Two Caymanian watercraft riders showcased their skill and determination on the rough seas in Clearwater, Florida, from 22-24 Aug. in the P1 AquaX jet-ski racing series.
Vanjae Ramgeet, 29, who has been riding from the age of 12, competed in the Pro Enduro class, clinching the top spot on the podium.
Ramgeet said that he faced a slight challenge in race two when the hull of his craft cracked, but he was able to get it patched for race three, riding his way to the top.
“I’ve been searching for this number one trophy for quite some [time and] now that I have this one, it’s time to claim a lot more,” he said.
Despite rough seas, he admitted, “This weather was my favourite to ride in as it was very similar to what we get in Cayman and what I grew up riding in.”
He said that he matched his ski to what he thought would be suitable for the weather conditions and it worked out in his favour.
“My game plan going into this was [to] get with my team and build the fastest ski we could that would handle rough weather. Everything after that came down to rider mentality. I knew once I kept my head in the game, a lot of other riders would fold,” he said.
Ramgeet shared that a personal highlight of his was competing as the only privateer racer “in the top spots on the course”, which meant that he was self-funded, going head-to-head against factory teams with major sponsorships.
“[When] going up against the best in the world with the most money backing them, you’re already starting [at a] disadvantage,” he said.
Reflecting on his past performances, he noted that he also competed in the same event in 2024, when a mechanical failure in the final moto caused him to “fall down the leader board”.
This year, however, Ramgeet said, “My biggest improvement … would have to be the people I have backing me and making sure I’m able to compete at this level financially.”
With this first-place finish in the Pro Enduro class, he said it provided him with the confirmation of his capabilities to win at this level and it encouraged him to push himself “that much harder for victories week in and week out”.
“I go into every event expecting to win, so coming out on the top spot was very rewarding after years of searching for this,” he added.
Glidden overcomes adversity for fourth-place finish
Cline Glidden III faced a different kind of challenge in the Amateur 300 class.
Echoing Ramgeet’s sentiments on the weather, Glidden said, “It was pretty rough with an average of around four-foot waves out there. It was similar to riding here in Jet Around Cayman. It’s pretty good experience for that race.”
Although rough seas caused Glidden’s battery to break, forcing him to withdraw in his first race, he still called the weekend a “great experience”, adding, “That was probably the biggest challenge that I had out there, besides the rough seas.”
He showcased resilience, placing second in both of his remaining two races, which led to an overall fourth-place finish for his class, a result that he considers a highlight from this event, considering the circumstances.
Glidden, who competed in the same event in 2024 and also faced technical difficulties, felt he met his personal expectations this year.
He credited his consistent second-place finishes as a significant improvement, demonstrating his ability to battle for the top spot.
Although his race craft, a 2025 Yamaha FX SVHO, underwent finetuning in preparation for this event, Glidden said, “All of the skis are pretty much on the same level over there compared to in Cayman, so it really boils down to how you ride, and not just what’s in the ski.”
Reflecting on his overall performance, Glidden expressed confidence in his ability to continue improving.
“I feel like if I didn’t break down in the points, it looks like I would have had the overall in Clearwater, so we just have to stay positive and look forward to doing the same thing, but better in the next event,” he said.
Both Ramgeet and Glidden will compete in the final round of P1 AquaX set for 5-7 Sept. in St. Petersburg, Florida.
