In this series sponsored by ProWatercraftRacing.com, MotorActionMedia interviews talented and passionate athletes on their love for the sport and how ProWatercraftRacing.com handling components help them charge after their goals.
Jules Hopkins is an up and coming racer from Bilioxi, MS. He was a force to be reckoned with in the Novice ski class, and decided to move up to Pro Ski after only two years of racing in order to take on a challenge. MotorActionMedia.com interviewed Jules on his drive to go rail-to-rail with the best in the world, and how Pro Watercraft Racing.com handling components help improve the handling of his Trinity Vector V-drive in order to push it to the limit.
I understand that you have been riding Jet Skis since you were very little, and your quick jump to the Pro division has been an uphill battle — what keeps you going and keeping faith in your passion? What is your goal for the future?
Well, my dad has been involved in Jetskiing for ages. He got into it while he was stationed as a part of the USCG in the early 90s, he opened a performance power sports shop not long after and formed a race team. I was born around the time the team was still active, so I grew up in the racing environment. I spent my weekends with my mom and dad on the beaches at the races, and all I wanted to do when I grew up was race. When I was finally old enough, I attended my first race in 2012, and raced Junior Ski 13-15 on an SX-R 800. I raced Novice Ski Lites in 2013, and after that I decided to jump up to Pro to give myself a challenge in 2014. I decided to move up because Novice was fun, but I really just wanted the challenge of racing the best in the world. I’m hoping that by racing the best I can eventually be one of the best; just racing against some of these guys, like Dustin Motzouris or Chris MacCluggage, gives me great experience. Moving up into the Pro class was kind of fulfilling part of my childhood dream, I grew up watching these guys, and it’s so cool to be lining up with them. Right now, I know I am not ready to blow the competition in the Pro class away, but I think it’s a lot of fun to try and fight my way up through the pack, especially in such a talented and competitive group of guys. AlI want to do is keep having fun on my Jet Ski.
You were in the mix of the top riders at the first two rounds of the Pro Watercross National tour, what do you think it will take for you to get to where you want to be?
I know a lot of people will go out on weekends and spend all their time on the buoys; to me it’s more about having fun. I like to get out on my ski and just ride, pushing myself to the limits and having a good time. I spend a lot of time working in the shop with my dad, so I don’t ride as often as I’d like to, but I spend a lot of extra time watching race film and working out. I think that if I stay dedicated to my training, and continue to learn and gain experience, I will reach my goals. Trying new things and pushing myself harder will help me evolve and get there.
- Jules runs Pro Watercraft Racing.com urethane front sponsons on his ski, to check them out for yourself, find them on the Pro Watercraft Racing.com website by clicking here.
Could you tell me a little bit about your ski? I know you are running some Pro Watercraft handling components, which products are you using?
For Pro Ski GP, I am racing a Hopkins-modified Trinity hull with an 1100 motor. Like I said, my dad has been building skis forever, so he has helped me build my ski from the bottom up. We have modified our hull and done additional motor work in-house, at Performance Jet Ski and Cycle of Biloxi. My ski has been set up with the ProWatercraftRacing.com urethane front sponsons.
How would you compare your ride before using PWR products, to now, with the products installed?
When I first got my hull, I didn’t have any sponsons on it. My ski was a little harder to control, I had a little trouble getting it to corner how I wanted it to. When I would lean it over, it felt like there was no comfortable point where I could really get into the throttle because the ski felt like it lacked a smooth roll. Adding the front sponsons made the ski much more stable and predictable. It’s tough to explain; but without them I felt as though I was either turning completely on my side, or straight up; but with the front sponsons I had a greater range of leaning motion and more control. I also just bought a ProWatercraftRacing.com Ergo tray extender, I’ve heard great feedback about it and I can’t wait to try it. With how well the ProWatercraftRacing.com front sponsons worked, I don’t think I could go wrong with this either.
How have PWR products affected your game?
I have been using these sponsons for two seasons and I have had so much more confidence in my ski and what it is doing while I am trying to push it to the limits, and then pushing it a little further. Having that confidence in my ski lets me focus more on what is going on around me on the track, rather than having to focus on what my ski is doing. I don’t have to spend additional energy trying to fight my ski and I can focus on the race at hand. Without my ski fighting me, I can devote the extra energy to pinning the throttle, which already demands so much energy in the GP class.
- Pro Watercraft Racing.com urethane front sponsons installed on Jules’ Pro Ski GP machine.
Would you recommend what you are using to other riders? Why?
I would definitely recommend it. As soon as you install them you can feel the difference. If you go from no sponsons to Pro Watercraft Racing.com sponsons, you would be blown away by the difference in stability. If you are using other sponsons you would still be amazed by how much control and stability these give you in comparison. The way the urethane sponsons are designed makes them so much better than most of the sponsons on the market. The urethane sponsons are the only sponsons that come with a backing on them that makes install easier, they are extremely durable and cheaper than their fiberglass counterpart but just as great. It’s easier and cheaper to get a great handling set up, rather than start throwing money at your motor; and that’s why I recommend starting with Pro Watercraft.
Why do you think it’s important to be passionate?
If you don’t have passion or drive, what are you doing? Without passion there is no point to doing anything. If you don’t enjoy it, there’s no sense in doing it. I grew up in this, and I have grown to love it. I am really just a guy who loves to go out and ride my Jet Ski and go fast – it makes me happy. I have dreamed about racing like this since I was little, and watched these great racers when I was growing up. Someday I will come out on top[laughs].
Is there anyone you would like to thank?
I would like to thank my dad, he’s done so much for me. The rest of my family for their support. My sponsors: Rhaas Products, Fly Racing, Performance Jet Ski and Cycle of Mississippi, Jason Pilger Hyundai. And I’d like to thank Chris Hagest at Pro Watercraft Racing.com and MotorActionMedia.com for giving me a chance to be featured online.
Featured photo by Mrs.RSRacing Images.