Water, Water Everywhere. . . : Freestyle Tricks Make a Splash at Jet Jam on a 12-Million-Gallon Artificial Lake

ANAHEIM — The professionals--and a handful of celebrities--jumped, turned and splashed their way through a crystal-clear lake Saturday for a national water sports event that was part water spectacle and part carnival.

The centerpiece for Jet Jam ’97 at the Pond of Anaheim was a 12-million-gallon artificial lake where professional watercraft riders raced slalom and flipped “freestyle” tricks to a T-shirted crowd of thousands.

Today is the final day of the three-day event.

Jet Jam, which was criticized last year for failing to recycle water from its temporary lake, is meant to showcase what officials said is the $1-billion personal watercraft industry.

Many in the crowd said they enjoyed watercrafts in their free time or entered amateur races. All agreed that they would have a hard time beating the pros who were kicking up streams of 6-foot-high water.

“At my age?” asked Simi Valley resident Kathryn Schettini, 69. “It might be a first.”

Anaheim resident Greg Beck, who races in watercraft competitions, said the temporary lake made for an interesting setting.

“It’s pretty weird being able to drive a few minutes to watch this,” he said.

The lake came to life by sealing off a section of the normally dry Santa Ana riverbed and laying down a clear, plastic liner. Water was purchased from the city of Anaheim and pumped in from water hydrants, said Pond spokeswoman Stephanie Vinge. The work took about 12 days.

Last year, for the first Jet Jam, organizers had vowed to recycle the millions of gallons of water. But the water was full of contaminants and had to be pumped into the sewer.

This year, Vinge said, Jet Jam has taken precautions such as special fuel without certain contaminants to avoid such a mishap. She said the water was being monitored throughout the event, and as of Saturday, there were no contaminants.

Several pros, lying on their water scooters between races with their wetsuits peeled off, said they often compete in murky, possibly dirty, river water. They enjoyed the opportunity to be in the artificial lake.

“It’s clean and clear,” said Florida-based freestyle rider Lloyd Burlew.

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While Jet Jam was all about watercraft prowess, just as much attention was devoted to other attractions.

Jet Jam visitors in shorts, T-shirts and sunglasses milled among carnival rides, custom cars and booths selling everything from bathing suits to exhaust pipes.

Each night of Jet Jam has been capped with music shows ranging from country to reggae.

“This event has everything for everybody,” said custom-car builder Frank Schettini, 35, who had arrived with his mother and was displaying his monster pickup truck with 5-foot wheels.

Vinge said organizers were hoping for a three-day crowd of 60,000, compared to 42,000 last year. She reported no serious incidents as of Saturday.

One lakeside display included a Chevy van with 24 12-inch speakers. The music was so loud that passengers wore earmuffs as sound vibrations shook their body.

“A little burst like this is not bad for” the ears, said stereo installer Chris McSweyn, 26. “It just massages you quite a bit.”

Claudette Fremgen, of Playa del Rey, said she enjoyed watercrafts but was equally intent on finding a bargain-priced bikini.

“The Jet Ski stuff is OK,” she joked, “but I can go faster.”