This year's HydroTurf APBA Watercross Nationals (presented by Sea-Doo) once again was the must-attend watercraft racing event of the summer. The three-day event featured more than 270 of the top watercraft racers from 32 different states and Canada. Fun and family-oriented, the event took place Labor Day weekend (August 31-September 2) at the Nashville Shores Park, just minutes from downtown Nashville. One of the favorite sites for watercraft racers and fans, Nashville is home to some of the best watercraft racing action, with a social atmosphere as well as all the hospitality and charm that comes with the famous city.
The event was also the final points round for the 2007 APBA Watercross National Tour and final points round for the APBA National Highpoints Championship that would determine each rider's national ranking, making this event imperative for competitive racers to attend. The APBA's National Highpoints system is the ranking system in which accumulated points from each racer's top six event scores count as double points.
The event featured top Amateur, Pro and Junior racers from all across the United States and Canada competing for cash, awards, and National Championship titles and numbers. The event was filmed for a one-hour special that will air on the Water Channel in the first quarter of 2008. In addition to the top Amateur riders, all the top riders in the United States were in attendance, including Eric Malone, Chris MacClugage, Rob Flores, Eric Lagopoulos, Craig Warner, Chris Hagest, Erminio Iantasca, Billy Dearman, Amy Green, Leanne Falvey, Dennis Mack, Rick Sherker, Bill Haig, and many others in attendance trying to earn a shot at a National Championship title.
On Friday, the Junior and Novice classes, with many of the riders still working toward top APBA National Highpoints positions, took to the playing field. With the top spots being very close in the points chase, last year's Junior rider Andrew Harris from Virginia made the move to Novice and wasted no time in taking the closed-course wins in the Stock and Limited aboard his new Hydrospace S4. While impressive as the wins were, it wasn't quite enough to usurp the APBA National Highpoints lead away from defending champion Jake Zier of Indiana who earned the number-one plate in both Stock and Limited, switching between a Polaris and a Hydrospace.
The Novice Runabout Stock class was another all-in-all battle for the top. Austin Nelson, Aaron Norton and Craig Fritz all showed their resolve and tenacity. Austin Nelson of Michigan came off the closed course with the win on his Sea-Doo XP and earning the number-two Highpoints spot, holding off Aaron Norton but not quite able to close the points gap on Craig Fritz who took home the Highpoints Championship aboard a Sea-Doo.
In the Novice Women's Ski class, Britney Charrier of Indiana beat fellow Hoosier Ashley Bryant for the victory in Nashville. Britney was also the 2007 APBA National Highpoints Champion as well.
The Junior riders were out in full force with some of the fiercest battles of the weekend coming out of the three classes. The 13-15-year-old classes were dominated by Kiefer King from California, Donald Smith from Alabama, and Cory Cole from Canada, leaving no room for error as the race for the National number-one place drew closer. At the end of the day, Kiefer King and Donald Smith both walked away with a victory in Nashville and an APBA National Highpoints number-one trophy aboard Kawasakis.
In the sport's class for the youngest, the Junior Ski 10-12 Stock class, was an old-school East Coat vs. West Coast/Hydrospace vs. Kawasaki battle. In one of the best races of the weekend, last year's champion Brandon McMillan of Arizona was the winner in Nashville for the second-straight year with Josh Block of Indiana, taking a close second. When all the points were tallied, Blocks second-place finish was enough for him to maintain his points lead and take home the APBA National Highpoints Championships.
The Amateur and Masters classes lined up for Saturday, as well as the Amateur Freestyle class, for an action-packed show. In Amateur Freestyle, all eight competitors put on a fantastic show for everyone in attendance. But, with a fast-paced routine and the first-ever Amateur flat-water backflip to seal the deal, Michael Ratti took home the win in unmatched style.
The Amateur Ski Stock II class saw an almost-full line of Hydrospace riders. The only two-stroke in the top five belonged to Conrad Cole from Canada, who finished second to Andrew Harris' Hydrospace. In the battle for the number-one plate, Florida riders David Cabrera and Ryan Beaver kept a tight points battle, with Beaver edging out Cabrera by only nine points for the win.
In the Masters Ski classes, it was North Carolina's Bill Haig's show, taking the win in both the Stock and Open classes. In Amateur Runabout 800 Open, Jimmy Wright, of Florida, took the win against Russell Veverka of Ohio and Cameron Frame of West Virginia. Russell's third place over Cameron's fourth gave Veverka the APBA National Highpoints title by only seven points, proving once again that every point counts. In the Amateur 800 Limited, Rick Raj of Canada was the big winner while Ryan O'Brien of Nebraska, pulled ahead of West Virginia's Drew Roush, earning enough points to win the Highpoints overall number-one plate.
Sunday's lineup included Expert and Pro/Am classes accompanied by the Pro Freestyle contenders, and everyone was ready to see just what these racers had in store. Each of these riders was competing for Watercross Nationals Championships, National Tour overall Championships, and the coveted National Highpoints Championship with that number-one plate. In the Expert Runabout 1200 Limited class, Dennis Mack of Georgia, who won all but one tour stop, clinched yet another National Championship. Mack was unable to close the points gap on Billy Dearman of Mississippi, who took the win for the National Championship in the Expert Runabout 1200 Open class. This was a big and well-deserved win for Dearman who rides a super-fast Yamaha.
In two of the biggest classes of the weekend, Pro/Am Ski Stock and Open had some of the most intense battles of the weekend. In the Open Class, last year's Junior Ski 13-15 Stock Champion Conrad Cole of Canada came away with the victory with Rob Flores of Nevada, finishing second. This was a huge victory for the 16-year-old, beating out some of the fastest riders in the World on his Kawasaki. Flores' second-place finish was enough to take the National Tour Championship away from Chris Hagest, who had boat problems and finished dead last in the main event. While Hagest had a terrible day at the Nationals, his great riding and large number of National Tour wins throughout the season maintained his points lead, as he edged out reigning champion Rob Flores by five points for the APBA National Highpoints Championship and for the number-one plate for Hydrospace.
In the Pro-Am Stock class, it was once again Chris Hagest and Rob Flores in a winner-takes-all points battle. Both riders had to qualify for the main through the LCQ, and during the event Flores was able to walk away with the win for the weekend; however, it wasn't quite enough to surpass Chris Hagest's lead for the National Tour Championship. When all the points were tallied, both Flores and Hagest were tied with 650 points. With the tiebreaker decided by the most first-place wins, the number-one plate and Highpoints Championship was awarded to Hagest.
In the Pro-Am Runabout Open class, there were just over 100 points separating first from fifth place. With lap times clocking more than one minute and a 20-lap second-moto set to test the absolute limits of their equipment and physical endurance, Kawasaki rider Erminio Iantasca of Florida took a commanding holeshot and the early lead. At the halfway mark, it was Iantasca, Billy Dearman and Justin Haverkate of Michigan at the lead. After fighting his way through the pack, Justin Haverkate piloted his Sea-Doo into first place and never looked back until the checkered flag dropped. Finishing in fourth place was all Erminio needed to lay claim to the National Tour and APBA National Highpoints Championships.
In the Pro-Am Runabout 800 Open class, it was a battle between Eric Lagopoulos of Florida, and Brian Baldwin of North Carolina. Going into Nashville, Baldwin held a small lead over reigning champion Lagopoulos. Whichever one of these riders won Nashville would take home all three Championships. When the checkered flag dropped, it was Lagopoulos taking the win in Nashville, the National Tour title, and keeping his number-one plate.
In Pro Freestyle, Jason Stoyer of Florida finally got the recognition he deserved by pulling off a spectacular routine earning him the National Championship. Jeremy Parr, who recently relocated to Florida, finished second, and John Havell, also of Florida, came in third.
In other racing classes, Allen Walker from Florida took home the big win, earning enough points to pass Rob Greenwald of Georgia, for the National Highpoints title and number-one plate. Greenwald, however, maintained his lead as the National Tour Champion. In Pro-Am Women's Ski class, Crissy Hale, of Arizona, rode an impressive race and held off Leanne Falvey, of New Hampshire, for the Watercross Nationals victory. Falvey, however, earned enough points to retain her National Tour Championship and number-one plate.
In the Expert Ski Limited class, Rick Sherker of Pennsylvania continued his winning ways, stomping Arizona's Jesse Thompson, the 2006 Champion. Sherker chalked up a trifecta, winning the Nationals, National Tour, and APBA National Highpoints Championships. In Sport Modified, Lee Smith of Florida, for the second year in a row, proved the Yamaha Blaster is still a venerable PWC, by taking the win in Nashville; however, Scott McKenna, of Virginia, finished second and earned enough points to steal the number-one plate from Smith for the 2008 season. In the Women's Runabout class, Amy Green from California was the overall winner in Nashville ahead of Christine Milone of Florida, who ran a great race. Green retained her National Tour championship and number-one plate.
This year's Nationals capped off another great season of closed-course PWC racing in the United States. Everybody had a great time and it was a very safe event, which is the number-one priority for the APBA and the organizers of this event.
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The three-day event featured more than 270 of the top watercraft racers from 32 different states and Canada. Fun and family-oriented, the event took place Labor Day weekend (August 31-September 2) at the Nashville Shores Park, just minutes from downtown Nashville. One of the favorite sites for watercraft racers and fans, Nashville is home to some of the best watercraft racing action, with a social atmosphere as well as all the hospitality and charm that comes with the famous city.
it wasn't quite enough to usurp the APBA National Highpoints lead away from defending champion Jake Zier of Indiana who earned the number-one plate in both Stock and Limited, switching between a Polaris and a Hydrospace.
In the sport's class for the youngest, the Junior Ski 10-12 Stock class, was an old-school East Coat vs. West Coast/Hydrospace vs. Kawasaki battle. In one of the best races of the weekend, last year's champion Brandon McMillan of Arizona was the winner in Nashville for the second-straight year with Josh Block of Indiana, taking a close second. When all the points were tallied, Blocks second-place finish was enough for him to maintain his points lead and take home the APBA National Highpoints Championships. 
The Amateur and Masters classes lined up for Saturday, as well as the Amateur Freestyle class, for an action-packed show. In Amateur Freestyle, all eight competitors put on a fantastic show for everyone in attendance. But, with a fast-paced routine and the first-ever Amateur flat-water backflip to seal the deal, Michael Ratti took home the win in unmatched style.
In the battle for the number-one plate, Florida riders David Cabrera and Ryan Beaver kept a tight points battle, with Beaver edging out Cabrera by only nine points for the win.
Mack was unable to close the points gap on Billy Dearman of Mississippi, who took the win for the National Championship in the Expert Runabout 1200 Open class. This was a big and well-deserved win for Dearman who rides a super-fast Yamaha.
While Hagest had a terrible day at the Nationals, his great riding and large number of National Tour wins throughout the season maintained his points lead, as he edged out reigning champion Rob Flores by five points for the APBA National Highpoints Championship and for the number-one plate for Hydrospace.
In the Pro-Am Runabout 800 Open class, it was a battle between Eric Lagopoulos of Florida, and Brian Baldwin of North Carolina. Going into Nashville, Baldwin held a small lead over reigning champion Lagopoulos. Whichever one of these riders won Nashville would take home all three Championships. When the checkered flag dropped, it was Lagopoulos taking the win in Nashville, the National Tour title, and keeping his number-one plate.
In the Expert Ski Limited class, Rick Sherker of Pennsylvania continued his winning ways, stomping Arizona's Jesse Thompson, the 2006 Champion. Sherker chalked up a trifecta, winning the Nationals, National Tour, and APBA National Highpoints Championships. In Sport Modified, Lee Smith of Florida, for the second year in a row, proved the Yamaha Blaster is still a venerable PWC, by taking the win in Nashville; however, Scott McKenna, of Virginia, finished second and earned enough points to steal the number-one plate from Smith for the 2008 season. In the Women's Runabout class, Amy Green from California was the overall winner in Nashville ahead of Christine Milone of Florida, who ran a great race. Green retained her National Tour championship and number-one plate.
This year's Nationals capped off another great season of closed-course PWC racing in the United States. Everybody had a great time and it was a very safe event, which is the number-one priority for the APBA and the organizers of this event.
