He just returned from a RIB Rally on the Bahamas as the next experience crosses his path. The upcoming season Jobe jetskier Max van der Valk has a well filled agenda including a very important peak; the IJSBA World Championships in the USA!
Every year the IJSBA World Championships will be held at Lake Havasu in Arizona, USA. The event attracts 750 of the best jetski racers in the world from 36 different countries.
The 31st edition of this event will be organised this year from the 29th of September until the 7th of October.
Max is all set for the upcoming season: “I’ve got the feeling, 2012 is going to be my year! I’m convinced that I could push my jetski racing to a higher level. I know that I’m able to compete against the best riders in the world and that’s why I decided to take part at the Worlds last winter.
Max is going to compete in the categories; ski open and ski CP. Besides that, he will take part in the ski limited category to get used to the conditions of the lake.
Before the World Championships will take part, Max has got the National Championships, the BeNeLux Cup and the European Championships on his schedule. Max has got enough training opportunities to get in shape for the World Championships.
Please keep your eyes close on the official Jobe website; www.jobesports.com to stay up to date on the planning of Max van der Valk. Check out the interview below as well!
JOBE: Hi Max, How are you doing?
I’ am doing really great! The summer is coming up so finally the time of waiting is over!!
JOBE: What have you been up to lately?
In the winter I went skiing in Switzerland. Due to the low temperature of the water I rode a lot on my motocross bike. When the water temperature started to rise I went back on the PWC. The winter testing and training where necessary in order to get comfortable with the PWC. Besides that, I went to the Bahamas for the RIB Rally final 2012 and my team won!!!
JOBE: How was the RIB Rally at the Bahamas?
It was incredible! I had so much fun with my team members! The race is tough but a lot of fun. In the end we won! The Bahamas are great! Turquoise sea and white beaches and nice easy-going local beach bars
JOBE: Could you tell us more about it?
It’s a 7-day-event where all the teams sail 500 nautical miles. Six racing days and one lay-day. The teams are racing with a 250 HP engine Rigid Inflatable Boat which is capable of 60 MPH on a choppy sea. The teams consists of four or more team members: a throttle man/trim, a steersman, a navigator/runner-swimmer and a runner-swimmer.
All the boats are the same so the difference is in driving the boat and the special bonus (running and swimming). The main purpose of the RIB Rally is to enjoy a week filled with extreme sports and having fun! I hope to be there at the starting line again in 2013!
JOBE: How long have you been riding and how did you start out?
I started with RIB Rally when I was 18. It was in 2007 when our driver fell out of the boat. I was forced to take over the steering wheel. After that I became more confident behind the steering wheel of the boat. The first time I drove the boat I seemed to know how the boat reacts on the big waves. The past few years I started winning boat races and I won a lot of boat races in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
JOBE: What keeps you busy if you are not on the water?
I like extreme sports, soccer and running. I play soccer a lot with my friends and older brother. I like running while I am listening to the latest music which gets me pumped up. Besides that I am a 2nd year student Bachelor degree in hospitality. Actually I am always busy and wen I don’t know what to do I watch movies from my previous races to check my style and try to find the ways to improve myself. There are so many things I could do and like that I never get bored!
JOBE: How do you combine your study with you PWC carrier?
I love my life as a student, because there are no responsibilities accept for the exams I must pass. After every school day I can do what ever I want! Of course I need to train a lot for the upcoming season. Every training day will take 2 hours traveling by train, but during my traveling I can do my homework. Once a week I go to the gym and I have a small routine before I go to bed.
JOBE: What is your training scheme and on which location do you train?
My main training location is Maurik (in the middle of Holland). Some of the weekends when there are no races I train in Ranst-Antwerp (Belgium).
Monday 19:30 only in summer because of the sun
Wednesday 17:30
Weekend 10:00 most of the times on Sunday
JOBE: You have told us you’ve got plans competing in the world finals at Lake Havasu, tell us all about it!!
I feel like this is the year! After two bad years in a row I feel like I need to take my riding to the next level. I know I am able to ride with the best in the world, because I’ve done it before and I know what it takes. So this winter we decided that I am going to compete in the world finals. I will be racing in the ski open and ski GP. But I also want to race in the ski Limited to get used to the Lake Havasu conditions.
JOBE: What is makes you feel so passionate about PWC riding?
It is an addictive sport. And I love the speed especially now my standup PWC goes over 60 MPH! It is the racing which makes the riding even crazier. The adrenaline is pumping trough my veins. Especially at the starting gate and the first hole shot buoy.
JOBE: Do you have a PWC hero?
No, not anymore.
JOBE: What is your relationship with the Jobe brand?
Jobe provides my PWC gear which I need for PWC racing. Besides that, I try to help as good as possible to improve some of the PWC gear by giving feedback.
JOBE: Have you set some future goals for yourself?
- Be prepared for the season of 2012.
- Enjoy every second of riding on my PWC.
- And of course finishing my study.
JOBE: Many thanks for your time Max! Good luck in the upcoming season!
0Vogn 
