How to ride a 300hp Sea-Doo like a pro

You don’t get to the top of your game by taking a backseat. So when we approached the seven times Australian Pro Open Runabout Champion for his tips about how to ride the new 300hp Sea-Doo like a boss you better listen up.

Of course, we have covered the spectacular new 300hp Sea-Doo global launch in Nashville last year in detail on these sites. We drove the 300hp RXP, RXT and LTD variants up the Cumberland River all the way to Old Hickory Lake for cheeseburgers.

Our experience with the powerful new 1.6-litre Rotax 1630 ACE engine was certainly adrenalin-fuelled. You can read about the sensations HERE.

But now that the 300hp Sea-Doo is available through dealerships in Australia we were seeking some pro tips to help us go further on home turf. We couldn’t think of anyone better equipped for that than Anthony “Squid” Antees, the seven times Australian champ.

With a love of riding Sea-Doo watercraft, Anthony has the runs on the board. Along with seven Australian Championships, he has a Kings Cup win in Thailand, a World Surf Moto win, and two podium finishes at the World Finals Pro Open to his credit.

The ‘ski’ expert at JSW Powersports, which so happens to be the biggest Sea-Doo dealer in the world, just loves to ride. He also has a real passion for the Gold Coast and just getting out on the water.

With this in mind, we dropped some buoys in the Broadwater one sunny day and set a race course for Anthony to strut his stuff. Then we hit him up with his top five tips for riding like a pro. Of course, natural aptitude and talent help!

Anthony will tell you straight up that safety is paramount. That is the number one bit of advice he will give you before you set out. Looking fit and rearing to go with this race gear on, our champion instructor was keen to show us the Sea-Doo RXP-X in action.

The RXP-X is a $22,000 (sans trailer) two-seater watercraft. We had the White and Day-Glo yellow combo, but most buyers opt for the lava red livery. You can race the RXP-X off the shelf in the stock class if you so desire. But even for the recreational rider, Anthony’s tips will help you get the most from your time in the saddle.

1. Set up the watercraft for the conditions with the adjustable sponsons.
"The factory-fitted race sponsons can be adjusted in three positions from Race to Sport to Free Ride. Race is the most aggressive and has the most amount of ‘bite’ in the turns, progressing to the Sport setting, which is middle of the road, and then Free Ride, which is noticeably freer. You’re going from on rails and in-the-face to something that is a bit loose. When you are in the Race setting, the Sea-Doo is point and shoot and it really hooks around and just hangs on. So start in the middle in the Sport mode and gauge your ride from there. Work up to Race mode. It’s a lot more physical. It’s aggressive. It wears you out. The ski gets around the track harder and faster. If you want to get the most from Race mode you have to be fit. Riding requires a lot of upper body strength. I do gym work for upper body strength for this very purpose."

2. Work with the Variable Trim System (VTS).
"The trim button for the VTS is a rocker switch on the left handlebar. When you depress the button, the bow rise is adjusted accordingly. Trim the Sea-Doo up and the bow gets loose and you will ride on the aft sections of the hull to attain top speed in flat water. But you will need to trim the bow in  when the surface is bumpy. The big thing when racing around the buoys is the trim in for the turns to add to the grip and the Race setting of the sponsons. There’s also the issue of fuel. If it’s bumpy you might increase fuel load to help keep the Sea-Doo in the water. But if it’s calm then you might lighten the load to maximise the top end (120km/h) and mind-blowing acceleration."

3. Think ahead, look ahead, read the water.
"A lot of riders just sit there and don’t read the water. If you want to make the most of the responsive Sea-Doo, look ahead, read the water, use the throttle control, and set yourself for the next turn. You have to feel like one with the Sea-Doo. The new Ergo Lock seating really helps with this. Between the contoured thigh-hugging seat and the angled footwell wedges, you are part of the watercraft and not just a passenger."

4. Get settled before the turn and use the throttle.
"Generally you want to get yourself settled, get the ski settled, and be smooth on the throttle as you approach the turn. Roll off the throttle, power into the turn, and the hit the throttle on the apex and the way out. There is no need to drop your knee or shift your body before the turn. The Sea-Doo will just lay over and you’ll be hanging on with your legs and that ‘ergo.’ The old body-shift style of riding is a thing of the past. Just move intuitively with the Sea-Doo and don’t fight it."

5. To finish first, you must first finish.
"That’s been my motto all my riding life. It doesn’t matter how fast you’re going, to finish first you first have to finish. Work on your riding ability and skills and the good times will come. Always be aware of what’s around you, think ahead, look ahead, get your breathing right, and get yourself settled. I still find myself going around holding my breath. But you can end up winding yourself up and overriding the watercraft. Get your breathing right and relax into it and you’ll be in more control. Remember play it safe. Get some proper riding apparel. Everyone needs a PFD, wetsuit, booties and gloves. Finally, consider joining a Ride Day. At JSW Powersports, we have 200-plus Sea-Doos at our Ride Days and everyone comes away a bit more experienced. At the end of the day, there’s no substitute for bum-on-seat time," Anthony says, accelerating away and showing how it's done

Maintaining your Sea-Doo
At a VIP owners’ night for Sea-Doo riders at JSW Powersports, Anthony “Squid” Antees held centre stage with an informative presentation about watercraft maintenance. The big tips were: flush the unit (engine runs first and last) at the end of the day, wash your Sea-Doo with soapy water, spray the engine with Sea-Doo anti-corrosive spray, and remove the foam-backed upholstered seat and to leave it leaning vertically so it drains of water. With routine servicing (annually or every 50 hours), the rest pretty much takes care of itself. But with the exciting new 300hp Sea-Doos there’s just so much room to improve your riding that you’ll want to get out there at every opportunity and that sea will barely have tie to dry.