The high-speed thrills and spills of the British Jetsport Championships are coming to Crosby this weekend

Around 70 jet ski racers of all ages and levels will be on the water at Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre on Saturday and Sunday, June 14 & 15, competing in Round 3 of the championship series.

Spectators in Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre will be able to watch all the action free from a viewing area at the centre, and fans of the riders will have a chance to get selfies in lunchtime meet and greet sessions each day.

Vice chairman of the Jetsport Racing Association, Will Young, says it’s an exhilarating spectacle, with elite competitors reaching speeds of up to 80mph.

“They are riding what we would categorise as GP skis, going around 80mph, and they don’t have brakes which is one of the reasons why it’s such an exciting sport to watch.

“It’s not only the top speed but how quickly they get to it that is probably the most unexpected element for people who’ve never watched jet ski racing before.

“When the lights go green and they go, it’s much quicker than you’d think. 50 or 60mph in a car might not seem very fast, but when you’re that close to the water it really is.”

The 2025 British Jetsport Championship Series is decided over six rounds held in various locations across the country.

Races are split into different categories, with the GP being the loudest, fastest and generally most exciting for spectators.

At the end of each round, top three trophies are awarded in each class then at the end of the season the combined total of points won over the entire series decides who the British champions are. 

The two main categories are stand-up and sit-down jet skis, with riders competing over a twisting turning course marked out by coloured buoys. Stand-up riders also have the added challenge of an obstacle: a log jump made of tyres that they have to bunny hop over.

Categories are divided into classes such as engine sizes, different specs, novice and expert and there are also two vintage ones for original jet skis dating back to the 80s. 

Will says the sport attracts a wide range of ages and experience. “Our youngest rider is nine and the oldest is 72,” he adds. “Our sport is very family and community-driven, and in our junior class we have a good number of girls as well as boys so there’s a nice diversity too.

“It’s one of these sports that’s very much associated to petrolheads, I’d say it’s fundamentally like motorbike racing without brakes on the water, but it’s also very accessible. It isn’t like watching a football team where the players are unapproachable.

“This year we’ll have an area within Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre which has different vendors ranging from manufacturers, to clothing companies, wetsuits and accessories, and in the central part is our information centre. On both days, between 12 and 1pm, we’ll be doing a rider autograph selfie session, where people can meet current World, European and British champions.”

Racing will happen from 12noon until around 5pm on Saturday and from 9am all day on Sunday. It’s free for spectators and it’s not ticketed, you can just turn up and watch.

And there’s no need to worry about not being able to follow the action – Will says they have a commentary team ready to take care of that.

“Part of the team’s challenge is to make sure everyone watching knows what’s going on. It’s not just about saying who’s leading the race but bringing to life what’s happening on the water for people who’ve never seen jet ski racing before.”

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