MARYSVILLE — A local Marysville family is making waves this summer by competing in several annual statewide jet ski racing and freestyle race competitions.

Angela Clements, of Marysville, and her son Nathan, 12, both achieved high awards on June 9-10, during the Lava Lap Regatta at Soap Lake. Angela Clements placed second in the Novice Women’s Runabout and the Novice Runabout Limited on June 9 and she took first place in the same races on June 10.

Clements first tried racing jet skis only a year ago and is already a top performer. “I started racing last year, and this year is my son’s first official year,” said Clements. “A friend of mine was doing it so I tried it and met a lot of people that way. They convinced me to try racing, and I won my first race last year.”

Her first race was part of the Apple Pie Jamboree, which hosted two races per day for one weekend. “I won three of the four races and took the win for the weekend,” said Clements.

Jet ski racing competitions are traditionally broken up into divisions based on experience, age, gender and type of jet ski. The race is usually set up slalom style where racers maneuver through buoys and complete a certain number of laps around them.

Nathan Clements watched his mom race last year, and then tried racing in an exhibition race.

“He tried it and loved it,” said Clements. “He decided he wanted to race, but we told him he had to support his sport.”

Nathan took the challenge. He has saved his money from chores and holidays for the past year and began running fundraisers where he made arts and crafts to sell. “He’s diabetic and he’s had a lot of challenges,” said Angela Clements. “This is him showing the world, ‘I can be a normal kid.’ It’s definitely building up his self confidence.”

With the money he raised, Nathan was able to buy his very own jet ski for $650. There are additional costs to the sport that includes maintenance and gas, so the Clements are looking for someone to sponsor Nathan, who took first place in the Junior Ski 10-12 Stock Lites race twice during the Lava Lap Regatta.

“He is looking for sponsorship to help defer the cost of the sport,” said Angela Clements. “We are hoping that a small local business will want put their name on his ski and help support a local kid.”

Clements also noted that she hopes to make the sport more popular among locals.

“If we can encourage people to get out there, and try to get more youth into it, it is really a great sport,” she said. “The community is really supportive and will always help you out. It’s good exercise and it’s a good  water activity.”

For more information on sponsoring Nathan Clements, call Angela at 425-346-3709.