Jet-skiers test the depths at Golden Sheaf Park

“It does [surprise contestants] a little bit because as Canadians, our summers are short, so it does surprise a lot of the Americans when we come down,” Sieben said.

“They can’t believe how good some of our riders are, especially for how short of a summer we get compared to them, but everyone’s out here having fun, challenging each other and there’s a good group of riders here.”

Some may see jet-skiing as just another summer watersport, but St. Albert racer Christopher Synowec said that there’s often crossover from other extreme sports like motocross.

“People should get into jet skiing because it’s a great sport to, if you like adrenaline, it’s a great sport to be into. A lot of people come over from the motocross community and they get into jet ski racing,” Synowec said.

“It’s all for the adrenaline junkies. You’ve got lots of speed, lots of jumping, lots of waves. If you like water, getting wet, you’re going to be wet all the time. If you don’t mind that, it’s a perfect sport to get into.”

Synowec said that the higher cost of entry and changing interests is leading to a slow decline in popularity but hopes that exciting freestyle events, more races and cheaper sea-doos will encourage a new generation of riders to test the waters.

“I find this newer generation is going away from what we grew up as. I grew up riding dirt bikes and motorcycles and BMXs and spending my time outside. I find the generation nowadays is all about indoors and technology,” Synowec said.

“I think it’s great to try and embrace sea-dooing with the younger generation to try and get them into it and away from that. Just kind of stick to the roots of the grip and dirty.”

Sieben said that growing up, the biggest appeal to the sport for her was getting out on the lake and chasing the adrenaline rush.

While Sieben still has that rush, she said the community made her want to stay.

“It is just so fun. When I was young and I found a jet ski, someone let me ride it, and I was hooked ever since. I saved up money and I bought my own, and I just can’t get out of it,” Sieben said.

“I’ve been in here and I’ve found this team, we’re a family, we support each other so much, so it’s just such a great community of people,” she said.

“It’s fun, it’s a great workout out there, it’s exhausting, it’s a good challenge if you want to try something new, and then really it’s just all about the people.”

The WCWA will be heading to the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon July 13 and 14 before closing out the tour in Lac St. Anne on Aug. 10 and 11.

by Adrian St.Onge

Jet-skiers test the depths at Golden Sheaf Park

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