Cathlamet teen earns high jet ski rankings

Trinity Klecker, 15, started racing stand up jet skis in April. Now she is ranked sixth in the world in women's competition.

At that same event, the IJSBA World Finals at Lake Havasu, she also took 10th place in the world competing against grown men on a stock jet ski.

She is frequently competing against people with faster jet skis. And beating them.

Trinity was initially considered a junior, which is the class for 13-15 year olds, but she was good enough that officials agreed to move her up to the novice class (16+) where she can compete against more experienced and faster women racers.

"She is a very aggressive racer," Trinity's mom, Shelly Klecker, said.

Trinity started riding quads when she was six, according to her dad, Lance Klecker, a Wahkiakum High School alum. She got her first Sea Doo when she was nine from an uncle who owns a jet ski rental place on Lake Chelan.

But that was a sit down jet ski, commonly called a couch. They are bigger and faster, and, if you ask Trinity, their riders might be a little wilder.

"Stand up is more technical and requires a higher skill level," her dad said.

Trinity says they are comparable to motocross and ATVs. The stand up is motocross. The sit down is an ATV.

This all started a couple years ago when Lance made some friends who were interested in stand up jet ski racing. Trinity came along and watched the events for about a year before finally getting her feet wet.

"I asked her for a year if she wanted to try it," Lance said. "One day, her friend loaned her a stand up and told her to race."

That was all it took. Trinity borrowed the jet ski and won the race.

"She is just a natural at jet ski racing," Lance said. "There were people that saw her at her very first race and they said 'That girl will be a world champion.'"

That was in April of this year. It has taken her seven months to go from beginner to sixth in the world in women's competition and 10th amongst men.

Her father credits her fearlessness.

"The kid has no fear," he said. "She loves going fast and getting the adrenaline going."

That first thing is only mostly true.

"I am scared of open water," Trinity laughed, "but if I'm on something I'm fine. It helps to not fall in the water."

She did spend some quality time in the water at the beginning, but not so much anymore. And knowing her fear, perhaps it's not so strange to imagine that it's not the water that keeps her coming back.

"I like the people," Trinity said. "They are really supportive. They are really accepting. It's a good crowd. If you need help with something, a whole group of people will gladly help you with it."

"I've made more lifetime friends than I have at school," she added.

It's also been more time to bond with her dad. They work on the engine together and he takes her to all her races.