• What is SuperCourse Racing?
• Venues
• Rider Categories
• Watercraft Categories
• Classes
• Riding Gear
• Memberships / Entry Fees / Insurance Fees

SuperCourse is an “American Power Boat Association” (APBA) sanctioned racing format for watercraft that was initially designed by TeamSport Racing in 2002 to resemble motorcycle road racing – only on the water. The concept came from the need for a new type of racing that would better suit the bigger, faster watercrafts that were coming out of the OEM production plants.

The problem with the old style of racing – at least for TeamSport Racing – was that it was designed back in the 70’s for stand-up ski’s that would barely do 30 miles per hour. TeamSport Racing felt that the single-buoy turns that had worked for thirty years were no longer a reasonable option for stand-ups that can presently go over 60 m.p.h., and for the new, super-powerful sit-down models that are pushing 80 m.p.h. @ 300 horsepower, and weigh in at over 700 pounds.

The solution? Get rid of the sharp, single-buoy turns, and replace them with fast, sweeping multiple-buoy turns. The sweeping turns allow a fast watercraft to keep up the speed, the way they were designed, while eliminating the extreme – and inherent - danger of getting plowed into from behind: which is what happens so often in single-buoy turns. Our logic is that you wouldn’t want to take a 150 m.p.h. road bike and race it on a small parking lot with only a single bale of hay representing each turn, would you? TeamSport Racing says, “Take that fast machine, and put it on a fast track”.

Sure you want fast, but you also want a technical challenge, right? SuperCourse tracks, as designed by TeamSport Racing, are very technical. The courses are every bit as technically and physically demanding as a winding road track is for a motorcycle road racer (except remember that you have to throw in some big waves and a lot of chop). But as a matter of fact, TeamSport Racing designs its SuperCourse tracks to closely replicate some famous international raceways: Daytona, Willow Springs, Putnam Park and Marlboro. TeamSport Racing has done them all, using GPS technology to precisely build every one of its SuperCourse tracks to scale.

Of course, when it comes to racing, you should always be looking for the best “Bang for your Buck”. And with SuperCourse, you always get plenty of “Bang”, and we’re not talking about getting T-boned. Each SuperCourse race is set to run for a minimum amount of time – not a minimum number of laps, as other formats are designed. The time varies for each class, and for each type of boat, but the range is roughly 25 minutes for Beginners all the way up to 50-plus minutes for the Expert and Pro Open classes. Now compare that with a mere 5 to 15-minutes for other racing formats, and it won’t take a calculator to see the BIG difference. With each course averaging 1 ¾ miles in length, just like the road courses they are designed to resemble, you won’t feel like you’re racing on a tiny merry-go-round.

OK, let’s hear it now for the WOMEN! SuperCourse racing offers a great chance for women to get involved in motor sports racing. From Beginner to Novice to Pro-Am, TeamSport Racing’s SuperCourse format allows women – just like the men - to come in with no racing experience and to learn from the best. The ladies can compete against other women in “women only” classes, or take an opportunity to “spank the boys” in the open classes. Over the last several years, a number of women have been able to excel in the sport of SuperCourse racing.

What about “Safety”. Well, at TeamSport Racing, it is always first and foremost on our minds. No motor sports racing program, especially at the grass roots level, can flourish without a solid safety record. TeamSport Racing, with its SuperCourse racing format, has an exceptional record of safety since its inception. And if you will remember from the top of this text, it was “Safety” that brought about the development of SuperCourse in the first place. Of course, we must still warn you that any motor sports racing format is inherently dangerous, but with SuperCourse racing at least, you can feel more confident that you will be going home after a great weekend of racing, the same way that you went: in one piece. And that is what is most important to ALL of us.

Did someone mention “camping”? What ever happened to just plain having FUN? Each one of TeamSport Racing’s race sites are chosen for their large, open spaces, easy access to the water for the racers, and for their excellent camping. Each event brings in lots of racer / campers who set up everything from pup tents to tour buses. A Saturday night at a TeamSport Racing event is the absolute best time to meet other racers, talk about the exciting racing that took place earlier in the day, learn some cool “tricks of the trade”, cook something on the grill, and to meet some great new friends. Camaraderie has always been one of the best trademarks of TeamSport Racing events. So bring your jet ski AND your Coleman, and plan on a great weekend on the lake – you will NOT be disappointed.

Beginning in the old “Surf Endurance” days, the Texas Aquamoto series is TeamSport Racing’s long-established and traditional racing series, and has evolved into one of the most prominent watercraft racing tours in the United States. Now though, instead of endurance racing, the Texas Aquamoto is the national flag-bearer series for SuperCourse Racing. The tour attracts racing talents – Beginner to Pro – from all over Texas, as well as from the East and West coasts, and includes 5 racing “points” rounds, which are held on 4 separate weekends. Racers score overall points for each round in which they compete. Trophies (cash purses for Pro-Am’s) are awarded at the end of each round, and overall point trophies are given to the top-three racers in each class at the end of the series. Over the years, the beautiful “Texas Acrylic” trophies – given to the top overall Texas Aquamoto racers - have become the symbol of excellence in watercraft racing…….Texas Style.

“TEXAS CUP” – East / West Challenge

In its third year in 2007, the Texas Cup is a two-day, Moto-scoring event that not only pits the Eastern United States against the Western United States, but acts as a “Pre-Nationals” for the top SuperCourse racers in the country. A full weekend of racing, both Saturday and Sunday, scores the racers in all classes (including Beginner) for individual Texas Cup titles and awards. In the Moto-scoring format, each racer competes on both days, and then the average of the two daily scores is calculated for the overall place of finish. In addition to the head-to-head competition, each racer, depending on where they reside, score “team” points for their respective side in the East / West Challenge. The winning side then lays claim to the vaunted Texas Cup trophy for one full year.

Running a near identical format as the APBA SuperCourse Nationals, the Texas Cup serves as the perfect warm-up for the national championships.

APBA SuperCourse™ Nationals

2007 will see the SuperCourse Nationals in its fourth year. The championship, sanctioned by the powerful American Power Boat Association, also features a two-day, Moto-scoring format, and brings in the top SuperCourse watercraft racers from all over the United States, as well as international riders.

The course is tough and technical, and the speeds are blistering fast. Racers who leave the SuperCourse Nationals with a top-three trophy, or a top-ten plaque, or a national High-Points championship know that they have competed against the best, and won. All SuperCourse classes are available, except for Beginner. Presently, the event is “open to all experienced watercraft racers” who think that they have what it takes to be a SuperCourse National Champion.

Competitor’s Guides

The “Texas Aquamoto” Series, the “Texas Cup – East / West Challenge”, and the “APBA SuperCourse™ Nationals” will each have their own “Competitor’s Guide”, which gives specific information and rules for each separate venue. It is imperative that each rider read and understand the specific rules within the guide. Each guide will be made available on-line through the TeamSport Racing website.

Each separate “racing class” that is offered by TeamSport Racing for the Texas SuperCourse Racing Series, and the APBA SuperCourse Nationals is a combination of a certain Watercraft Classification and a Rider Category.

The main three rider categories, as defined by the IJSBA & APBA, are:
1) Novice
2) Expert
3) Pro

Two other rider sub-categories are created by combining two of the three main categories:
1) Amateur: combines Novice and Expert
2) Pro-Am: combines Expert and Pro

Four other rider classifications are used to create additional sub-categories:
1) Beginner
2) Women
3) Veteran (age 35 and over)
4) Master (age 45 and over)

Combining the nine above listed rider categories and sub-categories with different watercraft categories, allows TeamSport Racing to create a “class for everyone”.

Starting off as a Beginner, regardless of age, is the best way to get into watercraft racing, then - gradually - moving up to Novice, then to Expert, then to Pro-Am. That order of progression, over several years, guarantees the rider with the best learning curve, and the best chance of a long and fulfilling jet ski racing career.

For Junior Ski (Ages 13-15) class ONLY, TeamSport Racing will use the IJSBA / APBA “Limited” modification rules. All other classes in TeamSport Racing events will be grouped under the IJSBA / APBA “Stock” or “Open” watercraft classifications.

The most important thing to remember, once a class and watercraft modification level is chosen, is to adhere strictly to the IJSBA / APBA rules for modification, and to NOT modify something if the rules do not CLEARLY state that the modification can be made.

After combining the best rider categories and sub-categories with the different watercraft types, engine types and sizes, and modification levels, TeamSport Racing has come up with the following classes to offer at each of its SuperCourse events:

Junior 10-12 Ski 800 Stock (check Competitor’s Guide for availability)
Junior 13-15 Ski 800 Limited (check Competitor’s Guide for availability)
Beginner Runabout Stock
Novice Runabout Stock
Novice Runabout Open
Novice Women Runabout Open
Novice Ski 800 Open
Amateur Runabout “N-A” Stock
Amateur Runabout “N-A” Open
Amateur Veteran (35+) Runabout Open
Amateur Master (45+) Runabout Open
Expert Runabout Open
Pro-Am Runabout Stock
Pro-Am Runabout Open
Pro-Am Women Runabout Open
Pro-Am Ski 800 Open

A rider can enter as many classes in an event in which they qualify for. Each race combines several classes that are closely competitive. A rider can compete in two or more classes in the same race, and will be scored separately in each class. Depending on the classes that a rider enters, they also may be running in separate classes.

The best way to start, is to look at all of the classes that you (and your watercraft) would be eligible for, then look at the event schedule to see which classes are the most feasible. Some riders want to race the most classes in the least amount of races (example: three classes at once), and other riders want to race in the most separate races (example: one class in each of three separate races).

Choosing the right gear is crucial in watercraft racing, just as it is in any type of motor sports racing.

The following gear is MANDATORY in IJSBA / APBA racing:

1) Helmet: DOT Snell-approved motocross helmets, with chin protection, are the best (integrated chin protection is required). No plastic or BMX-type helmets are allowed. Any helmet that is determined inadequate by the Technical Director or Race Director will not be allowed on the race course. Remember: a $10 helmet is for a $10 head. Spend the money……..
2) Coast Guard-approved Personal Flotation Device / Life Vest (Type III or better)

The following gear is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for SuperCourse racing:

1) Wetsuit “John” or Motocross pants (for lower leg protection)
2) Goggles (motocross type)
3) Gloves (snug-fitting, watercraft type, water ski type, etc.)
4) Boots / Footwear (with good ankle protection)
5) “High Impact” Life Vest (spend the money)
6) Neck Ring

All racers must have a current APBA-license for competition. An annual competition license can be obtained directly from the APBA or through TeamSport Racing at any event registration. You do NOT have to have a license to send in a race application. You only have to sign up and pay for the membership before you race.

Also, One-Day licenses are available through TeamSport Racing (at any event registration) for a discounted rate. This membership allows the rider to experience a weekend of racing, without making the full commitment of a one year membership.

An Entry Fee will be charged for each class that a rider enters. There may be discounts for multiple classes (check the race information).

There will be an additional insurance rider fee, which will pay for the riders mandatory insurance cost. The fee is for each weekend of racing, and covers the rider in any class or race in which they compete on that weekend.

Check the TeamSport Racing website for costs of the APBA memberships, the Entry Fees for each class, and the rider insurance fee.