INTERVIEW ALEXANDER LENZI
MAG > interviews
24.01.2010
World Freestyle Champion, Brasilian Freeride Champion and winner of the last Jet Waves, Alessander Lenzi could be elected Jet Skier of the year. Before starting the new season, here is an interview made after his last victory in Brasil...
Hello Alexander, how did you start jet ski ?
I started Jet Ski on a simple Kawasaki 750. I really liked it and i started to make simple tricks. I watched many videos with Scott Watkins or Chris Fischetti. Then i started my Freestyle life.
What sports were you doing before Jet Ski Freestyle ?
I was Tennis player, i raced Motocross, Cars, BMX, i did Athletisme, but in 95 i decided to focus only on Freestyle.
What was your inspiration ? Who was your biggest challenger ?
I did my first US championship in 95, i finished 5th overall, i was not very happy. My challengers were Rick Roy, Marc Sickerling, Lloyd Burlew, etc... Jeff Kampz was an inspiration of course, he was a monster of Jet Ski, crazy and funny.
My first time in Havasu in 95 was very strange, i didn't have any Jet Ski and i finished 5th. I started training a lot when i came back to Brasil. I came back in Havasu in 96, but with my boat this time. I did well and i finished 2nd. The next year in 97, i changed my Kawasaki for a Superjet, and i won the title in Amateur class in Havasu. Then i turned Pro in 98, i finished 2nd behind Rick Roy that year. I was very happy because Rick Roy is a great rider. I always watched him for the tricks, and i watched Loyd Burlew for the show, so i tried to put everything together. In Freestyle, the show is maybe more important than the tricks. I tried very hard, and in 99 i fought with Malone. He got the title and the next year also. I got my first Pro title in 2001, Sickerling finished 2nd and Fujisawa 3rd. After, many things changed in Havasu ; Before we were allowed to do about anything with the mechanic, but they made new rules with the engines and the power, so they made new rules for engines until 1200cc. But there were new polemics with hulls. So they decided to make meetings before the competition where everybody could see the skis of everybody. They stopped Amateur class to 900cc and Pros class to 1200cc.
So, no more polemics ?
They make the rules but the fight is in the water. I don't want to be number one with protests. I want to be number one in the water, because i deserve it.
How far can you go in Freestyle compared to Freeride ?
I work the whole last year on hulls, especially for Ivan Potanin, the Russian rider i work with. We should be able to see good stuff with that hull, even in Freeride where it's very stable. Freestyle is different, every year we perform new things on that hull. It will be easy to do many back flips on flat water, more than 10 in a row. But back flips is not enough to be number one today, you need to show new things. It's gonna be ready for 2010.
What is gonna be your main program in 2010, Freestyle or Freeride ?
I won Jet Waves but i will be focus 110 % on Freestyle. I test new things on my hull for Freestyle and for Freeride. It is gonna be customized for both, for jumps and for surf. You will be able to change the settings for each kind of waves, one meter, two meters, it depends. You will have many options with this next hull i'm working on.
How do you work on your bikes ?
I buy engines (Yamaha and Polaris) in the US, i make and i test the hulls. Everything is wider to make it stable, shorter to make tricks easier, and the pump position is taking more water. I am working now on the handle position, and engine position. I am testing and performing about fifteen different hulls with Ivan, we make the changes on the hull each times if needed. I think we found a very good setting lately.
What is your relation with Russia ?
We work very much with Russia with Ivan and Nastia, also Abu Dabi, the Caribbean, Juan Les Pins, Toulouse. The business is very strong over there, the Russian business men like to ride Jet Skis. My boats are very easy for these people because it is very stable.
How much do you practice ?
I did not take the time to practice this year because i had a lot of work. In Havasu, i had only three days pratice before the competition. Now i have many ideas and new tricks i have to put together for 2010, so i need to go riding.
What about Lenzi Parts ?
The main activity is Yachts and boats. We have 27, 30 and 36 feet boats, one 40 feet just arrived. The 55 feet will come for 2011. this is the big business for me. Jet Ski is just something that i like, i build hulls to make my tricks better. I grew this business to perform, and a lot of people buy my hulls now.
Do you export your products ?
We sell in Europe, Japan, USA, Russia... We sell complete kits, but also hulls, handle pole which is very light, engine parts, etc...
How many people work for you ?
Six people for Jet Ski, seventy for our boat company, more than two hundreds for our construction business.
What do you think of the evolution of freeriding from its beginning in competition ?
The evolution is very big ! Last year we had Ross Champion who started to take the feet out with back flips superman, which looks very good ! And Pierre Maixent with the heel clicker back flip, and after the double back flip. It's good because they improve, and it is not easy when you know this sport. And now he won the Best Trick with a back flip indian air. These riders made some changes in the last five years. But everybody work to make something good. I have some ideas too, that i should use for freeride and freestyle. 2010 is gonna be a great year !
What were your best memories ?
97 in amateur, and 2001 when i got my first world title in USA. And now, because i win two big events, Lake Havasu and Freeride at home, and also Brazilian Freeride title.
Who are the best challengers for you at this time ?
In Freeride, Ross and Pierre are the best ones, then we have Romain Stampers who is good in Freestyle and Freeride, Federico Bufacchi too. In Freetysle, the Japanese guys are tough and improved a lot, Malone and Rick Roy of course even if they don't compete anymore, also Rok Floriancic from Slovenia, Lee Stone from England... Everyone is improving.
What about your future in Freestyle, do you want to keep on competing ?
Oh yes ! Especially now, i have two new titles, a new ski, many ideas and i want to ride. I want to support also my rider, there is still a long way to go so i don't want to stop right now...
Thanks and good luck for 2010...
Hello Alexander, how did you start jet ski ?
I started Jet Ski on a simple Kawasaki 750. I really liked it and i started to make simple tricks. I watched many videos with Scott Watkins or Chris Fischetti. Then i started my Freestyle life.
What sports were you doing before Jet Ski Freestyle ?
I was Tennis player, i raced Motocross, Cars, BMX, i did Athletisme, but in 95 i decided to focus only on Freestyle.
What was your inspiration ? Who was your biggest challenger ?
I did my first US championship in 95, i finished 5th overall, i was not very happy. My challengers were Rick Roy, Marc Sickerling, Lloyd Burlew, etc... Jeff Kampz was an inspiration of course, he was a monster of Jet Ski, crazy and funny.
My first time in Havasu in 95 was very strange, i didn't have any Jet Ski and i finished 5th. I started training a lot when i came back to Brasil. I came back in Havasu in 96, but with my boat this time. I did well and i finished 2nd. The next year in 97, i changed my Kawasaki for a Superjet, and i won the title in Amateur class in Havasu. Then i turned Pro in 98, i finished 2nd behind Rick Roy that year. I was very happy because Rick Roy is a great rider. I always watched him for the tricks, and i watched Loyd Burlew for the show, so i tried to put everything together. In Freestyle, the show is maybe more important than the tricks. I tried very hard, and in 99 i fought with Malone. He got the title and the next year also. I got my first Pro title in 2001, Sickerling finished 2nd and Fujisawa 3rd. After, many things changed in Havasu ; Before we were allowed to do about anything with the mechanic, but they made new rules with the engines and the power, so they made new rules for engines until 1200cc. But there were new polemics with hulls. So they decided to make meetings before the competition where everybody could see the skis of everybody. They stopped Amateur class to 900cc and Pros class to 1200cc.
So, no more polemics ?
They make the rules but the fight is in the water. I don't want to be number one with protests. I want to be number one in the water, because i deserve it.
How far can you go in Freestyle compared to Freeride ?
I work the whole last year on hulls, especially for Ivan Potanin, the Russian rider i work with. We should be able to see good stuff with that hull, even in Freeride where it's very stable. Freestyle is different, every year we perform new things on that hull. It will be easy to do many back flips on flat water, more than 10 in a row. But back flips is not enough to be number one today, you need to show new things. It's gonna be ready for 2010.
What is gonna be your main program in 2010, Freestyle or Freeride ?
I won Jet Waves but i will be focus 110 % on Freestyle. I test new things on my hull for Freestyle and for Freeride. It is gonna be customized for both, for jumps and for surf. You will be able to change the settings for each kind of waves, one meter, two meters, it depends. You will have many options with this next hull i'm working on.
How do you work on your bikes ?
I buy engines (Yamaha and Polaris) in the US, i make and i test the hulls. Everything is wider to make it stable, shorter to make tricks easier, and the pump position is taking more water. I am working now on the handle position, and engine position. I am testing and performing about fifteen different hulls with Ivan, we make the changes on the hull each times if needed. I think we found a very good setting lately.
What is your relation with Russia ?
We work very much with Russia with Ivan and Nastia, also Abu Dabi, the Caribbean, Juan Les Pins, Toulouse. The business is very strong over there, the Russian business men like to ride Jet Skis. My boats are very easy for these people because it is very stable.
How much do you practice ?
I did not take the time to practice this year because i had a lot of work. In Havasu, i had only three days pratice before the competition. Now i have many ideas and new tricks i have to put together for 2010, so i need to go riding.
What about Lenzi Parts ?
The main activity is Yachts and boats. We have 27, 30 and 36 feet boats, one 40 feet just arrived. The 55 feet will come for 2011. this is the big business for me. Jet Ski is just something that i like, i build hulls to make my tricks better. I grew this business to perform, and a lot of people buy my hulls now.
Do you export your products ?
We sell in Europe, Japan, USA, Russia... We sell complete kits, but also hulls, handle pole which is very light, engine parts, etc...
How many people work for you ?
Six people for Jet Ski, seventy for our boat company, more than two hundreds for our construction business.
What do you think of the evolution of freeriding from its beginning in competition ?
The evolution is very big ! Last year we had Ross Champion who started to take the feet out with back flips superman, which looks very good ! And Pierre Maixent with the heel clicker back flip, and after the double back flip. It's good because they improve, and it is not easy when you know this sport. And now he won the Best Trick with a back flip indian air. These riders made some changes in the last five years. But everybody work to make something good. I have some ideas too, that i should use for freeride and freestyle. 2010 is gonna be a great year !
What were your best memories ?
97 in amateur, and 2001 when i got my first world title in USA. And now, because i win two big events, Lake Havasu and Freeride at home, and also Brazilian Freeride title.
Who are the best challengers for you at this time ?
In Freeride, Ross and Pierre are the best ones, then we have Romain Stampers who is good in Freestyle and Freeride, Federico Bufacchi too. In Freetysle, the Japanese guys are tough and improved a lot, Malone and Rick Roy of course even if they don't compete anymore, also Rok Floriancic from Slovenia, Lee Stone from England... Everyone is improving.
What about your future in Freestyle, do you want to keep on competing ?
Oh yes ! Especially now, i have two new titles, a new ski, many ideas and i want to ride. I want to support also my rider, there is still a long way to go so i don't want to stop right now...
Thanks and good luck for 2010...