New to Watercross?

NEW TO THE SPORT? HELPFUL INFORMATION

PRE-EVENT PLANNING

Knowledge is power! Know where to be and when… this checklist will help you with being prepared for the event weekend.

Join Pro Watercross Membership as a competition member.
Register for your race classes online. If you registered online, check-in is required and can be done at the same times listed above.
Typically, onsite register is available: Friday 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and Saturday 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM.
YOU MUST BE ON SITE, CHECK-IN AND READY TO RACE BY 8:00 AM.
Check Event specific webpage for the Host Hotel and cut-off dates for hotel discounts. Many time the Host Hotel will sell out, so make your reservations EARLY!
Event specific webpages will also have the daily event schedule, which includes times for; riders meeting, practice, tentative start times and any evening activities.

Your best source of information will be to surf all the pages of this website - and by reading the Rule Book.

Please read below for more helpful tips for a great event weekend!

GET PLENTY OF REST THE NIGHT BEFORE

You will have a long busy day at your first event until you get used to the routine. Get plenty of rest and leave the “partying” to those you want to beat!

DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT…

Tools, Fuel, oil, gear, spare parts, beverages, etc. Make a checklist of all items and equipment you will need for the race and then use it! A few other suggested items to have are a cooler, EZ-Up tent or something for shade, watercraft stand, watercraft tote and ATV. If you do not have a watercraft tote or ATV to launch your watercraft, another racer or see if Pro Watercross staff may be able to assist you. Please Note: Not all event locations have boat ramps.

SHOW UP EARLY

This will get you a better pit area and will allow you to relax during your preparation. Plan on arriving on site early (7:00 a.m.) for each day you are racing and even earlier if you have not parked your trailer and don’t already know where the site is.

As soon as you arrive on site, establish your pit area, park your trailer and immediately go over to the event registration area. If you are pre-registered, you will check-in, sign the waiver and release form and get your wrist band. If you are not pre-registered, you will need a little more time to fill in the registration form as well.

Once again, Pre-registration saves you a lot of time. Once checked in, have your boat “technically inspected” by the Race Staff. It will by your responsibility to get your boat to the Tech/Checkpoint area for inspection. Listen to PA announcements and ask at registration where they are “teching” boats.

PRE-RACE SAFETY INSPECTION

In the interest of safety, Pro Watercross rules require that all watercraft receive a complete safety inspection before being allowed on the water. Every participant is required to have his/her watercraft tech inspected and it is the responsibility of the rider to submit his/her watercraft to the Technical Director for safety inspection.

Tech Inspection is typically from 7:00 am - 8:15 am. Please bring your boats to the beach along with your tether, helmet and life vest. You must be with your boat for it to be inspected. Have your hoods open, handle poles up and seats or hoods removed. Your boat must be tech inspected before you will be allowed to practice.

Here are some of the things we are checking (a full list can be found in the rulebook):

Tow Loop at the bow
Grips secured and do not turn
Battery cables secured
Zip-ties on all fuel lines
Bow eyes removed
Bumpers are in place
Approved helmet and life vest.
Lanyard/tether works properly and that the idle has been turned down.

Please note: Tech inspection is to check to see if your boat is safe to go on the water – not to see if it is legal for class participation. See Post Tech

BACK PROTECTION

Pro Watercross recommends that all competitor wear back protection: (PWX rule: 11.2.6 Back protection) Click here for some a dditional information when purchasing.

GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE AROUND YOUR PIT AREA

Do not be afraid to ask for assistance from other racers. You will find that most racers on the tour are great people and are always willing to help out a first-time racer as they were in your place once themselves. Do not forget to offer your help too! Later, your good intentions will be rewarded many times over.

KNOW WHO YOUR “HOLDERS(S)” WILL BE

For closed course events, you will need to have one holder for the ski classes and two holders for the sport and runabout classes. Know who your holder(s) will be before you go to the line for your race. If you do not have a holder or enough holders, ask some of the other racers if they will hold for you. Other racers are usually more than willing to help you out. If you ask someone to hold, make sure you remember to tell them what races you are in and also to have them report to registration to sign a waiver and release (if they have not already done so). If you have problems finding a holder, ask the announcer before the race to call for a holder and he will find you one.

ATTEND THE MANDATORY RIDER MEETING

It is mandatory that all participants attend the published rider's meeting each day that you will be racing. Not only is it mandatory by the Pro Watercross Tour, there will be valuable information given at each riders meeting.

Roll call for the riders meeting will begin at 8:15 AM each morning - Roll is taken to ensure that everyone's smiling faces will be seen bright and early each morning. A $50 fine will be charged to all riders that do not attend the rider's meeting. The rider's meeting typically begins at 8:30 am each morning.

After the race director presents the riders meeting information to all racers, he will meet with all the first-time riders to go over in more detail concerns and questions that new riders may have. Pay attention and do not be afraid to ask questions.

A Freestyle rider's meeting will be held at 11:30 am on each day you are running Freestyle.

PRACTICE/COURSE ORIENTATION

Course orientation/practice should be used strictly for what it is, allowing yourself to learn the course. The course marshal will lead you around the course for the first lap and then let you run several laps on your own. Once again, practice is to learn the race course and NOT A RACE. There are no points or awards for riders who finish first in practice.

BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO RACE PRACTICE, PRACTICE YOUR STARTS…A start to the race are probably the most intense point of the race, especially if you are a rookie! Closed course races will normally utilize a flag or rubber band method of starting. The Race director will give a description of these starting procedures at the riders meeting. YouTube may be a good place to get an idea of what to expect. Practice starting from shore utilizing a holder if you can.

BOAT MODIFICATIONS

With your wallet as your guide, start with a “Stock” boat and slowly work up the modifications ladder. No matter which class you are racing in, know what modifications the rules allow for that class.

PIT BOARD

The pit board will tell you what races you are in and how you finished in your races. Make sure you check the pit board when it is announced in the morning that it is posted (typically posted during practice) and make sure you are in the correct classes.

After you race, it usually takes at least thirty minutes for the results to be computed, confirmed, entered, and posted. Check the pit board to see how you finished and if you qualified for the main event or need to go to the Last Chance Qualifier. If there were not heats for your class (heats are required if there are more than the maximum number of riders allowed on the line at one time in your class), you can assume you will be automatically in the final or the second moto if the moto scoring system is being used.

DO NOT assume that you made it to the main event without checking the pit board. You may have missed a buoy and did not even know it. Competitors have thirty (30) minutes after the official results have been posted to contest any result.

STARTING PROCEDURE:

The starter displays the number of laps to be run before each race. Starter’s card tells the rider what phase of the start sequence they are in. The “2″ card means start your engines. The “1″ card means that all racers are ready and the sideways “1″card means the start band will be released in 0-3 seconds. The race starts when the band snaps. A false start by one or more riders can result in a restart. The rider(s) that jumps the band is penalized by having to restart with a dead engine.

SCORING

The Pro Watercross Tour uses the European moto system A.K.A 3 moto system during our event weekends, which consist of a 3 motos, this unique system for the US and will make for more exciting racing. Competitors will compete in the first two motos to earn placement in the final moto.

Special Note: If a racer misses a buoy, the rider must take the black buoy per instruction from the race director at the rider's meeting; otherwise they will be penalized one lap, per missed buoy. Competitors have thirty (30) minutes after the official results have been posted to contest any result.

DURING THE RACE

Ride your PACE and race your RACE! Know what you can do. If you are new to watercross racing, do not get caught up in the start of the race. Allow others to make mistakes and then take advantage of their mistakes. While you may be running only a 10-15-minute race, it will feel like you are out there much longer – Trust Me.

BE A LEADER

Don’t follow others on the race course. They may be going the wrong way! If you think that you have missed a buoy the Pro Watercross Tour use a BLACK BUOY for making up missed buoys. The black buoy is outlined in the rule book, but ask any question you may have at the riders meeting.

For each buoy that you miss you will be docked a full lap so make sure you do not miss any buoys and that you know the race course.
Merge buoys and checkered buoys cannot be made up.

REPORT TO TECH POST RACE

All riders and their personal watercraft who finishes the race and receives the checkered flag must immediately proceed to the tech inspection area.

Failure to submit yourself for inspection may cause you to be disqualified.

OTHER HELPFUL THINGS TO KNOW

MEMBERSHIP

Pro Watercross Tour participants must have a current Pro Watercross competition member and present proof of valid membership in order to compete. Pro Watercross Competition memberships are $65 per year and expire on December 31 each year.

Participants can join at the races or may obtain a membership application through registering online through Pro Watercross Tour (be sure to print out receipt before attending your first race). Participants must be 16 years old to compete at Pro Watercross Tour events except for the Juniors Ski classes where riders can be 10 to 15 years old. Riders under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian sign a Pro Watercross Tour Minor Release form once per season.

RACE NUMBERS

All riders must have two sets of race numbers with the correct color backgrounds on their boat - one on each side in the front of the watercraft. The numbers must be black, at least 7 inches high, and spaced ½ inch apart. Standard numbers without shading or outlying must be used. You will not be scored if your race number is not easily identifiable, in other words, if we cannot read your number you will not be scored. Race numbers and backgrounds are for sale at the registration area if you need them.

Important Notice If there is a duplicate number problem in a class, you may be asked to place an “X” after your number.

SAFETY GEAR - PROPER PROTECTIVE GEAR IS A MUST!

Helmets: As they say – “a ten-dollar helmet is good for a ten-dollar head.” A good motocross helmet (Snell approved) is the best way to go. Stay away from the “watercraft” helmets that incorporate the hard Styrofoam for the lining. You want comfort. If you can afford it, the lighter Kevlar/Carbon Fiber helmets can make a big difference.

Footwear: Watercraft racing boots, wrestling shoes, high-top tennis shoes, etc. They all work.

Gloves: Watercraft racing types are good. Some like to use water-skiing gloves.

Goggles: A good pair of goggles is very important when racing watercraft. Rain-X on the goggles definitely helps to keep water off and your goggles from fogging. To prevent from losing you goggles use duct tape or a pair of "Goggle Grips" to keep them from falling off. The inventor of Goggle Grip is from Region Six and Pro Watercross will be selling Goggle Grip if you need a pair.

Back Protector: Back protection is mandatory for all Ski competitors with the exception of Freestyle shall be required to wear a spinal column protection device capable of distributing, diffusing, or absorbing impact. See the rule book for full details, required for ski competitors, but it is advisable for all competitors, in all classes.

Motocross Pants or Wetsuit: It’s a personal preference, but in general, the pants are cooler and the wetsuits protect better. But again, it’s a personal preference.

Pit Vehicles

Because of the tremendous number of people that will be attending Pro Watercross Tour events, pit vehicle rules will be strictly enforced. ATV's, Mules, golf carts, beach carts, etc. will be allowed to transport equipment to the beach. There will be a 5-mile per hour speed limit set and it will be strictly enforced for all ATV’s, Mules, golf carts, Go-Peds, Scooters, etc. Fines will be accessed to those breaking this rule. All pit vehicles must remain in the pit area and follow the correct pathway to the race area. Please observe the speed limit signs and watch out for pedestrians and do not wreck this privilege for all racers. Those racers abusing the privilege will be fined and/or have their pit vehicle impounded.

Sponsor Decals

In consideration of sponsor commitment and support of this event, participants will be required to display a particular sponsor's decal, as well as Pro Watercross decals, on each side of his or her boat. Decals will be available to participants at registration. Competitors not displaying required decals on their boats will not be eligible for any contingency money.

Awards

Racers that do not pick up their award when their name is called will have to wait until the end of the awards ceremony to pick their awards up. Riders that do not pick up their awards can have them mailed to them for a handling fee plus the cost of shipping. Awards not claimed by November 1 will be forfeited.