Interview Part 4

WetRacer: So where do you operate now?

Tony: We are at the same place, here in Moorpark, California where we’ve been for the last 12 years. Plus, we have had our own factory in Southeast Asia for the last 10 years.

WetRacer: Let’s talk more about something else.

Tony: Sure. Sorry for going on and on about myself.

WetRacer: In your opinion, how has the loss of manufacturers affected our sport?

Tony: Yes, it is tragic to see that so many OEM’s pulled back or disappeared from our industry. But I think most industries go through this cycle at some point.

When any new sport like jetskiing gets rushes of new interest, many companies jump in and thrive for decades. They get thinking that the good times will last forever. Not true. When the industry peaks and starts to taper down, companies start to drop off. This is devastating for the sport, but it has to happen. It is business evolution and the ones that do survive this period are solid. I call it the weaning process.

WetRacer: Where do you see the sport heading?

Tony: That is a really good question. Are you referring to the market here in the USA or overseas?

WetRacer: Both!

Tony: With Kawasaki and Yamaha stopping production of the stand-up jet-skis this year, it is a huge indicator that sit-down “runabout skis are where our sport is heading. We have to understand that about half of our sport is family people who ride for recreation a few weekends out of the year with their friends and family. Which is cool, they bring the dollars and that is what keeps our sport going.

On the other hand, I see a big surge of old school stand-ups making a comeback. Jettribe was at the Daytona Freeride the past few years in Florida every January. On that weekend stand-up riders came from all over in huge numbers.

In regard to racing overseas, there are a lot of people who race jet-skis overseas and they have the money to spend. For example, at the IJSBA World Finals in Lake Havasu, AZ there are more foreign racers than there are US racers. And when the Jettribe race team travels to Thailand for the King’s Cup jet-ski race, it was beyond words!

Interview Part 3

WetRacer: What do you ride now?

Tony: I still ride my original 1992 Kawasaki 750 SX stand-up! But if anyone out there wants to part with their 800 SX-R, give me a shout.

WetRacer: Tell us how Jettribe came about.

Tony: When I was racing as a stand-up rider in Region 1 and 2 in California, I noticed there were a lot of hot chicks attending the races but there wasn’t much ladies’ apparel for the watercraft sport. So, I started selling ladies’ T’s and board shorts between my motos.

WetRacer: And Jettribe grew from there?

Tony: Yes and no. with lots and lots of hard work and luck, we have gone through some good and bad. But we are all very grateful to be where we are today.

WetRacer: So it was that simple?

Tony: no, not really. It really helps that I have a design background from going to school at Cal State University of Northridge. I have also worked with other larger brands like Hurley, Ecko “Zoo York”, etc. So building the Jettribe brand is second nature for us.

Interview Part 2

WetRacer: We heard that you were a former jet-ski racer?

Tony: Hmm…where did you hear that?

WetRacer: We have our sources, maybe some old articles from CT Sports racing from Region 1.

Tony: It was embarrassing. I started out in racing with my Yamaha Waverunner III, and I got my butt kicked out there, in spite of spending $14 grand fixing it up. Way back in 1991 it was huge money to spend $14k on a Waverunner III and I was crazy enough to do it. That thing had everything on it from Coffman’s pipe, total loss ignition, etc. They used to call it the “Flying Waverunner III.” It was fast, but it couldn’t corner worth spit.

WetRacer: Ok, interesting. So did that make you stop racing?

Tony: Nope! By 1992, Kawasaki came out with their 750 SX stand-up. We ran down to Castaic Ski and Sport and bought two of them! One for me and my sister. Mine was built as a limited ski and hers was stock. For the next 3 years I raced mostly region 1 and 2 with CT Sports in California.

WetRacer: How did you do as a stand-up jet-ski racer?

Tony: I actually did ok as a stand-up racer. Toward my last race season, I took first overall in California. Not too bad considering most of the races there were 25 to 55 riders in my stand-up class! Back in the good old days stand-up ski classes were huge!

Wet Racer: Do you have any regrets?

Tony: None. Jet-ski racing was one of the best parts of my life. And now we are involved with the sport on a different level and this feels really good.

Interview Part 1

WetRacer: Where did you grow up?

Tony: I grew up in Newbury Park, Southern California. It is about 40 minutes North of L.A. and we were very close to the beach so I rode the surf a lot.

WetRacer: When did you first get into watercraft?

Tony: Back when I was working at a grocery store in high school. A co-worker friend “Dave” had a 1989 Yamaha Waverunner 500! He brought me to Lake Pyramid to go riding. Once I idled past the No Wake Zone and pulled the Waverunner 500’s throttle past 20 MPH, I was truly in love! I didn’t realize at the time – that split moment would alter my future.

WetRacer: Wow! Waverunner 500, So how did this change your future?

Tony: Well, the next day, I begged my dad to go with me to our local power sport shop – I think it was Thousand Oaks Kawasaki. When we got to the shop, there it was. The fresh out of the crate, brand new, first three seater ever made! Yamaha 650 Waverunner III, it was like destiny. Since I was fresh out of high school and had little money or credit, I begged my dad to co-sign for me and we purchased my dream Waverunner. For the next 20 years, all of our family vacations revolved around a watercraft. And of course now it is how I make a living – the business of watercraft.

***More to come soon so stay tuned!***