May 10 – May 12, 2024
My 2024 MotoSurf GP Keystone Heights experience was one to remember. From the moment I landed in Florida, I knew that the weekend was going to be an experience meant to be shared. I got into Keystone Heights Friday afternoon, right after a wicked storm had blown through the northern and central part of the state. While the storm left branches and small trees laying on the ground behind in its wake, it also left beautiful, sunny weather that provided the perfect environment to kick off the 2024 MotoSurf Games racing season.
Racers representing both North and South America filled out the field for this year’s Keystone Heights race. Representing countries included the United States, Mexico, Canada and Chile. Featured in the lineup included the first American MotoSurf racer to finish on the podium at the 2023 MotoSurf World Championship in Europe, Antony Squire (@antony_squire) from North Carolina. Additionally, there were some first time racers looking for valuable experience such as Christiano Gomes (@christiano_gomes) and Rebecca Smith (@re3ecca_smith), both representing the U.S.Â
Saturday’s heat rounds saw intense competition as racers got familiar with the track course setup. On the shore, tweaks to footpads, fins, control handle cables, and board leashes could be seen being swapped out and adjusted. As an entertaining break during sets of heats, fun challenge races like the team tube race and duo champagne race brought laughter and excitement to the racers and spectators alike. Keystone Heights locals of all ages streamed in and out of the lake all throughout the day, looking on curiously. Most of them had never heard of the sport of jetboarding and were exposed to the sport for the first time that weekend. As the sun set on beautiful Lake Geneva Saturday evening, the smell of burgers and barbecue wafted on the shores as everyone involved got together to eat and chat about the happenings of the day.
Sunday saw the intensity of the competition ramp up as Finals positioning was being cemented and racers focused their eyes on the proverbial prize. While the overcast weather wasn’t as warm as Saturday’s, the heat could be felt on the track. With buoys adjusted overnight for optimal positioning, the track was primed to be as challenging as it could be. The finals were as electrifying as you could ask for, with performances such as Ryder Sawangwan (@ryder.sawangwan) representing the U.S. taking 1st place in both Juniors and Hobby category. In the Women’s category, Reanna Deveau (@reannabrooke) representing Canada took the top spot with plenty of time to spare and showed how to dominate in Finals. Antony Squire successfully defended his 2023 MotoSurf Keystone Heights title by going back-to-back this year in the Elite class. A first was achieved for Tyler Chenault (@chenaultracing) representing the U.S., who clinched his first podium finish as a professional racer by finishing 3rd.
Whether in win or in defeat, all racers showed top-level class, sportsmanship and respect for each other. Competitors on the water transitioned to friends off of it. This group of racers had both experience and fresh faces that welcomed one another like they had known each other their whole lives. Seeing the mix of racers and families from different backgrounds come together as one MotoSurf family was something to behold. Those that attended the 2024 MotoSurf GP Keystone Heights event invested large amounts of time and money to participate in something they love so dearly, and it showed every day of the weekend. Being able to observe the MotoSurf family in person brought invaluable insight into those that are the foundational backbone behind this growing sport. I would like to thank everyone that I met that weekend, as I felt welcomed and included no matter who I was around. On behalf of MotoSurf Nation, I look forward to covering more races in person going forward in the future!
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