Strong Start to the 2026 Season: IHRA Pro Watercraft Rounds 1 & 2 Recap

New Orleans, Louisiana – April 21st, 2026

Written By: Olivia Hledin

The 2026 IHRA Pro Watercraft season is officially underway, and the opening two rounds; St. Petersburg, Florida, and New Orleans, Louisiana, set the tone for what’s shaping up to be an exciting year on

Round 1: St. Petersburg, Florida

St. Pete delivered a classic season opener—tight racing, unpredictable conditions, and plenty of early challenges.

In the 300 AM class, Cooper faced a weekend of setbacks that tested both equipment and composure. Despite the hurdles, he pushed through and salvaged a 7th overall finish, setting a foundation to build on moving forward.

A standout performance of the weekend came from Baron in the 200 AM class, who was nothing short of flawless. With a 1-1-1 sweep, he secured 1st overall, establishing himself early as a rider to watch this season.

Meanwhile, Straus made his IHRA debut in the Sport Spec class, and did so under pressure—competing on a brand new ski for the first time. Finishing 1-2-3 across the motos, he ended the weekend in a three-way tie for points, ultimately landing 3rd overall. An impressive introduction to the series and a strong sign of what’s ahead.

In the Pro ranks, Camden Powell lined up in both Pro Ski GP and Pro Endurance. A DNF in St. Pete created an uphill battle for the weekend, forcing him to dig deep early in the season. While the results didn’t reflect his full potential, it set the stage for a strong rebound.

Round 2: New Orleans, Louisiana

Rolling into New Orleans, the team carried momentum and confidence into Round 2—and it showed.

Cooper rebounded in the 300 AM class, putting together a much cleaner weekend to earn a 2nd overall finish. A strong recovery and a clear step forward from Round 1.

Once again, Baron proved unstoppable in the 200 AM class, delivering another perfect 1-1-1 performance. Back-to-back dominant weekends have firmly positioned him at the top of the standings early in the season.

In Sport Spec, Straus continued his rapid progression. Building off his debut in St. Pete, he stepped it up in New Orleans to secure 2nd overall, showing both consistency and adaptability in just his second IHRA event.

On the Pro side, Camden Powell came back swinging in a big way. After the setbacks in St. Pete, he delivered a strong performance in New Orleans with a 3rd place finish in Pro Ski GP and a 2nd place finish in Pro Endurance, proving his pace and resilience against top-level competition.

Looking Ahead

Two rounds in, and the trajectory is clear—this team is building momentum.

From overcoming adversity to executing near-perfect race weekends, the progression between St. Pete and New Orleans highlights the work being put in both on and off the water. With podium finishes stacking up and confidence growing, the focus now shifts to maintaining that momentum as the season continues. We can’t wait!