Mark Gerner, Core Team
Team PWCOFFSHORE Racing has retired
9/2/2022: That’s a wrap. PWCOFFSHORE founder Mark Gerner confirms retirement from Offshore & Endurance Racing. Gerner stated that from time-to-time he will “continue to race to support promoters and the sport, but it will be more about support of the racing community vs the win.” Gerner said “Offshore riding and racing has been a passion for 25 years, I’ve made great friends and competed against the best, it’s been a great ride.” Gerner was known to push the envelope and ride with a great deal of intensity in very rough offshore water. He was one of the very few racers that could hold contemporary watercraft wide open throttle (WOT) in greater than three-foot sea state from Long Beach to Catalina and back (56 miles). Only those few who have challenged the channel in those conditions can truly understand and appreciate that feat.
Mark Gerner is the founder of PWCOFFSHORE.COM. Outside of Gerner's extremely busy professional life, deep offshore PWC/Watercraft riding and racing was his passion for over 25 years. He has countless (well over 1000 trips to Catalina Island and back from Los Angeles on a JetSki) and extensive experience on the water. He is a Memorial Mark Hahn 300 Mile Race National Endurance Champion, a Triple Crown of Offshore Overall Champion, a Mark Hahn 300 Mile Race Iron-Man Champion, was voted the USA offshore racer of the year, is a member of the offshore racing "Dream Team," has had overall podium finishes in 2018 and 2019 (2nd overall) at the Mark Hahn 300 Mile Arizona Race. Gerner has more podiums at the Long Beach to Catalina and Back race (LB2CAT) than most racers combined, he has the second fastest time in the history of the LB2CAT Race; making it from the Queen Mary in Long Beach to Catalina/Avalon and back (long course) to the Queen Mary in 51 minutes and 52 seconds in 2015 racing a 400 horsepower Turbo Kawasaki Ultra. Starting in 2005, Gerner played a major role in revitalizing offshore racing in the United States.
Gerner has been an advocate for offshore and endurance riding, racers, race promoters and rider safety for many years; In 2019 Gerner was awarded the "Ambassador Award for Offshore and Endurance Racing" for his advocacy of endurance racing. Gerner is a former US Marine Corps Infantry Officer and avid supporter of various veteran’s charities across the United States.
Mark Gerner thanks his beloved Pit Crew for their support over the years: Aaron Cress (RIP) and his wife April, US Marine Gunny Mike Arnold, David “Pirate” Tew, Steve Rasmussen, Lauren Rasmussen, Rod Mulinox, Zack Goldstein, Kody Danel, and other race partners like legendary safety instructor, racer and friend Shawn Alladio, KC Heidler, Peewee Price, Chad, Steve Friebe and John Belton. Gerner said “although the Team retired in 2020 and is now disbanded, PWCOFFHSORE.COM and the Hall of Fame will live on forever, nothing will change there and we have identified a successor that will take over PWCOFFSHORE when I am gone.” It’s been an amazing ride, thank you to all who I worked with and raced against.
“Seek perfection, WORK harder than everyone else, second place is first loser – Never surrender, out”
DISCLAIMER
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Take a boating safety class prior to riding or racing in the ocean. Consult with the the US Coast Guard for safety training prior to riding in the ocean. Seek out and participate in training from certified professionals prior to riding in the ocean. This website is informational only. This site is intended for the review by adults only. No representation is made or warranty given as to its content. User assumes all risk of use of PWCOffshore.com, its owners and its suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Warning - although PWC riding is great fun, riding personal watercraft (PWC) in the ocean is not for the beginner and is for adults only. Offshore PWC / JetSki riding is extremely dangerous and can result in serious injury or death. The information on this site is for adults and strictly the opinion of the writers on this site. We are only PWC enthusiasts - please do your own research and make your own judgments regarding what products you purchase and how & where you ride your watercraft (PWC). We are not certified safety experts, mechanics nor are we certified mariners or certified maritime navigators. Do not take anything you read on this site as guidance from a "professional." By reading this site, you agree to take whatever information or input you receive from this site at your own risk. If you are inexperienced or a beginner we recommend against riding in the open ocean. We encourage you to take a boating safety course and consult with the Coast Guard regarding PWC, boating, proper safety and communications equipment, rider safety and maritime navigation before you consider riding PWC offshore, in the ocean. For more boating safety information, go to the Coast Guard's website at http://www.uscg.mil/ for more information. Seek out formal boating and PWC related safety and training courses prior to riding in the ocean. Have fun and be safe and never ride in the ocean until you have received properly training. Consult with the Coast Guard before you ride in the ocean! All rights reserved; Use of the PWCOFFSHORE.COM Logo without the written consent of PWCOFFSHORE.COM is strictly prohibited. Stating affiliation with PWCOFFSHORE.COM without the written consent of PWCOFFSHORE.COM is strictly prohibited.
