The FWA (Freeride Water Craft association) was created in 1999
in California, by Jimbeau Andrews with the intention
of regulating a new sport that began to appear internationally,
Freeride, which consists of doing jumping and surfing maneuvers with
personal watercraft in the ocean.
Jimbeau created the statute of the organization and organized the
California WaveBash for four years.
In 1999, Marcelo “Tchello” Brandão,
also organized the first Freeride contest in Brazil, called the Jet
Waves, and by coincidence, the regulations created by him
were very similar to those of the FWA.
At the same time the Jet Jump in France was created,
also competing in waves, but with the difference of just judging the
jumping maneuvers.
Freeride was also alive and well in South Africa,
with Jimmy Visser, and together with Brazil they
were the first countries to become a part of the FWA. Starting from
2002 the Jet Waves became considered by the FWA as the world championship
of freeride.
The event grew, and today is considered by the pilots and the media
as one of the most important in the world.
Freeride is growing a lot and today it is practiced in several countries,
and the intention of the IFWA is to unify the regulations
in all of the countries, to integrate them into the association thus
strengthening the sport in the world, and also to create a world circuit.
In a historical meeting for world Freeride, during
the Jet Jump in Montalivet in France, leaders of the FWA, Jet Jump
organizers Mr. Jac Mouzan and Patrick Rolland and pilots from various
parts of the world decided to unite the regulations, and to create
an international entity recognized by the main pilots and organizers
in the world. The IFWA (International Freeride Watercraft Association)
was born.
Since then, Portugal, Spain, Italy and San Martin (responsible for
Central America) have joined the new federation, and in 2005
we had the first world championship with 5 rounds, Portugal,
Spain, France, USA and Brazil.
IFWA Tecnical Division:
Patrick Rolland, Carol Giustina, Marcelo Brandão
Tour 2006 Organizeis:
Portugal: Luis Fragoso, José Manoel e Orlando Ganhão
Spain: Bruno Rosello e Xavier Batisterra
France: Jac.Mouazan e Patrick Rolland
USA: Carol Giustina / Mark Matsuda
Brasil: Marcelo "Tchello" Brandão / Interlog
