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.