A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be giving the chance to test out the all-new 2012 Sea-doo RXP-X. After studying up on the craft since its announcement in mid-2011 I couldn’t wait to test one of these ski’s out.
For the last few years it feels like most ski manufactures have been targeting the recreational riders and forgetting about the races that pretty much started this sport many years ago, but Sea-doo have travelled back and produced a factory ski that is ready to race and handle like no other ski I have ridden.

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The 2012 has an all new hull design, all new styling and makes use of their popular 260 horsepower engine that has been used in their line up for a few years. It makes its 260 horsepower from a Rotax 1494cc, three cylinder, supercharged engine.

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My first impressions when sitting on the ski was how spot on their new Ergolock system is. What they call Ergolock is made up of three parts, Seating, Steering and Foot Position. The first thing you notice is the amazing seating position, the seat is a lot more narrower than we are used to on late model skis and features a shaped up front which extends up over the riders knees and keeps the rider sitting further forward on the craft.

Angled foot rests in the footwells which line up with the knee fitment of the seat keep your bottom half of your body locked on the ski,  along with this is the adjustable steering system which allows turning of the rider’s position.
All of this equals Ergolock, which keeps the rider locked onto the ski, using their bottom half of their body and taking the strain off the upper body, which is the opposite to nearly every other late model ski on the market.

It’s hard to explain but anybody that has sat on one of these ski’s will fill you in on how well this works and why no one has produced something similar before now.

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Saturday, 18^th February – Waitangi Basin, Awatoto, Napier (flat water round)
- Racing starting 1.00 pm
Sunday, 19^th February – Waimarama Beach (surf round)
- Racing starting at 10.00 am

With no more summer rounds before the Nationals this may be an opportunity for all to come and have some more racing practice before heading off to Christchurch at the end of March.

Come and enjoy some of Hawke’s Bay’s hospitality – you will be made more than welcome.

Our Club offers a simple racing programme with the following classes available on both days –

Poleski – A Grade, B Grade and Poleski 750 cc Open

Runabout – Open, Stock and Novice

Registrations fees are low – $15 for a Day Licence (if needed) and $10 per day for Club Day Fees which are aimed at covering the sausage sizzle lunch, certificates and spot prizes.

A great opportunity to meet members of the Hawke’s Bay Club and enjoy some racing as well.

If anyone is interested and wants any further information (or help with suggestions on accommodation) please either contact Phil Hutchinson (021 885 082) or Meg Webb (06 878-5579 / 0274 490 111) at thewebbs@xtra.co.nz

Regards,

Meg

Secretary

HBJSC Inc.

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All entries must be received by the due dates,

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Water Cross 9th March 2012
Closed Course 16th March 2012.

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This is due to Water Cross event being held at a separate location on Friday 30th March.  Should minimum entry numbers not be reached for Water Cross (10 per class) this Event will be cancelled.

All closed course racing is to be held at Lake Roto Kohatu, Sawyers Arms Rd Christchurch on Friday 30th March 2012, 12 noon onwards through to Sunday 1st April 2012.

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Also, please not a new entry form has been attached, with the new added Water Cross Naturally Aspirated class. – If you have already sent your form in and would like to add this class to your entry, please let use know!

Nationals Entry letter | 2012 Nats entry form | Nats Tent Booking

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Also, please note:
For all those wanting to race in New Zealand Nationals must have competed in at least 2 days racing of this season to be eligible. All those that have not raced yet will therefore need to compete in the 2 day south island champs 25th/26th Feb or apply for dispensation from the NZJSBA, with adequate reasons as to why they haven’t been able to attend a race day this season.

If you are just planning on racing watercross and have competed in last year’s Winter Series no dispensation is required.

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March 25th 2012 is the Top Catch King of Jetskifishing Tournament.

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more info at www.jetskifishing.co.nz

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Tauranga Jet Sport Association - Social Ride
Sunday 19th February 2012
Meet at the Ohakuri Dam, Atiamuri at 10.00am

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Ride up to Paradise and a secret hot spring and then back to a beach for a bbq etc. Poleskis can take buoys and set up a short course track for practise and the runabouts can go for a tiki-tour around the lake and up the side rivers.
Fabulous spot, about 1.5 hours from Tauranga.

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RSVP to Leanne so we know who is going. Will be postponed if weather not condusive.

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More info on there facebook page

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Benelli’s 2012 line up looks very exciting with an all new pole ski (stand up) with two power options of 135hp and 180hp , and four sit down models ranging from 150hp to huge 315hp.

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The 150hp and 180hp options or the sit down ski’s get there power from a 3-cylinder 1602cc engine, while it’s faster brothers with the 265hp & 315hhp options picks up its extra power through a turbo charged version of the 1602cc engine, also on these amazing skis are the options of cruise control, variable electrical trim (VETS™) and the Dynamic Brake System (DBS™).

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The B3S pole ski uses the same engine block for its two power options and has an all new hull design and integrated front sponsons.

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From what I have heard through the grapevine we can expect to see these ski’s in New Zealand as soon as mid April?

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They have a website with a subscribe option, so enter your email address and keep up to date with what is going on.

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www.benellipersonalwatercraft.co.nz

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I can’t wait to see these ski’s in real life, and see how they preform up against the already available brand options in New Zealand.

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Again the new social ‘Classic Class’ was great entertainment, and I’m sure next round there will be a chance of a full field, so dust off your old ski and come join in on the fun, some of the best fun I’ve had this season was competing this weekend on a borrowed mid 1990′s Kawasaki XI 750.

Like normal, huge thanks to all the committee and helpers (Marshal Ski, Lap Counters, Flag Marshals and holders)

Please remember that the dates for the Fourth Round & South Island Champs where changed earlier this season, South Island Champs on the 25/02/12 and Round 4 of the Summer Series is on the 26/02/12.

    

Pole Novice	Race #	Points
Mark Williams	1	60
Jules Bennett	226	53
James Brownie	6	48
Ben McConochie	717	43
Runabout Novice
Dan Smith	77	60
Callum Wright	195	53
Pole Stock
Mark Bainbridge	117	60
Marshall Brown	11	53
Glen Chisholm	218	48
Daniel Jephson	122	43
Darrell Dermott	169	39
Jason Donnithorne	87	36
Trent Brown	11x	33
Mitchell Ellis	101	30
Gareth Griffiths	86	27
Cole Askew	121	24
Runabout Stock
Mike Carstairs	2	60
James Craw	56	53
Robin Oakley	1	48
Nathan Maclure	666/77	43
Grant Wilson	28	39
Runabout Naturally Aspirated
Kris Mackie	114/230	60
Chris Kennedy	707	53
Nick Mantell	230	48
Andy Littleford	785	43
Pole Open
Steve Amende	224	60
Mark Bainbridge	117	53
Trent Brown	11x	48
Jason Donnithorne	87	43
Steve Taylor	122	39
Kurt Jopson	961	36
Daryl Dunbar	141	33
Marshall Brown	11	30
Runabout Open
James Craw	56	60
Mike Carstairs	2	53
Simon Loutitt	76	48

 

    

 

Results and series positions are on our website, click here

And more photos from the event can be found on nzjetski.co.nz

Kind Regards

CJSC Committee
Any questions, please email me

 

A little birdie told me some very exciting industry news today! A new distributor in the pipeline? – Keep an eye on our facebook / website for more info soon.

Kawasaki had there release of there all new Kawasaki Ultra 300x, the first production ski to produce a claimed 300 horsepower

making this the highest powered production ski to date. With a revised hull making it handle better and redesigned supercharger  giving the power boost over there old 160x that it replaced.

Unfortunately with the pressure world wide regarding the greenness of 2 stoke ski and the downward number of overall sales, 2011 was the last year for the ever popular Kawasaki SX-R pole ski (stand-up) after 37 years of producing stand up ski’s it’s sad to this come to an end for Kawasaki.

Sea-Doo continued to add more specs to the line up of Skis, with there Sea-doo GTI getting the addition of I-control (brakes and neutral start) making this entry level ski a lot easy to maneuver at lower speeds, and giving the sub $16k (new) ski even more value for money.

They also released their RXT-X AS, which is a performance Musclecraft with 260 horsepower and manually  Adjustable Suspension (aS) making this the perfect rough water ski.

Sea-doo have also announced a couple of new models that will be hitting our shores very soon, an ‘all new’ Sea-Doo RXP-X  again musclecraft with racing in mind, and a ‘all new’ GTR, which is pretty much the popular GTI with a 215 Horsepower Supercharged engine.

Yamaha saw the release of their new Yamaha VXR and VXS, which is a base ski with a hugh 4 cyclinder 1800cc engine which is proving to be very popular and producing good power and nimble handling on a budget and a then also a new FX series ski which is a true 3 seater luxury ski.

Yamaha are still producing there stand-up ‘Superjet’ ski, carrying on with out any major changes from the previous years apart from a new black and orange colour scheme.

As for Benelli, I’ve struggled to find out what is happening and have heard mix reports, so a game of wait in see is in order. Unless someone can fill me in?

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All the above is my opinion, I struggle to get much help from the manufactures or distributors, so if any of the above is incorrect please let me know!

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www.nzjetski.co.nz : the owner of this blog is not compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.

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