Pat Roque, Huntington Beach, California.

Primary Race Craft:  2006 SeaDoo RXP

There is "no beach out of reach" with Pat.  Pat is an aggressive offshore rider and racer who rides with a great deal of intestinal fortitude.  Pat is a small business owner by day, by evening and weekend he is an animal on the water and a tenacious PWC racer.  Those who have ridden with Pat characterize him as one of the best offshore endurance rider around.  If there was such a thing as riding a PWC like a linebacker, Pat would be it.  Offshore riding is his passion and it shows.  We all know that sea-state separates the men from the boys.  Those who may have mounted a ski and ridden with Pat know full well that there is almost no backing off the throttle with Pat, regardless of sea state.  You will be challenged to find anyone else who can hold it open like Pat in rough offshore water.  Hard core.    

Pat has been riding offshore for 19 years.  Although he also enjoys riding the Colorado River, 95% of his riding is done offshore.  His favorite ride is the Long Beach to Catalina ride followed by a trip around the backside of the Island.  His primary training ride is the Long Beach to Catalina and back ride.  All the offshore training paid off for Pat in 2006 when he won the 2006 Long Beach to Catalina and back Offshore National Championship.  During this race, Pat set and remains the current World Record holder for the Long Beach to Catalina and Back Race. 

Race History and Highlights:

2005 Western Region Offshore Runabout Division Champion, National Champion (Amateur Class)

2005 World Finals Supercourse, 2nd

2006 Western Region Division Offshore Champion, Overall 1st (Vet Master)

2006 Long Beach to Catalina, 1st, Offshore National Champion (WORLD RECORD HOLDER)

2006 Long Beach Sprint Nationals, 2nd

2007 Long Beach Sprint Nationals, 1st

2007 Long Beach to Catalina, 4th

2007 Mark Hahn 300 Mile Endurance Race, 9th

2007 Parker, Arizona Regatta, 1st

2007 Western Region Division Offshore Champion, Overall 1st (Vet Master) 

2008 Long Beach to Catalina:  Mechanical

Pat has owned the SeaDoo 580, Kawi Ultra150, RXP, Kawi 1500 and the 2006 RXP.  

Given that Roque rides every weekend, he estimates that he has done the Long Beach to Catalina and back ride approximately 150 times.  Can you say push the envelope?  These trips have involved many interesting experiences.  The highlights involve challenging himself to take on El Niño's 10 to 15 foot waves (DON'T DO THIS) back in 1990 resulting in a broken craft 15 miles off shore in the channel on his SeaDoo 580.  After being separated from his group, he was finally rescued and towed in via a large sail boat.  He's also been in positions in the channel that required him to be taken in by a Coast Guard helicopter.  He relishes the time that he broke down right outside Catalina, was able to get his craft started and then had to make it back to Dana Point (35 miles) in the dark, by himself (DO NOT DO THIS).  Pat states that this riding in the dark experience taught him a great deal about riding.  In addition to bringing all the safety gear on every ride(!), Pat says that he had to ride by instinct due to his inability to see and therefore read and anticipate the waves.  He states that he had to feel the craft as it negotiated the waves and ride only by instinct.  He has held on to this riding in the dark experience and attributes much of his riding skill to this one night.  Pat still rides in an instinctual manner.  

In his remaining free time, Pat enjoys any and all extreme sports such as skiing, rock/waterfall climbing, hiking and a little basketball on the side.  Sponsors: PWCOFFSHORE.com, R&D, Hydro-Turf


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June, 2008:  Brittany Wildman - From Spurs to Sponsons and Sprockets…  

Brittany Wildman is no stranger to competition and hard work. This cowgirl turned “Kaw”girl started riding horses when she was 11. At the age of 13 she won Arizona State Championship and was 3^rd Place World Champion for Cowboy Mounted Shooting.  Thats hard core!  That summer she wanted a dirt bike. Brittany's mother bought a ’91 550SX and a ’96 Blaster 1 instead. Having never been on a standup ski or owned any before, this was a new adventure for them both. People they met said “Cool, Old School!”. It wasn’t long before her mother Eve realized that “Old School” actually means “Spends more time in the shop than out”
or “Costs more in repairs than the purchase price”.   Jetski Unlimited was patient with them and all their questions, and helped introduce them to a local Freestyle Guru (Yo Tuna!), Amateur & Pro Racers (too many to list) and Rob with Jetstyle. After attending several races and developing her skills on both ski’s a year and a half later the choice was made to upgrade to a new ‘07 800sxr.  

In Feb. 2007 (her first race) she teamed up with James MiladelaRoca  ( Las Vegas) and raced The Mark Hahn 300 in Standup class. Odds were against them. Brits mother had recently left her job and was having trouble finding a replacement and her F250 (tow vehicle) had just blown its transmission.  But that wasn’t going to stop them.  So all 3 girls with bags & gear crammed in a little 2 seater Nissan Frontier truck with an 800sxr in the bed, pulling a 2 bunk trailer with 2 Blaster I’s. Per Brits mother, "they showed up looking like the Beverly
Hillbillies!" Feeling like underdogs amongst the others with big trucks, nice trailers, factory rides, etc.. This didn’t deter them. The air was sizzling with excitement! It was probably the roughest/coldest Hahn in history full of whitecaps and there was Brittany.  The only standup rider  participating in the Parade Lap around the lake. She returned shaking and lips pale blue, they were doubtful that she could continue under such conditions. Did she give up? No. She said she couldn’t let her partner down. It was brutal watching all those athletes being bashed by the elements. Several racers succumbed to hypothermia and couldn’t finish. At the awards ceremony Eve was proud that Brittany not only finished the race but also ended up 5^th in their class.  Could that night be any better for them? Yes it could and did. They also won the Yamaha Waverunner given away that night by Yamaha and Walts Motor Sports!  

LB2CAT 2007 – In order to run with the big dogs Eve traded in everything she could to get the New Ultra 250X. Wow what a beast! She knew that Brittany and the Ultra could handle this race. Her only concerns were fuel consumption and sharks. Their worries were quickly put to rest by several groups of people from PWCOffshore, PWCToday and the SoCal Watercraft Club. Not only did they give her insight but also David “Pirate” Tew and Young Youhn of the SoCal Watercraft Club stepped up and met them a day before the race to acquaint Brittany with what she would be facing the very next day and returning the day of the race as well to help. A big thanks to these people for that night she was awarded 3^rd Place in her class. (Barely missing 2^nd by 1/100^th of a second)!  She gained a lot of respect that day for not only was she 1 of just 2 females that raced but was also the youngest racer at just 16 years old!  Brittany says she has been blessed with many new wonderful friends from the PWC community and also has the best racing partners, James and “Pirate”! 

Brittany’s love for racing is evident (actually it’s more of an obsession). If she’s not able to get to the lake to practice due to time or money then she’s either riding her KX125 (yes she finally got her bike), or her mother’s KX250 or her YZF R6. If you’re not riding then more than likely you’re faced with fixing. Brittany’s no stranger to getting her hands dirty either. She just did the top end on her dirtbike and is tackling her mothers right now.   

Brittany’s current goals are:
1. To podium in every race  
2. To continue to learn and also gain respect from her peers and veteran racers  
3. To encourage other young ladies to join this sport
4. Find sponsors to help her continue her dream. 

Future goals may be to start her own gear/swimwear line “Slick Chick Racing” catering towards her age group and rumors have it she may also be getting involved with drag racing as well!  

Her advice to others, “Don’t be Afraid. Dream Big, Everything is Possible!”

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Robert Carreon, Southern California

December, 2007 

Robert Carreon is a young, aggressive up and coming endurance racer from  La Mirada, Southern California.  With very few lakes around his La Mirada home, the Pacific Ocean has become his primary watercraft offshore play ground. His training consist of riding most of Southern California's coast lines including riding from Long Beach to Catalina and back as a practice and training run. This is usually done with fellow racers that Robert looks up to and tries to learn from. Some advice he received from a few of them was "race your own race."  However, Robert has learned that it’s easier said than done  He did however quickly learn that racing your own race could mean many things. Most important, never follow. Following someone on the course or in the open ocean may get you lost, or lose a lap due to missing buoys.  In a few of his races, he noticed a couple racers either going the wrong direction (Long Beach to Catalina), or taking the wrong turn in a closed course setup. This is huge and can mean the difference between winning or losing.  Another thing Robert has learned is making sure your instruments such as your GPS are set to the proper screen prior to the race beginning.  

PWCOFFSHORE.com recently announced their sponsorship of Robert Carreon.  Although new to the offshore and endurance racing  arena, Robert has truly differentiated himself with his riding ability and passion for our sport.  PWCOFFSHORE.com was and reamins pleased to sponsor a rider with such skill and tremendous potential for additional success in both endurace and offshore endurance racing.  Watch for Robert.........    


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Mike Follmer, October of 2007 Highlighted Rider:

     

            Residence:   Newport Beach, California

            Occupation:  Business Owner -  Mike Follmer Specialties

            Business Type:  Motorsports and Corporate Promotional Products
Growing up in the fast paced world of professional motor sports has proven to be an excellent training ground for Mike Follmer. Coming from a racing family that includes his Uncle, the world famous Auto Racing Hall of Famer, George Follmer, and Mike was not even able to drive when he started receiving his hands-on experience as a crew member for a variety of motor racing teams. At the age of sixteen, his desire to compete drove Mike into the bruising, physically demanding and ultra competitive sport of motocross racing. Immediate success as a high school motocross champion was pivotal to his being asked to ride as a professional with the Maico Motorcycle - Motocross Racing Team.

Completion of the Jim Russell International Driving School in England launched Mike into his auto-racing career. A fourth place finish in the competitive E-Production Class of the Sports Car Club of America (“SCCA”) firmly established Mike as a serious competitive driver.

Opportunities soon arose for Mike in the field of racing management. He worked with Roger Penske’s - International Race of Champions (“IROC”), the U.S. Racing Team and The American Spirit Racing Team in the SCCA Can-Am series, in addition to several Super-Vee teams. Mike also possesses unusual experience for a driver in that he has worked for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, a major racing supplier and sponsor. Due to this record of involvement, Mike has first hand awareness and experience on all facets of the motor racing coin, representing familiarity with the motivation behind sponsorship and the racing industry.

In 1978, Mike returned to racing, immediately scoring impressive victories, winning eight of eleven races in Formula Super-Vee. That record secured the SCCA - Formula Super-Vee - Regional Championship for Mike. The next season, progressing to the new Formula Continental Class, Mike again proved his racing heritage and prowess by winning five of the seven events, and earning the SCCA - Southern Pacific National Championship title. The mantle of this championship qualified Mike to compete for the 1979 SCCA National Championship at the annual Runoffs at Road Atlanta in Georgia. Mike finished an impressive third in a field of the finest drivers in America.

Graduating to professional racing in 1981, Mike ran for the Bosch/Super-Vee Championship title. This same year, Mike expanded his behind-the-wheel experience to sedan racing, where he proved that sedan racing was not an obstacle to success either. Among a variety of sedans, Mike co-drove with his uncle in a factory-backed Toyota Celica, competing in the IMSA - Camel GT series. The pair finished fifth in the Pabst 500 at Road Atlanta in 1981. During this year of professional competition, Mike decided to apply his vast knowledge of motorsports and utilize his many connections garnered from years of traveling the racing circuit, to found his racing-oriented specialty promotion company, Mike Follmer Specialties. In 1983, Mike was invited to compete in the Toyota, Veteran-Rookie Race at Riverside Raceway driving identically prepared Toyota Celicas against a field of veteran race car drivers and rookies. He finished fifth in the field of twelve.

Specializing in the custom design and production of cloisonné pins, Mike has turned his company into a highly recognized world-wide supplier of not only collector pins, but has diversified to include other promotional items such as embroidered hats, T-shirts, key rings, neck straps and credential holders, just to name a few. Always active in the sport, Mike has established a firm market niche and some notoriety for his cloisonné pin business activities along with his driving career.

Seeking an outlet for his recreational activities in 1994, Mike found a personal water craft (“PWC” or “Jet Ski”) to be the perfect vehicle for exercise and fun to fully satisfy all of his needs, but with his competitive heritage, soon found that they were also able to be raced. He entered and won his first race as a beginner on a YAMAHA 701 Raider in San Felipe, Mexico on October 29, 1994. Starting in 1995, Mike founded Mike Follmer Watersports, and campaigned in the International Jet Sports Boating Association (“IJSBA”) Region 1 - Offshore Championship Series where he finished second in the novice class. In 1996, utilizing his past automotive team experience, Mike formed a team and jumped up in class to race as an expert and finish second overall in the LongCourse series, fifth overall in the 785 GranPrix series and third overall in the 1200 Open GranPrix series. 1997 found Mike finishing fourth overall in the GranPrix series and second overall in the LongCourse series, and was recognized for his organizational and team building expertise by being awarded the prestigious “Image Maker of the Year Award”.

In 1998, Mike signed a contract and became a factory rider with YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION. With his new factory backing, he competed in three separate series and placed fourth overall in the LongCourse series, second in the GranPrix series and fourth overall in the Oval series, as well as placed second in class at the Laughlin Challenge. In 1999, Mike, again under contract with the YAMAHA Factory, finished the year third in the GranPrix Series, seventh in the LongCourse Series and thirteenth out of one hundred and twenty riders for the absolute overall competition. 1999 also saw Mike being awarded the “Image Maker of the Year Award” for an unprecedented second time.

Signing again with YAMAHA in 2000, Mike stepped up his racing with a grueling sixteen race schedule. After seven, 90-minute, LongCourse races Mike was crowned Series Champion, and finished the eight, 2-hour race GranPrix Series in second place, a scant 5 points back of the champion. After racing in only one of the three Team Endurance Series races, Mike still had enough points to finish eighth in the absolute overall championship and earn the number 8 number plate for the following year.

For the 2001 season, Mike signed with YAMAHA Motor Corporation for the fourth consecutive year as a Factory Sponsored Rider. With a desire to compete in all three series, LongCourse, GranPrix and Team Endurance, Mike solicited the support of several long time and new sponsors to field the very best equipment to capture championships. At the conclusion of the year, Mike was crowned GranPrix Series Open Expert Champion and GranPrix Series Overall Champion. He also was crowned LongCourse Series Open Expert Champion, and Team Endurance Series Open Expert Champion and in the final race of the year, the “World’s Longest Personal Watercraft Race” – the Team Endurance 300, Mike won the six-hour race overall and was crowned the IJSBA National Team Endurance Champion. With four championships and a national title, Mike earned the number two position in the season long absolute overall point race and carried the # 2 plate for the 2002 season.

 With the #2 plate as a constant reminder during the season that he had missed being number one by a scant 4 points in 2001, Mike pulled out all the stops during the off season to ensure that he would capture the #1 Plate for 2003. The help of several sponsors and friends coupled with a personal training regimen and an exhaustive testing schedule gave Mike the fast start in 2002 that he needed. Winning his class and the overall championships at the first race put Mike in the top spot from the onset. From his winning start, Mike continued on through the season winning class and overall championships at a record setting pace. At the close of the nine race season Mike had earned an unprecedented 7 Championships. In the LongCourse Series Mike won the Series Overall Championship and Open Expert Class Championship with 1 overall win and 2 class wins. In the Gran Prix Series Mike won the Open Expert Class Championship and was Overall Runner-Up with 2 overall wins and 3 class wins. Mike Captured the Team Endurance Series Open Expert Class Championship and was the Overall Runner-Up with 1 overall win and 2 class wins. Mike also was crowned with 2 IJSBA National Class Championships for his winning performances in the Long Beach – 2 – Catalina & Back Gran Prix and the Team Endurance “300” 6-hour. Winning 8 out of 9 class races during the year vaulted Mike ahead of the competition for the points race for the coveted #1 Plate. Along with his Overall Championship, Mike was awarded the Racer of the Year Trophy and the Image Maker of the Year Trophy for the third consecutive year. This also marked the first time in history that these two awards were captured by one individual in the same year.

Second PlaceSecond PlaceWith the season end demise of the promoter that he had raced with since he began in 1994, Mike decided to venture into a different PWC racing format and Pro-Am 1200 Super Stock Class offered by BULLETT Racing at Lake Havasu, Arizona. Signing a fresh contract with YAMAHA Motor Corporation for factory backing, Mike reconfigured his boats to compete in the twelve – 40 minute sprint races that made up the BULLETT Westcoast Jet Jam Endurance Series. After experiencing initial problems with the transition to this ultra fast, short course, limited time with no pit stop races, Mike made the necessary adjustments and finished the season placing Third in the Overall Championship standings and in the Pro-Am 1200 Super Stock Class. For the season ending BULLETT - Havasu 300 – 6-Hour Endurance Race, Mike once again represented the YAMAHA Factory well by entering two boats. After leading the first half of the race on his Team’s YAMAHA GP1200R, Mike switched over to their YAMAHA FX140 Four Stroke entry to finish the race. His in the 4-Stroke Class marked the first podium finish for this new category of PWC for the YAMAHA Motor Corporation.

in the Pro-Am 1200 Super Stock Class. For t

e. His in the 4-Stroke Class marked the first podium finish for this new category of PWC for the YAMAHA Motor Corporation. in the Pro-Am 1200 Super Stock Class. For the season ending BULLETT - Havasu 300 – 6-Hour Endurance Race, Mike once again represented the YAMAHA Factory well by entering two boats. After leading the first half of the race on his Team’s YAMAHA GP1200R, Mike switched over to their YAMAHA FX140 Four Stroke entry to finish the race. His in the 4-Stroke Class marked the first podium finish for this new category of PWC for the YAMAHA Motor Corporation. in the Pro-Am 1200 Super Stock Class. For the season ending BULLETT - Havasu 300 – 6-Hour Endurance Race, Mike once again represented the YAMAHA Factory well by entering two boats. After leading the first half of the race on his Team’s YAMAHA GP1200R, Mike switched over to their YAMAHA FX140 Four Stroke entry to finish the race. His in the 4-Stroke Class marked the first podium finish for this new category of PWC for the YAMAHA Motor Corporation. in the Pro-Am 1200 Super Stock Class. For the season ending BULLETT - Havasu 300 – 6-Hour Endurance Race, Mike once again represented the YAMAHA Factory well by entering two boats. After leading the first half of the race on his Team’s YAMAHA GP1200R, Mike switched over to their YAMAHA FX140 Four Stroke entry to finish the race. His in the 4-Stroke Class marked the first podium finish for this new category of PWC for the YAMAHA Motor Corporation.

in the Pro-Am 1200 Super Stock Class. For the season ending BULLETT - Havasu 300 – 6-Hour Endurance Race, Mike once again represented the YAMAHA Factory well by entering two boats. After leading the first half of the race on his Team’s YAMAHA GP1200R, Mike switched over to their YAMAHA FX140 Four Stroke entry to finish the race. His in the 4-Stroke Class marked the first podium finish for this new category of PWC for the YAMAHA Motor Corporation. in the Pro-Am 1200 Super Stock Class. For the season ending BULLETT - Havasu 300 – 6-Hour Endurance Race, Mike once again represented the YAMAHA Factory well by entering two boats. After leading the first half of the race on his Team’s YAMAHA GP1200R, Mike switched over to their YAMAHA FX140 Four Stroke entry to finish the race. His in the 4-Stroke Class marked the first podium finish for this new category of PWC for the YAMAHA Motor Corporation.

 

of the race on his Team’s YAMAHA GP1200R, Mike switched over to their YAMAHA FX140 Four Stroke entry to finish the race. His in the 4-Stroke Class marked the first podium finish for this new category of PWC for the YAMAHA Motor Corporation. in the Pro-Am 1200 Super Stock Class. For the season ending BULLETT - Havasu 300 – 6-Hour Endurance Race, Mike once again represented the YAMAHA Factory well by entering two boats. After leading the first half of the race on his Team’s YAMAHA GP1200R, Mike switched over to their YAMAHA FX140 Four Stroke entry to finish the race. His in the 4-Stroke Class marked the first podium finish for this new category of PWC for the YAMAHA Motor Corporation.

 

in the Pro-Am 1200 Super Stock Class. For the season ending BULLETT - Havasu 300 – 6-Hour Endurance Race, Mike once again represented the YAMAHA Factory well by entering two boats. After leading the first half of the race on his Team’s YAMAHA GP1200R, Mike switched over to their YAMAHA FX140 Four Stroke entry to finish the race. His in the 4-Stroke Class marked the first podium finish for this new category of PWC for the YAMAHA Motor Corporation. in the Pro-Am 1200 Super Stock Class. For the season ending BULLETT - Havasu 300 – 6-Hour Endurance Race, Mike once again represented the YAMAHA Factory well by entering two boats. After leading the first half of the race on his Team’s YAMAHA GP1200R, Mike switched over to their YAMAHA FX140 Four Stroke entry to finish the race. His in the 4-Stroke Class marked the first podium finish for this new category of PWC for the YAMAHA Motor Corporation. in the Pro-Am 1200 Super Stock Class. For the season ending BULLETT - Havasu 300 – 6-Hour Endurance Race, Mike once again represented the YAMAHA Factory well by entering two boats. After leading the first half of the race on his Team’s YAMAHA GP1200R, Mike switched over to their YAMAHA FX140 Four Stroke entry to finish the race. His in the 4-Stroke Class marked the first podium finish for this new category of PWC for the YAMAHA Motor Corporation.

 

in the Pro-Am 1200 Super Stock Class. For the season ending BULLETT - Havasu 300 – 6-Hour Endurance Race, Mike once again represented the YAMAHA Factory well by entering two boats. After leading the first half of the race on his Team’s YAMAHA GP1200R, Mike switched over to their YAMAHA FX140 Four Stroke entry to finish the race. His in the 4-Stroke Class marked the first podium finish for this new category of PWC for the YAMAHA Motor Corporation. in the Pro-Am 1200 Super Stock Class. For the season ending BULLETT - Havasu 300 – 6-Hour Endurance Race, Mike once again represented the YAMAHA Factory well by entering two boats. After leading the first half of the race on his Team’s YAMAHA GP1200R, Mike switched over to their YAMAHA FX140 Four Stroke entry to finish the race. His in the 4-Stroke Class marked the first podium finish for this new category of PWC for the YAMAHA Motor Corporation.
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August of 2007
Highlighted Endurance Rider is Nick Vanis of Southern California
Nick has been on the scene for years now and was due for his win in this year's prestigious Long Beach to Catalina Race.  For those of you that track the history of the race, you will recall that in 2006, Nick was in the lead pack pushing the envelope and got launched on his way back into the Long Beach when he hit a very large wave.  After mounting his craft, he made his way to the finish line only to run out of fuel just short of the finish line.  Refusing to accept this end, Nick literally pushed / swam his craft across the finish line resulting in a respectable finish.  The persistence Nick demonstrated in 2006 paid off for Nick this year.  None of us know what Nick had under the hood of his RXT (Rude Performance) but since I was in the race, allow me to elaborate - Nick was hauling A-- in this year's LB2CAT race!  The conditions (smooth) for Nick and Lee Phan's RXTs could not have been more conducive to the capabilities of those craft!  And they pushed those craft to their limits resulting in quite a show!  Having reviewed some of the footage of the race, trust me when I tell you that they were reaching speeds just under 80 mph.  This is no easy accomplishment and it is a reflection of Nick's mechanical aptitude in wrenching a craft to those speeds and of course, riding ability. 
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May, 2007
Highlighted Endurance Rider is STEVE FRIEBE of Clovis, California
Steve Friebe of Clovis, CA is 48 but rides like he's 21!  Steve was born and raised in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. He started his career in the Motorsports industry as a technician at a Honda, John Deere dealer back in 1978. In 1982 Steve left the cold country to move to sunny California.  Upon moving to California, Steve went to work for Clawson Motorsport and works there to this day, the same shop where he started when he moved to California.  When asked about his job, Steve says "I'm sure glad I don’t have to go to work every day, I just get to go play, learn and have a good time.”  Steve started racing jet skis back in 1999 and was hooked immediately. He joined the crew at Noble Racing in 2005. The long endurance races are his favorite due to all of the additional requirements such as perfect fuel stops, quick rider changes and an effective race strategy.  Steve says, ”the best part about racing is all the great people you get to meet and hang out with.”  Steve's most prized accomplishment was winning the Mark Hahn Memorial 300 mile race in 2006. One of his remaining goals is to win the Long Beach to Catalina race.  Steve's best finish in the Long Beach to Catalina race is third place but he's training to win this year so watch out Catalina racers!  Steve is married to his wife Gail and has a 19 year old daughter named Bailey.

Steve Friebe's Race History:  APBA #70933 USWRA # US00602.  Years Racing 8.  2006 Seadoo RXP 2006 National Team Endurance Champion Winner of The Mark Hahn Memorial 300 New World Record 4 hours 50 Minutes (2006), East West Texas Cup Overall Winner 2005 USWRA Supercourse Rankings, 1st in Masters Class 2005 USWRA Supercourse Rankings , 1st in Pro-am 4 stroke Superstock 2005 Teamsport Racing Supercourse Series Masters Class Champion 2005 Teamsport Racing Supercourse Series 3rd overall, Pro-am 4 stroke superstock 2004 BP Motorsports endurance series 2nd overall, Overall Winner Team 400 Endurance Race, 3rd Overall Long Beach to Catalina Race, 9th Overall World Finals Super Course Race, 3rd Overall APBA Sprint Race Series 2003 BP Motorsports endurance series Champion, Class Champion Long Beach to Catalina race, 3 overall wins out of four team races 2002 IJSBA / BP Motorsports endurance series 7th overall, Masters Class Champion in Gran Prix series, Class Champion Long Beach to Catalina race

Steve Friebe's Sponsors: 
RIVA RACING CLAWSON MOTORSPORTS of Fresno, CA. NOBLE RACING LLC of Fountain Hills AZ. SLIPPERY

Tips and Guidance from Steve:
1. Never and I mean never ride in the ocean by yourself.
2  Navigate on your own, don't follow.  Lead even if you are not in the front of the group.
3. Rather than race 50 miles with your riding buddies, race 1 mile sections 50 times. That way you all stay together and can look out for each other.
4. The Ocean deserves your respect, if you doubt the condition of your ski stay home until the issues are resolved.
5. One of the most important pieces of advice I can give is along the lines of "Stop and smell the roses."  But in the offshore riders world it reads "make sure you stop and have a REAL tuna melt at the Twin Harbors" (Isthmus) as you make your trip around Catalina Island.  It makes for a day you will not soon forget!
6. If you want to ride with some of the fastest and SMARTEST offshore riders anywhere look up the Long Beach Crew and come spend the day, I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to ride with them often.

Scroll down for pictures of Steve
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April, 2007

Highlighted Endurance Rider, April 2007, JOHN BELTON of Redondo Beach, Ca 

John Belton is 48 years old and rides out of Redondo Beach, California. He's been on the offshore endurance scene for 22 years (!!) so listen up. John has been racing for five years now and brings a wealth of knowledge and riding capability to our sport. By the way, John won his first race. Belton has experienced a great deal in our sport through Mark Hahn races, Long Beach to Catalina races and many others. Mild mannered, yes. But don't be fooled, this athlete can track and is one of the best out there! John's most recent conquest is winning the Mark Hahn Race in February of 2007 on the Kawasaki ULTRA 250X in Lake Havasu, Az. Ask him about it and you'll receive his standard humble response, he gives credit to everybody else. "The Mark Hahn 300 was truly a team event. My girlfriend, Irene, was an important member of our Pit Crew Team. She kept track of our laps and kept my spirits up later in the race when the water got rougher" said John. The reality is, the skills he's gained from countless offshore PWC rides has put John at the head of the pack. John spent a great deal of time on the water over the years. "I actually live on my Sailboat in Redondo Beach" says John. He enjoys both racing and just riding for fun. "Being part of the Catalina Crew Group is a great group of guys. We all ride well, and most importantly, we watch out for one another on extended rides." Having ridden with John before, John is a great guy to have on your flank and watching your back to ensure the ride is a safe one. "I will say that riding in the open ocean is different than riding on lakes or rivers" says John. "You must respect the ocean. The weather, wind, and waves can change quickly so you always need to be aware of what's going on. I have been in the Catalina channel when the ocean swells have been 15 plus feet and the wind in excess of 40 knots! The ocean can be very unforgiving and it must be respected. In the ocean, if you think it is time to turn around, it already was. But at the end of the day, it is the friends that I have made in this sport that keep me coming back." Words of wisdom from one of the offshore sport's masters. Hat's off to John, he has certainly earned our respect for his success in riding offshore. And oh by the way, he's a heck of a nice guy to boot. We look forward to watching John continuing to excel and win endurance races.