Greetings to the Personal Watercraft Community. Registration for the 2026 Short Block Technologies World Finals is open. Entries have already started coming in at a solid pace. A formal press release announcing the opening of registration will come in a couple of hours. Management wanted to extend a couple of personal comments about 2026 registration, pricing, and general introductory statements about topics that will soon come in greater detail.
Registration was due to open on the 16th. It was a day late and as the person responsible, I am sorry. There were a couple of complications and a translation issue of a WGP1 crossover class that added to some time restrictions that affected the registration. The last month, I have had a couple personal family matters to tend to that kept me almost completely unavailable the last 48 hours. During that time, I logged about 12 hours of driving up and down California Highway 99 and Interstate 5. Upon seeing the gas prices along the roads a lot of competitors will be traveling to get to World Finals, and seeing the interest rate hike noticed by our good friends at the Federal Reserve, a planned $10 per class price increase was removed this morning.
This removal was largely symbolic. Most years, we hover between 1.8 and 2.2 entries per person at World Finals. So, if we saved each of you an average of twenty bucks, we hope that you might spend it at the local economy buying one more beer or smoothie or souvenir or something like that. It is a tough time, all racing is expensive, and we are all in it together..... well, maybe not all of us. Walk around the event, check the booths, look at the banners. There are a few companies that sure want there to be racing and want you to buy the performance products they make as part of that equation. The same companies want watercraft event organizers to assume the risk and allocate the resources for the racing to happen. Not all of these companies wish to give back or, in some cases, to even follow through with their commitments. When you come to World Finals this year, really walk around and take serious note of who is there either by being present or by placing some sort of a flag or banner to let you know they support your sport and want it to happen.
This reads a lot like a call out for some companies to check themselves. It is not really just that. As things start to show change in the sport and new faces start showing up in leadership positions, it will be important to examine the whole system so change can come about. Many of you are quick to critique your promoters, directors, and other people in your leadership positions for performing below levels that you feel we all should- and this is 100% your right to do so. However, if your goal is to motivate change and you supplement that goal by giving your business to those very companies which are not interested in supporting your race use of their product then you are diverting support away from those companies that are signaling to you that they are in it with you.
It is a tough year for motorsports. All motorsports have been contracting. All forms of racing have been contracting. Somehow, our little segment of motorsports is treading water and it is doing so because of the people sticking together to all do something to get us to a tomorrow. This posting suggests you take notice of who is giving back and showing you that they are in it with you and let them know you are also in it with them. Food for thought.
