About

Hydroplane Quebec is a website dedicated to covering the exciting sport of hydroplane boat racing in North America. The team covers many types of races including the inboard hydroplane and flatbottom ACHA/CBF Championship, APBA Inboard, APBA and CBF Outboard, and APBA Vintage. We broadcast many of these events online via live streaming in partnership with APBA Inboard.

The site was started in 2000 by Christian Bergeron as a place to share his passion for the sport. It has since grown to a small team producing original photos, live streams, videos, team profiles, and news of hydroplane racing. The team: Christian Bergeron, Joan Turcotte, Art Smith, Kevin Tombs, Michael Pakradooni, and Jean-Phillippe Poulin, is based out of Quebec and the US.

Christian grew up in Ville-Marie, Quebec a spectator to his hometown’s regatta. He started Hydroplane Quebec with his wife Joan Turcotte, who manages public relations and sales for the site. Along with their daughters, Gaelle and Maelly, their family races stock outboard in Canada out of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. Christian met his first partner for the site, Art Smith, camping at the 1994 Regates de Valleyfield.

Art spent his youth cheering on the races on the Niagara River near his home on Grand Island, NY. His partnership with Christian has been vital to the success of Hydroplane Quebec. Also in the mix is Kevin Tombs who has contributed excellent still photography to the site. Kevin was introduced to hydroplanes through his father James Tombs Sr. who raced both outboards and inboards. The team’s photos and videos have made Hydroplane Quebec the place to follow hydroplane racing online.

Michael Pakradooni and Jean-Phillippe Poulin (JP) were later additions to the team. Michael grew up in Pennsylvania watching his father, Tom Pakradooni, compete in the Jersey Speed Skiff class. Tom now drives GP-88 Rolling Thunder and Michael is part of the GP team. Campaigning the boat in Canada is where he met and joined the Hydroplane Quebec team to work on the website and live stream. JP also joined the team after the resurgence of Grand Prix. A resident of Valleyfield, Quebec, JP grew up around the sport. He has filmed Les Regates de Valleyfield for many years and partnered with his friend Pierre Brind’Amour in producing DVDs for fans and racers. Their success led them to join forces with Hydroplane Quebec during the 2010 season.

We look forward to further achievement in the years to come.

Thank You,
The Hydroplane Quebec Team