Below is a breakdown of the results from the most hotly contested categories, showcasing the champions and their journey to the top of the podium.
Pro Ski Grand Prix
The Jet Ski Pro Ski Grand Prix category is one of the most exciting and technical divisions in professional jet ski racing. It’s a showcase of raw skill, endurance, and precision, often featuring the most experienced riders and high-performance machines. This category typically involves stand-up jet skis, which require riders to balance and steer while standing, making it more physically demanding than sit-down models.
The jet skis used in this category are heavily modified for speed and agility. These machines are built to handle sharp turns, high speeds, and challenging water conditions, pushing the limits of engineering and innovation.
Riders need exceptional balance, strength, and quick reflexes to control their jet skis. The stand-up nature of these machines demands more from the rider, as they must continuously shift their weight and maintain control through waves, jumps, and tight corners.
Strategy plays a huge role. Riders must navigate a course filled with buoys that mark sharp turns and straightaways, often in close competition with other racers. Knowing when to push for speed and when to conserve energy can make or break a race.
The Pro Ski Grand Prix typically involves multiple motos (heats), with riders earning points based on their finishing position in each race. The winner is determined by the highest cumulative points over the series.
This category attracts top talent from around the world. Riders like Kevin Reiterer (Austria), Quinten Bossche (Belgium), Toshi Ohara (Japan), and Jayden Richardson (Australia) are just a handful of the elite names who have dominated the scene with their skill and consistency.
The WPG#1 Pro Ski Grand Prix category proved to be a thrilling showdown, with Austria’s Kevin Reiterer of Team Flamingo emerging as the overall champion. Reiterer dominated the field with total points of 202 from four races, securing his place at the top with an unmatched combination of speed and consistency.
Reiterer is a precise and focused competitor. And he thinks ahead, with a plan of action for each leg of the course. Whether it’s navigating a tricky corner or gunning it on a straight, he handles his jet ski with confidence and skill. Over the years, he’s built a reputation for always giving 100%, staying calm under pressure, and rarely slipping up.
Jet ski racing is fast, chaotic, and intense, and many competitors are easily rattled. Reiterer’s success seems to stem from his cool-headed approach. He races smart, stays sharp, and keeps his focus.
Pro Sport GP
The Pro Sport GP category is one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in jet ski racing, blending speed, manoeuvrability, and rider skill. This class is known for showcasing highly tuned sit-down jet skis that offer a balance of raw power and agility, making it a favourite among racers and fans alike.
The watercraft in this category are typically sit-down models that have been extensively modified for performance. Upgrades often include engine enhancements, custom hull designs, and improved handling systems, allowing for greater speed and responsiveness on the water.
The Pro Sport GP machines are built to handle tight turns, choppy waves, and straight-line sprints with ease. This versatility is crucial, as the courses are often designed to challenge both the machine and the rider with technical layouts and varying water conditions.
The category attracts elite riders from around the globe, known for their ability to push the limits of both their skills and their machines. It’s a division where experience, strategy, and a touch of daring can make all the difference.
Similar to other jet ski racing categories, the Pro Sport GP involves multiple motos (heats), with points awarded based on finishing positions. The overall winner is the rider who accumulates the most points across the series.
While sit-down jet skis are less physically demanding than stand-up models, the Pro Sport GP still requires exceptional stamina, focus, and quick decision-making. Riders must anticipate the movements of their competitors while maintaining peak performance.
The Pro Sport GP class has seen incredible talent over the years, with riders like Supak Settura from Thailand rising to the top. Settura’s victory at the WGP#1 in Thailand with 197 points is a testament to the skill and strategy required to dominate this category. His performance highlights the precision and resilience needed to excel in Pro Sport GP racing.
As a top racer from Thailand, Supak is part of a growing wave of Thai jet ski talent making their mark on the international stage. Thailand is renowned for its strong jet ski racing community, and Supak’s achievements help elevate the sport’s profile, inspiring the next generation of racers in his home country.
Pro Runabout 1100 Open
The Pro Runabout 1100 Open category features high-performance runabout-style jet skis (designed for seated operation rather than standing), which are designed for speed and manoeuvrability. The “1100” refers to the engine displacement limit, capped at 1,100cc, ensuring a level playing field while still delivering thrilling speeds and power.
The heavy, high-powered runabout watercraft require strength to control. Maintaining speed while handling water conditions and avoiding collisions adds to the intensity. Runabouts in this class can reach impressive speeds, making them thrilling to watch and challenging to control. Depending on the water conditions, modifications, and engine tuning, these jet skis can reach speeds of 90–110 km/h or even slightly higher. Racers must find the balance between pushing their machines to the edge and avoiding costly mistakes like spin-outs or mechanical failures.
The Pro Runabout 1100 Open often sees tightly packed races, with competitors battling for position right up to the finish line. Racers rely heavily on their team’s mechanical knowledge to keep their machines in top condition. Engine tuning, hull modifications, and advanced setups can make a significant difference in performance.
At the WGP#1 World Series in Thailand, Suphathat Footrakul from Thailand took the top spot in this category, earning an impressive 233 points. His dominance across the motos demonstrated consistency, speed, and the ability to handle the immense pressure of international competition.
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The Pro Runabout 1100 Open is a crowd favourite due to its combination of power, skill, and unpredictability. The races are fast-paced, with frequent overtakes, tight turns, and spectacular displays of control over powerful machines. It’s a category that embodies the excitement and intensity of jet ski racing at its best.
Pro Runabout GP
As with the Pro Runabout 1100 Open, the jet skis used in the Pro Runabout GP category are larger, stable machines that are designed for racing. They typically feature comfortable seating for the rider, which distinguishes them from smaller, freestyle-oriented jet skis.
The Pro Runabout GP category typically involves more powerful jet skis, often ranging from 1,000cc to 1,200cc engines. These high-powered engines allow for greater speeds and acceleration, which are key to success in this category.
Similar to other pro-level racing classes, the jet skis in the Pro Runabout GP category are heavily modified to enhance performance. These modifications can include improved fuel systems, intake systems, exhaust pipes, and other performance-enhancing upgrades. The goal is to extract as much power, speed, and handling capability as possible from the jet ski.
Pro Runabout GP jet skis are designed for top-end speed. Depending on the specific build and conditions, these jet skis can reach speeds in excess of 160 km/h, making them some of the fastest machines in the sport of jet ski racing.
Riders in the Pro Runabout GP category must be able to navigate tight corners at high speeds, balance their throttle control, and handle the high-powered machines with precision. While the larger size of the jet skis makes them more stable than smaller models, the added power requires the rider to have advanced skills in managing the machine’s speed and handling in rough conditions.
Races in the Pro Runabout GP category typically consist of multiple motos (heats) where riders race for a set number of laps around a closed-course track. Each moto tests the rider’s ability to stay consistent over several laps, handling various water conditions and obstacles that may arise during the race.
This category attracts some of the best riders in the world, many of whom have years of experience racing in various conditions. It’s a highly competitive class, and the races are often intense, with competitors pushing their machines and their skills to the limit.
The Pro Runabout GP category is a key part of major international jet ski racing events, including the Jet Ski World Championship and national series around the world. Racers from all corners of the globe compete for top positions in the Pro Runabout GP, making it one of the most exciting categories to follow.
The WGP#1 Pro Runabout GP category saw Kuwait’s Mohammad Albaz secure first place with 142 points across three motos. Albaz’s mastery of high-speed racing and precise handling earned him the coveted title in this fiercely competitive division.
Australian racers also made their mark in the PRO RUNABOUT GP, with Guy Greenland finishing 16th and Bailey Jason Cunningham placing 19th. Their participation in this high-stakes category highlights the growing presence of Australian talent on the global jet ski racing stage.
Pro Freestyle
Unlike the other racing categories, which focus on speed and endurance over a set course, Pro Freestyle is a performance-based competition where the rider’s ability to execute complex tricks and maneuvers is the primary focus. It’s a high-energy, visually exciting event that blends elements of both sport and entertainment.
In the Pro Freestyle category, jet skis are modified for agility and control rather than speed. These machines are often lighter and more maneuverable than the larger, high-powered racing jet skis used in other categories. The goal is to have a jet ski that can perform tricks with precision, balance, and control.
The Prof Freestyle jet skis used in freestyle competitions are heavily modified with upgrades such as enhanced handling, stronger engines for better torque, and specialised hulls that make the skis more responsive to rider input. Some of these modifications might include altered exhaust systems, custom handlebars, and specially designed seats or foot straps to help the rider perform manoeuvres.
Freestyle riders are judged based on their ability to perform a wide range of tricks, including spins, flips, and barrel rolls, as well as technical moves like backflips, front flips, and handstands. Judges look for clean, fluid performances, and the difficulty of the tricks also plays a role in scoring.
Riders are also rewarded for creativity, which means the ability to invent new tricks or put a personal spin on established manoeuvres. The more unique and original a trick, the more points a rider can earn.
In addition to the tricks themselves, judges also evaluate the rider’s style, the smoothness with which they execute each manoeuvre, and how well they flow from one trick to the next. Riders need to maintain a sense of fluidity and rhythm in their routines.
Riders typically perform a set routine within a limited amount of time, often around 5-10 minutes. During this routine, they must showcase a variety of tricks, demonstrating their technical skills, creativity, and control. The goal is to impress the judges and the audience by executing a diverse and well-coordinated series of stunts.
Judges score the performance based on factors like the difficulty of tricks, originality, execution, and overall performance. A perfect routine would involve high-difficulty tricks executed flawlessly with smooth transitions between maneuvers, showcasing creativity and style.
Performing tricks on a jet ski requires a lot of strength, particularly in the arms and core. Riders often have to hold difficult positions while in motion, and the physical demands of pulling off these stunts can be exhausting, especially in the middle of a long competition day.
Some of the top riders in the world have become legends in the freestyle category due to their creativity and skill. Riders like Francois Medori from France, who won the Pro Freestyle category at several events, have earned international acclaim for their innovative tricks and consistent performances.
The WGP#1 Pro Freestyle category provided some of the closest competition of the series. Francois Medori from France’s Team Easy Rider clinched first place with 728 points, edging out Thailand’s Tapatarawat Joesonnusont of Ratchaburi Jet Ski Team, who also scored 728 points. Medori’s victory was determined by his precision and execution during tie-breaking criteria, marking an impressive end to his season.
Australia’s freestyle riders also showed their flair, with Guy Greenland, Bailey Jason Cunningham, and Robert John Bray finishing 7th, 13th, and 17th respectively. New Zealand’s Kylie Ellmers placed 24th, proudly representing her nation in this highly competitive class.
Pro-Am Women Ski Modified
The Pro-Am Women Ski Modified category is a part of jet ski racing specifically designed for female riders who compete in modified ski-style jet skis. This category combines the skills required for high-performance racing with the challenges of a modified machine, making it a unique and exciting event. Riders in this category need to balance speed, control, and endurance while operating a modified jet ski that has been adapted for better performance in racing conditions.
In this category, the jet skis used are typically modified versions of the standard ski-style jet ski. These modifications can include enhancements to the engine for better acceleration, improved handling features, and changes to the hull and design to ensure better performance in the rough waters of racing. Riders often make modifications to the jet skis, adjusting things like the exhaust system, the intake system, and the handlebars to optimise the machine for racing. These changes aim to increase speed, reduce weight, and enhance manoeuvrability while ensuring the ski can handle the rigorous demands of a race.
Riders in the Pro-Am Women Ski Modified category are judged on their ability to race efficiently, demonstrating a combination of speed, control, and technical skills. Riders need to navigate the course, often filled with tight corners and long stretches, with precision and confidence.
Races in this category can last for several laps, requiring competitors to have excellent stamina. The physical nature of the sport means that riders need to maintain control of the jet ski for the duration of the race, which can be physically demanding.
The races themselves are typically shorter than endurance events but still long enough to challenge the riders’ technical skills and endurance. Each race can last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the specific event rules and course length. Riders are judged on how smoothly and quickly they navigate through turns, their ability to maintain speed, and their overall consistency.
The “Pro-Am” in this category refers to the facts that the competition is open to both professional and amateur riders, allowing a diverse range of skill levels to compete. While the top competitors are professional riders, amateur racers often have the opportunity to challenge for positions and gain recognition in the racing community.
The Pro-Am Women Ski Modified category reflects the growing inclusion of women in motorsports and racing. As more women take part in jet ski racing, events like this are encouraging greater participation and visibility of female athletes in a sport traditionally dominated by men.
In the 2024 WGP#1, Finland’s Siiri Sofia Salonen stole the show in the Pro-Am Women Ski Modified category, taking the championship title with 198 points. Her skill and determination set her apart from the competition, making her one of the most celebrated athletes in this year’s series.
A spectacular end to an unforgettable season
The WGP#1 World Series 2024 final event in Pattaya delivered drama, excitement, and world-class racing. With racers hailing from across the globe—Austria, Japan, Belgium, Kuwait, Finland, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand—the event highlighted the international appeal of jet ski racing.
The Thai waters provided the perfect stage for the WGP#1 finale, offering challenging conditions that tested the competitors’ skills and endurance. From Kevin Reiterer’s domination in the PRO SKI GRAND PRIX to Suphathat Footrakul’s hometown triumph in the PRO RUNABOUT 1100 OPEN, the final round was a celebration of excellence in personal watercraft racing.
