JJ always makes waves

Jordan ‘JJ’ McLean is set to graduate from the University of South Florida in December with a degree in business and he is also showing he means serious business when it comes to watercraft racing.

The 21-year-old son of Elaine and Mack McLean became the first Caymanian to reach the podium of the prestigious 29th Annual International Jet Sport Boarding Association Personal Watercraft racing World Finals when he placed third in the Expert Runabout Limited Class.

With McLean on board the Dean’s Team/Tryin’ A ‘Ting Yamaha FZR, the Cayman Islands joined representatives from 35 countries during the recent event held at Lake Havasu, Arizona.

Actually, it was familiar waters for the Caymanian, who was part of a two-man team that captured the Stock Class during last year’s Mark Hahn 300 en-durance race, an event which honours the racing legend.

This year he matched wits with 14 riders and was off to a roaring start over the closed (buoy) course, a first for the qualifier and first race, but a penalty after a false start meant he was forced to begin the second and final race with an dead engine and holding the key over the head, or the results might have been even more impressive.

Nonetheless, McLean, who had trained with top mechanic Dean Charrier and his son, Dustin Charrier for two months prior to the finals, was happy with his showing.

“Well, I was a bit sur-prised, but very happy. It’s good to get the recognition for the hard work and to be recognised internationally, but it also says a lot about my racing experience back home,” he said. “I’ve received a lot of support from the local association and racing community and my parents have always been behind me with their full support. I’m very appreciative of it all.”

McLean has been making waves for some time in local waters. He is the 2005 Modified Class champion of the East End Surf Challenge and in 2008 romped home first to claim the overall prize in Jet Around Cayman, the “superbowl” of local personal watercraft racing.

And after Lake Havasu, what does the future hold? “These are exciting times and there are some things in the works for the future. While it’s all to be deter-mined, I should know what racing in 2011 holds very shortly.”

And with results like this, he can be forgiven if perhaps other things are racing as well. They might include his heart and pulse and with good reason.