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.

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