalon Offshore Sprint Race, the first offshore race of the 2010 Triple Crown. Macc will be a contender at the 2010 LB2CAT racing his Yamaha in pursuit of another LB2CAT win while simultaneously pursuing the prestigious title for the “Triple Crown of Offshore” for 2010. Note to self, we will see Macc and Warner battle in an offshore race for the first time in history. Drama anyone? Much will be determined on this day….. Word on the street is that Mark Gerner is building a new Kawasaki ULTRA platform with a “gloves off” approach to the build. Mark’s Mantra – “pray for rough water.” European racers are being solicited to participate and there is rumor that one prominent name might show up! John Belton of PWCOFFSHORE Sponsored Racing has been tearing up the offshore course on a stock Kawasaki and is preparing for the race through multiple cross channel transits. Sean Conner has been engaged in a strict training regime and will not be on a stock craft as he was at the Dana Point to Avalon Race; word is he will be back on a rocket-ship for the LB2CAT. Relatively new offshore standout Tommy Kolleck has also stated his intent to race again in 2010 and has been putting in multiple hours of training in preparation for the race. Also engaged in a training regime is Mark Manke and David Fekete of KMG Racing. When asked about how he was training for the LB2CAT, Mark Manke said “Along with the regular cardio & strength conditioning, I ride as often as I can. Closed course on stand-ups during the week with the SD Crew, river trips with friends and racing my Sport Spec Blaster at ISBA World Finals and selected APBA Watercross tour stops.” Tyler White from TAD Racing will also be participating after a strong Triple Crown start and podium finish at the Dana Point to Avalon Race.
There are multiple classes to accommodate all skill levels and types of watercraft from manufacturer’s stock class to fully modified watercraft Pro Classes. 2009 Class standouts were Warren Frank who won the Challenged Athlete Class, Kevin Shaw won the Manufacturer’s Stock Class, Mike Arnold won the Military Class, Jim Walker won the Amateur Open Class, Dave Szych won the Sportsman Open Class, Kim Bushong of PWCOFFSHORE Racing won the Veteran Master Class and of course Craig Warner won the Professional Class and the overall.

PWCOFFSHORE.com intends to put a helicopter in the air again this year to film the race and create yet another DVD covering the race. 2009 DVD sponsors were Liquid Militia Clothing, TAD Racing - Doug White, Greenhulk.net, 4-TecPerformance.com Parts, Corner Pocket Studios, PWCOFFSHORE.com, Impros The Impeller Professionals, Vanick Racing, Steve “Famous” Friebe, The AWA, K38 Water Safety and Dave Arnold Live.com. LB2CAT DVD's can be found here: http://www.pwcoffshore.com/DVD_LB2CAT_BACK.php

SeaDoo has a new model for 2010 with their SeaDoo RXTX; the craft sports a larger hull than its predecessor and appears to be a better rough water hull than the 2009 RXTX hull. Mark Gerner of PWCOFFSHORE Racing who owns both a Kawasaki ULTRA250X Race Craft and a 2007 SeaDoo RXT Race Craft said ”The 2010 RXTX hull is a much better hull for rough water than SeaDoo’s previous year’s RXTX hull and SeaDoo appears to have taken a significant step forward for ocean riding and racing, nice job SeaDoo! My initial impression and opinion gleaned through a few offshore rides with the new RXTX is that the ULTRA hull still appears to be the better hull for rough/big water. Kawasaki got a lot right with the ULTRA hull for rough water. Time, the aftermarket and a few more offshore races will ultimately be the determing factor and this could all change, we shall see. Hey, how about that Yamaha SHO, it really appears to be doing significantly better in offshore." With the aftermarket’s advances with the Yamaha SHO and Macc's recent offshore win, the Yamaha SHO appears to be picking up momentum in offshore racing. Yamaha, SeaDoo, Kawasaki, Honda - the offshore battle of the brands will be a great one this year!

We are poised for yet another epic LB2CAT Offshore National Championship Race! See you on July 18, 2010 – be there! Entry form and logistics information here: http://www.pwcoffshore.com/LB2CAT_Race_Page.html

Triple Crown of Offshore: http://www.pwcoffshore.com/Triple_Crown_of_Offshore_58.html

PWCOFFSHORE Forum, look for the LB2CAT Segment: http://www.pwcoffshoreforums.com/

http://www.lb2catrace.com/ http://www.jetskioffshore.com/

jet ski racing, pwcoffshore, pwc racing, catalina, long beach to catalina, lb2cat, endurance racing, offshore racing
 
Left, Mark Gerner of PWCOFFSHORE Racing at the 2009 LB2CAT Offshore National Championship Race

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Sean Conner Post Race Interview - Dana Point to Avalon Offshore Race 3/2010


HOW DID YOU TRAIN FOR THE DANA POINT TO AVALON OFFSHORE RACE?

I try to train on the water as much as possible but when that option is not available I'm at the gym on the versa climber, pulls ups, squats, biking basically trying to simulate the movements and muscles used for pwc racing

WHAT KIND OF CRAFT DID YOU RACE? I switched it up for this event, and rode a stock Ultra 250x for pretty much the first time.

HOW DID YOUR CRAFT PERFORM DURING THE RACE? The stock Kawasaki Ultra 250x is a rock solid craft. The deep hull performs very well offshore. This was actually the most gentle race of my career for the most part.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOUR CRAFT? The Kawasaki Ultra 250x has the best hull for severe offshore conditions, very stable, deep and heavy it cuts through chop.



WHAT PLACE DID YOU COME IN? Unfortunately due to a faulty battery I broke the battery crashing through a power boat wake 3 miles from the finish line. I was swapping fuses, checking the wire harness connections trying to get it going without any luck giving me a DNF for this race.





WHAT INSIGHT CAN YOU OFFER TO NEW RACERS? Make sure every part and piece of your watercraft is in excellent condition. Equipment takes a beating offshore and even though everything might appear fine, in many case it is on its way out.




HOW ARE YOU TRAINING FOR THE LB2CAT RACE? I'm trying to spend as much time on the water as possible. In my opinion training like you race is the best way to train.



WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT OFFSHORE RACING? I love racing period. Although offshore racing has its own characteristics. For me offshore is very mentally challenging compared to most races. Being in the ocean, you're not only battling your competitors but also the ocean itself. Instead of flat lake water, your busting through 6 foot wind blown waves and launching off the face of swells. Even when the ocean appears flat, those ground swells will still keep it interesting. Its a different style of riding, when its rough the rider makes the difference not necessarily the amount of horsepower.

Monday, April 12, 2010

John Belton of PWCOFFSHORE.com Racing wins the Vet Master Class on his Stock Kawasaki ULTRA260X and comes in 6th overall at the 2010 Dana Point to Avalon Offshore Race!

John Belton of PWCOFFSHORE.com Racing wins the Vet Master Class on his Stock Kawasaki ULTRA260X and comes in 6th overall at the 2010 Dana Point to Avalon Offshore Race!


John Belton AKA “THE MASTER” of the channel between Long Beach / Dana Point and Catalina Island earned that nickname for traversing the channel over 650 times, yes 650 times. Belton has spent a lifetime on the water engaged in competitive sailing, surfing and racing watercraft. John is also a competitive runner. Nobody has the experience and knowledge of the channel that Belton has, and it showed on Sunday March 28, 2010 when Belton finished just behind a few of the very heavily modified high dollar watercraft on his completely stock ULTRA260X. Belton came in 6th overall and won the Vet/Master Class of the first race of the Triple Crown of Offshore. John was the first craft to cross the finish line on a completely stock craft (minus HYDRO-TURF lifter wedges), a tremendous accomplishment. Congratulations Mr. John Belton!
 
An interview of the Master: In addition to the many hours or riding and cardio you did to prepare for the race, what else did you do to prepare? About a week before the event, I start to track weather systems to give me an idea of what race conditions will be like. It is important for me to know what the weather will be because you will use different sets of muscle groups depending upon weather / water conditions. Believe it or not when the water is calmer and weather conditions are good, I find it more physically strenuous to ride in those conditions.
 
What are your thoughts about racing in rough or “ocean flat” water? When the water is rougher and there are swells, you can actually relax a bit when the boat is in the air. When the water is really fast and "mostly" calm, you must have a very tight grip on the throttle the entire 100% of the time and you must "move around" on the boat constantly to try to find the "sweet spot" which will maximize hull speed.
 
Do you prefer rough or flat water? When it comes to an event, I can't say that I prefer one type of water over the other. It's my job to adapt to the elements presented to me. But if there is a good groundswell, I have to say I do enjoy that type of ride.
 
How did you prepare your stock craft for the race? Regarding the issue of the boat itself, obviously this is a very important part of the equation. I make sure the oil level is correct, hose clamps are tight, as well as the SC Belt adjusted correctly. The night before a race, I like to just sit on the boat in the garage for a 1/2 hour or so. I just sit there and do nothing. This helps to reinforce a "comfortable" feeling on the boat. You should feel comfortable with the ergonomics of your boat. A successful offshore rider must be comfortable on the boat. If you are comfortable on the boat you are able to ride with less effort and stay strong in mind and focus.
 
Who are your sponsors? I want to thank my sponsors for their great support of me and of offshore racing. They are www.pwcoffshore.com, HYDRO-TURF, Fly Racing Products, R&D; Racing and the great information we receive from TeamMoto.
 
See you at the 2010 Long Beach to Catalina and Back Offshore National Championship on July 18, 2010!
 
www.pwcoffshore.com www.pwcoffshoreforums.com www.jetskioffshore.com http://www.lb2catrace.com/
 
jet ski racing, offshore racing, pwc racing, apba, RPM Racing Enterprises LB2CAT Triple Crown of Offshore

Friday, January 29, 2010

PWCOFFSHORE.com Racing To Sponsor Craig Warner of Monster Kawasaki

For Immediate Release

January 29, 2010

PWCOFFSHORE.com Racing To Sponsor Craig Warner of Monster Kawasaki

PWCOFFSHORE.com Racing is pleased to announce their sponsorship of IJSBA World Champion and two time APBA Offshore National Champion Craig Warner of Monster Kawasaki Racing for the 2010 Racing Season. Warner has taken the offshore racing scene by storm by capturing two consecutive Offshore National Championships in 2008 and 2009 racing his Kawasaki ULTRA 250X and 260X. PWCOFFSHORE Founder Mark Gerner said "Craig Warner has been selected for sponsorship by virtue of truly differentiating himself as being one of the elite of offshore racing. We are very pleased to augment our relationship with Craig Warner and look forward to working with Craig as he continues to excel in offshore racing." Craig Warner said "I am proud to be part of the PWCOFFSHORE.com Team and I am looking forward to defending my Long Beach to Catalina Offshore National Championship Title again this year."

Congratulations are in order for all involved!

For more information regarding Offshore PWC/Jet Ski Racing, please rvisit: www.pwcoffshore.com and www.pwcoffshoreforums.com

For more information regarding Kawasaki Watercraft visit: http://www.kawasaki.com/Home/Home.aspx
 
  Craig Warner at the 2009 Long Beach to Catalina Offshore National Championship Race (LB2CAT)
Craig Warner at the 2009 Long Beach to Catalina Offshore National Championship Race (LB2CAT)

Craig Warner at the 2009 Long Beach to Catalina Offshore National Championship Race (LB2CAT)

jet ski racing, pwc racing, kawasaki watercraft, pwcoffshore, jet ski, watercraft, catalina

Saturday, January 23, 2010

2010 PWCOFFSHORE.com Sponsored/Gunz Racing Club

PWCOFFSHORE.com is pleased to announce their current 2010 Race Club Selections!

The following racers have been selected for inclusion in the PWCOFFSHORE.com Sponsored Racers Club and The Offshore Gunz Racing Club for the 2010 race season. Selections are made by invitation only.

2010 Technical Advisors:

Aaron Cress

Steve Friebe

2010 Sponsored Racers (Black Jerseys):

Steve Friebe

Ms. Shawn Alladio

John Belton

Robert Carreon

Sean Conner

Mark Gerner

* The above racers focus on the Professional, Vet Master and Stock Race Classes

2010 Gunz Racing (Red Jerseys):

Warren Frank

Mike Arnold

*The above two racers focus on the Amateur Class and Military Race Classes

These racers have been selected by virtue of their PWC offshore riding and racing experience, professionalism, success on the racecourse, and their willingness & desire to play a major role in the expansion of our sport. This is an exceptionally unique group of racers by virtue of their actions off of the racecourse. These racers are focused on their individual racing performance and giving back to the offshore racing and riding community in the form of leadership of positive change in the offshore PWC community. This includes but is not limited to assisting promoters orchestrate races, collaboration with new racers and information sharing.

Congratulations are in order for these accomplished racers!

Strength and Honor

Sean Conner (Pictured below)
Gerner
Steve Friebe
Ms. Shawn Alladio
Robert Carreon
John Belton
Technical Advisor Aaron Cress
Mike Arnold
Warren Frank
http://www.pwcoffshore.com/ for more inormation regarding offshore racing

SAFETY FIRST, ALWAYS

jet ski racing, lb2cat, mark hahn, offshore racing, catalina racing, dana point to avalon, dana point to oceanside race, 250x,