Mark Gomez Riding a T.C. Freeride built Rickter Debuting at Daytona Freeride
At the World Finals in Lake Havasu this year, I had a chance to discuss my 2014 goals with a few companies and current sponsors to work out a program that would of mutual benefit for own riding and the ability to make it to more events as well as best represent the combined sponsors that I have.MarkGomez.netI had the opportunity to have a long discussion with Rick Roy, the man behind his own factory in Thailand creating professional grade Freestyle hulls at RICKTER-RRP. I also had the opportunity to ride what will be close to my set up at body beach thanks to Taylor Curtis of T.C.Freeride, this is when I knew this would be the ski I can do damage with. After further discussions over emails, Rick and I came to a great sponsorship agreement as I am officially now riding for RICKTER- RRP for 2014.
My 2014 RICKTER FR2 Evo-1 Hull:
I am going to be riding a unique heavy duty Infused Carbon Fiber White Base/Blue RICKTER FR2 Evo-1 Hull with Factory integrated Blowsion Destroyer Evo Tubbie front sponsons.I had an opportunity to ride the Blowsion Rickter Evo-1 with their tubbies installed and what I felt is that it allowed the Evo to lean over to pivot on the tubbies and roll through the turns which suits my style of riding. Rick welcomed my feedback and preference and even offered to help install these at the factory to have it look one with the ski, which came out extremely nice in my opinion. Besides the tubbies, the Evo 1 has the other advantages to the hull design such as being -4 inches shorter than a yamaha Superjet, nose mounted handlepole bracket/pivot point, low profile hood for stronger hull design, swooping front nose rocker and bond line rail, and rear rocker which is adjustable by removable sponsons, improved pump intake design, and much more.
Hydro-Turf
All Rickter hulls come with Rickter brand EVA installed on the hulls from the factory. EVA, is better known as traction matting or “Turf”. Being that one of my main and most valued sponsors for the last 6 years is Hydro-Turf,I Sent out my own assortment of Hydro-Turf’s unique cut and color mating to be installed at the factory in Thailand. I sent their Blue on white 2-Tone Waffle Cut for the rails/sides of the tray and White Waffle cut for the base to be laid on top of their 26mm Plush Underpad and a 1″ Kick Tail Wedge.The Hydro-Turf not only looks unique with all of the available cuts and colors, but also has always offered me the most superior, durability and traction in the most harsh and slippery conditions.The 26mm Plush Underpad provides crucial support to my body as it absorbs the high impact energy from big air landings and flat lands which happen from time to time in the surf. Without Hydro-Turf’s underpad, a lot of riders would not be walking away from the things they throw. The 1″ Kick Tail Wedge has become vital to my riding offering me the leverage and allows my heel to drive into it so I can stay locked in during hard slashes and turns. The RRP Factory surprised me yet again with a custom integrated EVA shaped front foothold into the front of my tray.Hydro-Turf will also be supporting me to make it possible to attend many events including a few tour stops on the International IFWA Freeride Tour! Thank you Hydro-Turf!
Engine by DASA Racing – 1000cc
This year I will be going skyward with the insane power from my new DASA built 10mm stroke, 1000cc, billet power valve, 2 cylinder engine. Kyle Kennedy, watercraft division manager at DASA, agreed to support me for 2014 by building me an engine that will deliver an insane amount of power for my surf riding and I will also be able to perform flat water back flips my new Rickter. This will make my Rickter a modern “all around” performance jetski for my 2014 planned season of both surf and flat water events. I will not be competitive in any flatwater freestyle classes by CC limit but the overall goal is to be able to perform to the best of my ability with any water conditions I come across. Thank you Kyle & DASA!
Magnum Pump by Skat-Trak set up by Impros
To get this Rickter airborne I need to process the water that my DASA engine is spooling up, this calls for the new Skat Trak155mm Magnum pump. I am really thankful for David at Impros for being my standing Impeller sponsor over the last few years. He has always taken care of me and this year I am happy to say that I am maintaining that relationship with the added and now combined sponsorship of both Impros Impellers and Skat-Trak. Both have come together to support me with this 155 Magnum pump. Thanks to Michelle and Glen at Skat Trak for getting it done for me in such a rushed time frame! Another big thanks goes out to Brian Vergin and Chris Anyzeski at Thrust Innovations for supporting me this year with some of his custom products including the 155mm EZ-Flow Pro Trim kit. This Trim system is the best design currently in the industry which will help be bring back flips around on flat water and create better set up wakes.
My Rickter Built by Taylor Curtis (T.C. Freeride)
Taylor Curtis is a pro freerider I have looked up to since I first got involved. Taylor has made his name in the industry through his aggressive power surfing, big wave riding, insane surf re entries, and now for building pro level Rickter Jetskis, including my own through his business T.C Freeride. My Rickter hull and components are currently at Taylor’s shop getting assembled. These Rickters do not reach their full potential unless they are built right. Taylor has the extensive knowledge working hand and hand with RRP over the last few years through the developments in freestyle technology. I am absolutely stoked to know that my Rickter is going to be Taylor Made and will be dialed in perfectly by T.C. Freeride! Thank you for supporting me Taylor!
WORX Racing Components
Gary and Emma Watson have recently taken over and are currently re-branding WORX Racing Components. Gary Watson has been in the PWC scene for years doing amazing R&D to create professional components to make some of the fastest skis coming from Australia. They have taken me under their wing to be one of my major 2014 sponsors. I will be running their new WORX 242 Rickter Scoop grate as well as a few other new developing components. WORX is also a massive support to help me travel this year to compete on the IFWA Freeride tour! Thank you very much for your extended support WORX!
Thanks to Tom Perry and Scott Saito Hot Products USA I have two new 46mm Mikuni Carburetors along with a laundry list of other parts to put this Rickter together. Hot Products is also the USA Distribution center for all RRP products helping me communicate and get the parts that I need during my tight deadline. I would not have been able to pull this build off without Hot Product’s support and networking in 2014.
First Stop: Daytona Beach Freeride Jan 16th 2014
On January 10th my Alaskan brother in freeride and fellow Rickter team mate Tanner Thomas flies in from his rock in Ketchikan Alaska to Taylor Curtis’s house. We will help Tanner finish his new Evo-1, load up the Rickter support trailer with all of the westcoast rickter team ski’s and drive the round trip over 5,500 miles to the Grand seas resort for the 2014 Thrust Innovations Daytona Beach Freeride event and back. Look for Tanner, the Rickter Freeride team, and I at the RICKTER team trailer on the beach at the 2014 Daytona Beach Freeride. See you guys there!More updates to come very soon! [fblike]
I had the opportunity to have a long discussion with Rick Roy, the man behind his own factory in Thailand creating professional grade Freestyle hulls at RICKTER-RRP. I also had the opportunity to ride what will be close to my set up at body beach thanks to Taylor Curtis of T.C.Freeride, this is when I knew this would be the ski I can do damage with. After further discussions over emails, Rick and I came to a great sponsorship agreement as I am officially now riding for RICKTER- RRP for 2014.
I am going to be riding a unique heavy duty Infused Carbon Fiber White Base/Blue RICKTER FR2 Evo-1 Hull with Factory integrated Blowsion Destroyer Evo Tubbie front sponsons.I had an opportunity to ride the Blowsion Rickter Evo-1 with their tubbies installed and what I felt is that it allowed the Evo to lean over to pivot on the tubbies and roll through the turns which suits my style of riding. Rick welcomed my feedback and preference and even offered to help install these at the factory to have it look one with the ski, which came out extremely nice in my opinion. Besides the tubbies, the Evo 1 has the other advantages to the hull design such as being -4 inches shorter than a yamaha Superjet, nose mounted handlepole bracket/pivot point, low profile hood for stronger hull design, swooping front nose rocker and bond line rail, and rear rocker which is adjustable by removable sponsons, improved pump intake design, and much more.
All Rickter hulls come with Rickter brand EVA installed on the hulls from the factory. EVA, is better known as traction matting or “Turf”. Being that one of my main and most valued sponsors for the last 6 years is Hydro-Turf,I Sent out my own assortment of Hydro-Turf’s unique cut and color mating to be installed at the factory in Thailand. I sent their Blue on white 2-Tone Waffle Cut for the rails/sides of the tray and White Waffle cut for the base to be laid on top of their 26mm Plush Underpad and a 1″ Kick Tail Wedge.The Hydro-Turf not only looks unique with all of the available cuts and colors, but also has always offered me the most superior, durability and traction in the most harsh and slippery conditions.The 26mm Plush Underpad provides crucial support to my body as it absorbs the high impact energy from big air landings and flat lands which happen from time to time in the surf. Without Hydro-Turf’s underpad, a lot of riders would not be walking away from the things they throw. The 1″ Kick Tail Wedge has become vital to my riding offering me the leverage and allows my heel to drive into it so I can stay locked in during hard slashes and turns. The RRP Factory surprised me yet again with a custom integrated EVA shaped front foothold into the front of my tray.Hydro-Turf will also be supporting me to make it possible to attend many events including a few tour stops on the International IFWA Freeride Tour! Thank you Hydro-Turf!
This year I will be going skyward with the insane power from my new DASA built 10mm stroke, 1000cc, billet power valve, 2 cylinder engine. Kyle Kennedy, watercraft division manager at DASA, agreed to support me for 2014 by building me an engine that will deliver an insane amount of power for my surf riding and I will also be able to perform flat water back flips my new Rickter. This will make my Rickter a modern “all around” performance jetski for my 2014 planned season of both surf and flat water events. I will not be competitive in any flatwater freestyle classes by CC limit but the overall goal is to be able to perform to the best of my ability with any water conditions I come across. Thank you Kyle & DASA!
To get this Rickter airborne I need to process the water that my DASA engine is spooling up, this calls for the new Skat Trak155mm Magnum pump. I am really thankful for David at Impros for being my standing Impeller sponsor over the last few years. He has always taken care of me and this year I am happy to say that I am maintaining that relationship with the added and now combined sponsorship of both Impros Impellers and Skat-Trak. Both have come together to support me with this 155 Magnum pump. Thanks to Michelle and Glen at Skat Trak for getting it done for me in such a rushed time frame! Another big thanks goes out to Brian Vergin and Chris Anyzeski at Thrust Innovations for supporting me this year with some of his custom products including the 155mm EZ-Flow Pro Trim kit. This Trim system is the best design currently in the industry which will help be bring back flips around on flat water and create better set up wakes.
Taylor Curtis is a pro freerider I have looked up to since I first got involved. Taylor has made his name in the industry through his aggressive power surfing, big wave riding, insane surf re entries, and now for building pro level Rickter Jetskis, including my own through his business T.C Freeride. My Rickter hull and components are currently at Taylor’s shop getting assembled. These Rickters do not reach their full potential unless they are built right. Taylor has the extensive knowledge working hand and hand with RRP over the last few years through the developments in freestyle technology. I am absolutely stoked to know that my Rickter is going to be Taylor Made and will be dialed in perfectly by T.C. Freeride! Thank you for supporting me Taylor!
Gary and Emma Watson have recently taken over and are currently re-branding WORX Racing Components. Gary Watson has been in the PWC scene for years doing amazing R&D to create professional components to make some of the fastest skis coming from Australia. They have taken me under their wing to be one of my major 2014 sponsors. I will be running their new WORX 242 Rickter Scoop grate as well as a few other new developing components. WORX is also a massive support to help me travel this year to compete on the IFWA Freeride tour! Thank you very much for your extended support WORX!
Carl Gramberg of Cold Fusion has been supporting me since 2010 with his incredible and innovative billet products. I will be running the Cold Fusion Yamaha Midshaft assembly, Billet Electrical Box with Lexan cover, Billet hood prongs, Fuel Filters and much more! Carl makes some of the most reliable parts in the industry which I always trust in my skis. Thank you for your support Carl!
Thanks to Tom Perry and Scott Saito Hot Products USA I have two new 46mm Mikuni Carburetors along with a laundry list of other parts to put this Rickter together. Hot Products is also the USA Distribution center for all RRP products helping me communicate and get the parts that I need during my tight deadline. I would not have been able to pull this build off without Hot Product’s support and networking in 2014. 
On January 10th my Alaskan brother in freeride and fellow Rickter team mate Tanner Thomas flies in from his rock in Ketchikan Alaska to Taylor Curtis’s house. We will help Tanner finish his new Evo-1, load up the Rickter support trailer with all of the westcoast rickter team ski’s and drive the round trip over 5,500 miles to the Grand seas resort for the 2014 Thrust Innovations Daytona Beach Freeride event and back. Look for Tanner, the Rickter Freeride team, and I at the RICKTER team trailer on the beach at the 2014 Daytona Beach Freeride. See you guys there!
More updates to come very soon! [fblike]