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JET SKIER & PERSONAL WATERCRAFT MAGAZINE

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OR TWO F Y A D I L A HO IBIZA WITH IN UR PW YO

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TESTED

PERFORMANCE HULL

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SEADOO RTX 260

GUIDE • WAKEBOARDS • GECKO HELMETS • WET BOOTS

WWW.JETSKIER.CO.UK

May/June 2010

ENGINE WE SHOW YOU HOW

£3.50

T A H T Y F I D O M

06 NEWS

14 WEB NEWS

18 COOL STUFF

24 THE BOTTOM LINE

31 INSIDE STORY

36 READER’S REPORT - SEA DOO RXT 260 ON TEST

42 MEETING OF MINDS The latest PW gossip from around the globe

Our new web editor, Jane Hyde, brings you up-to-date with the very latest from cyberspace

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a Wii Water Sports!

The most extensive comparison test of trick hulls, ever

Nick Mayhew takes a look behind closed doors at the Riva plant in Miami

Thumper gets to grips with the Sea Doo RXT-260 under the influence of drugs

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48

The good, the bad and the ugly congregated on a muddy bank, in freezing conditions in the Midlands. Sounds like your biggest nightmare? Think again...

SHOPPING, SHOPPING AND MORE SHOPPING We have the latest in wetboot street cred and to top it off we investigate the biggest name in PW helmets – Gecko

THE NEW MAN AT SEA DOO Rikard Coro is the new face of Sea Doo in the UK. We interview him to find out what plans he has for BRP in 2011

52 FREERIDING

59 A DAY IN THE LIFE

67 RACING PROFILE

70 RACING ROUND-UP

74 SO YOU THINK YOU CAN FREESTYLE?

80 PIMP THAT SKI

82 TECH TALK

88 4X4 ON TEST

91 SPANNERMAN

92 SKI MART

101 MAILBAG

We go down under for the big story on the big names in the big surf

Luke ‘Showtime’ stocks shares his past, his present and his future

You’ve heard of dad dancing, well now we have dad racing

Winter’s over and so is the Winter series. We have the stories to round off the season

Has Britain got freestyle talent? Now’s your chance to shine...

More custom paint jobs to get your creative juices going

We explain the differences between 2 and 4 stroke engines and how they get their performance

The new Nissan X-Trail could be your next tow car – see if it’s up to the job

Brian Lee from N&C Jet Ski gets asked some tricky questions

Four pages of used craft for sale in this issue

Quiksilver in Shoeburyness? Could be messy!

Contents MAY/JUNE 2010

86 GEAR

Ready to hit the water? You definitely need a wakeboard so read how to buy the very best at the best price

N I W

A Z I B I N I O W T R R PW O F Y YOU A D I L ITH E 78 O H A W PAG

FEATURE FREE RIDE day; n the market to o le b la ai av lls hu . the top free ride d Compositech an ht g ei W Take the four of ht g n Li one EME Q8, il Beurnier, Julie G s; p m ju ig b Rickter FS-1, Mal . rm Fabrice Lardeau s who can perfo d er an d ri u o ee uz fr A x si as Take , Thom ix it all phe Darthayette tic coast and m an tl A e th n o r Herpson, Christo o eg g venue of Hoss Take the amazin . n e compariso up for an extrem ng?

And who’s the ki Oliva ur Words by Gil Be

nier

Photography by

Marc

T

here are on average ten manufacturers around the world who produce PWC hulls made of composite material which can absorb the impact of freestyle and free ride tricks.

In top competitions when the demands became more and more extreme, the material used and the manufacturing quality of the craft sometimes makes all the difference.

We focus on four of the top manufacturers who have proved themselves on the international circuit for some years, the two most recent were seen during the freestyle championship in Havasu on 2008.

After testing these machines for many hours in big waves, the riders reveal their verdict.

GIL BEURNIER

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DISCIPLINE: FREE RIDE VICE-CHAMPION OF FRANCE 2009 3RD WORLD CUP 2008-2007/2005 -2003/2000 3RD WORLD CHAM PIONSHIP 2007 WINNER OF THE W ORLD CUP 2006 WINNER OF UNITE D CUP 2006 OWNER OF AN EM E Q8 SINCE 2009

“I have used all these hulls and participated in a lot of competitions. I have great memories of the Compositech, because it was the first hull which was completely different from the stock ski. The bottom of the hull and its light weight helped me to achieve excellent results in 2006.

During this test, I got that same feeling of light weight and precise riding as I would expect with this type of hull. The Light Weight is an extraordinary hull for the simple reason that it is modular. The quality of the fabrication is perfect, you have several accessories that you can change quickly which helps you to change riding styles. For example, you have a ride plate with a foil, hull extension and front ballast style sponsons. It is the only one in the world with this innovation. About the Rickter FS-1, it is the easiest to ride.

I competed at the first round of the French Championship Free Ride without having tried it before. I adapted my technique very quick. It is the best hull in the surf.

The Q8 from Malone is a different story. At every practice I get more confident. I am aware of the potential but it is very demanding. It is the shorter hull and turns more quickly. This hull can be very good in the small waves…

It takes longer to get used to this hull than the other and requires highly precise riding skills.”

N° 3 1 Q8 - N° 2 COMPOSI MY CLASSIFICATION : N° F 6/10 Q8 : AERIAL 9/10 --- SUR --- SURF 7/10 COMPOSI : AERIAL 8/10 --- SURF 8/10 L WEIGHT : AERIAL 8/10 --- SURF 9,5/10 0 7/1 IAL AER : R KTE RIC

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<<<<

KTER FS2

LIGHT WEIGHT - N° 4 RIC

>

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<< FREE RIDE THE ULTIMATE

<

THE T QUESR FO

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FEATURE FREE RIDE

<

JULIEN HERPSON

JOB: STUNTMAN DISCIPLINE: FREE RIDE AND FREEST YLE SHOWS OWNER OF AN EM E Q8 SINCE 2009

“The Light Weight is very good hull but more difficult to ride than the Rickter FS-1. The Compositech is very physical to ride and both of them submarine easily if you make a mistake in the waves. The Q8 from Malone is completely different, as it doesn’t float from the rear side at slow speed, but it is a playful hull to ride and play in waves. I really like the tray because it is larger than others and I really like the precision of the front with the V design. For me, the Rickter is the best hull for waves and it has to be the Q8 Malone for Freestyle.”

MY CLASSIFICATION: N° 1 FS1 - N° 2 Q8 - N° 3 LIGHT WEIGHT - N° 4 COMPOSI IN DETAIL: Q8 : AERIAL 9/10 --- SURF 8/10 COMPOSI : AERIAL 7/10 --- SURF 7/10 L WEIGHT : AERIAL 7/10 --- SURF 9/10 RICKTER : AERIAL 8/10 --- SURF 10/10

ETTE ISTOPHE DARTHAY

CHR

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The Q8 of Malone is innovative. Difficult to master at first but in the long run an extraordinary machine for the free ride turns

RECTOR JOB: COMPANY DI RIDE EE FR DISCIPLINE: PIONSHIP 2007 AM CH LD OR 5TH W 2008-2009 5TH WORLD CUP SINCE 2007 OSITECH CARBON MP OWNER OF A CO “I really like the feeling of the Light Weight, it feels secure. The Rickter is the easiest to ride.

A lot of riders make big progress with it. The Q8 is special. It is a hull technical for beginners. We feel that the size will help to create new tricks. It is the wild horse to ride.”

HT - N° 2 RICKTER - N° 3 Q8 - N° 4 MY CLASSIFICATION: N° 1 LIGHT WEIG CH OSITE COMP IN DETAIL: Q8 : AERIAL 7/10 --- SURF 8/10 COMPOSI : AERIAL 8/10 --- SURF 8/10 L WEIGHT : AERIAL 8/10 --- SURF 9/10 RICKTER : AERIAL 8/10 --- SURF 9/10

The new hull of the EME Q8 is shorter and in contrast to the three others, she is designed for the Kawasaki (800 SXR) but one can always adapt for a Yamaha or Polaris

FABRICE LARDEAU

JOB: SELF EMPLOY ED DISCIPLINE: FREE RIDE SINCE 2003 3RD FRANCE CHAM PIONSHIP 2009 OWNER OF A LIGHT -WEIGHT CARBON

SINCE 2008

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“I’ve been the owner of a Compsitech since 2008.

The Light Weight is less playful than the others. The Rickter reacts more like a stock hull. But it feels strange at first because of the position on the handle pole. The Q8 has vivacity and stability. It is very efficient. It is my favorite hull.”

MY CLASSIFICATION: N° 1 LIGHT WEIG HT - N° 2 RICKTER - N° 3 Q8 - N° 4 COMPOSITECH IN DETAIL: Q8 : AERIAL 7/10 --- SURF 8/10 COMPOSI : AERIAL 6/10 --- SURF 8/10 L WEIGHT : AERIAL 8/10 --- SURF 9/10 RICKTER : AERIAL 9/10 --- SURF 8/10

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A small session between friends: left to right, Julian Herpsont, Fabrice Lardeau, Christophe Darthayette and Gil Beurnier

“FOR ME, THE RICKTER IS THE BEST HULL FOR WAVES AND IT HAS TO BE THE Q8 MALONE FOR FREESTYLE.” Lighter than its competitors the Compositech is a joy to pilot, but is older and and would benefit from an update as the quality is there

Produced By Norbert Weber in collaboration with the multiple champion of the World Marc Sickerling, this Light Weight hull is built more like the carbon bodies of Formula GT

Made in Thailand, Rickter FS1 of Éric ROY has an aggressive and distinguished look

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36 JS&PW

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READER TEST

The

Manflu vs The

Manski We tested the RXT-X260 last year when it was first launched and we loved it. We loved it so much that we awarded it the JS&PW PW of the Year Award. Some months after itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s launch Thumper, one of our staunch forum members, was offered a test, but the worst happened. He was stricken with a sudden attack of Manflu.

Was he going to miss this opportunity? Read onâ&#x20AC;Ś

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Nick Barton reaches for the sky

Pierreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dad helps him launch in the surf

Eric Malone in the final

Over one thousand spectators lined the beach for the final

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AUSTRALIAN FREERIDE

GOLD COAST

GLADIATORS

A new format and judging system for the Yamaha/ Monster Energy Freeride Australian Open attracted the world’s biggest names to an epic showdown on the picturesque gold coast.

Words: Simon Makker Photos: Andrew Shields, Jetpilot and karen Luckman

A

ustralia’s Gold Coast is ranked up there as one of the must-see places in the world. And why wouldn’t it be? The tourist strip boasts incredible weather (for the most part), a laid-back atmosphere, some of the country’s best surf spots, and more hot chicks per capita than a Miss Universe final. Sounds like all the perfect ingredients to host one of the biggest international freeriding events on the planet.

After its successful debut and glowing feedback on the stand-up watercraft calendar in 2009, organisers were quick to again lock the Yamaha/Monster Energy Freeride Australian Open in for 2010, all the while praying that the weather gods would bless them with considerably bigger surf than the tiny conditions that greeted the riders last year.

Their prayers were answered…kind of. Competitors and punters arrived at Phillip Park on Main Beach to find chunky two-metre waves that reared and dumped haphazardly along the shore. The gods had thrown in a strong south-to-north sweep and an unpredictable >

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FEATURE GECKO

WHERE’S YOUR ?

T A D HEA

nd are doin’ it a rs e rd a o b te runners oin’ it, ska of the front MXers are d e B n . o it d ’ n in a o s d y rs are ese da cial.

Snowboarde ead is cool th es them spe h k a r u m o t y a g h w in p d ee e aske so are we. K re a Gecko. W a e m a g t e in the helm

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‘THE GECKO WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO PREVENT SURFERS FROM GETTING ‘ICE CREAM’ HEADACHES’

G

ecko head gear was created by the custom surfboard maker, Jeff Sacree in 1993, a helmet whilst surfing, cool? Well of course not, and Jeff’s sales reflected this, young surfers and water uses did not like the restriction, and being surfers they felt their locks needed to be flying in the wind. However the Gecko was created by Jeff because he was slightly more hardcore than these posers, he was tired of getting a cold head whilst surfing over the winter. The Gecko was originally designed to prevent surfers from getting ‘ice cream’ headaches which can occur in cold water. The idea therefore was to have a helmet which retained heat, protected the head and to survive alongside wetsuits and other products of the water-sports industry.

Now as formally mentioned, this idea did not immediately take off.

However Gecko had inadvertently

stumbled across a huge market for safety, the Royal National lifeboat Institute (RNLI to you and me) were seeking a better option for their crews, Gecko contacted them, and a partnership emerged, testing and trials took place for the next three years, trying to perfect the helmet which could offer lightweight efficiency and compatibility with the RNLI kit. In 1998 the Gecko Mk 5 was released into service, and since then, Gecko has literally set the standard. In 1998 Gecko’s release created the first Maritime Safety Standard in Europe.

Naturally after so many years of development and research the Mk 5 was excellent however not prefect and continued to develop, in 1999 the ‘hook and loop’ fastenings meant

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