Meet the Founder of Calas Performance
Ernesto Calas grew up in South Florida with a mechanic father, a go-cart in the driveway, and an impulsive need for speed. That background eventually led to a podium finish at the Hydrodrag World Finals and the birth of Calas Performance.
About Ernesto
Ernesto Calas grew up in South Florida learning to rebuild engines under his father’s watch. His father was a mechanic and inventor, and Ernesto took that apprenticeship seriously. By age 10 he was modifying go-carts. By 16 he was at the local drag strip running cars and trucks he had built himself, eventually running 7.5 seconds at over 180 mph in the quarter mile.
The quarter mile eventually wasn’t enough. In 2008, Ernesto bought his first personal watercraft and started pushing it the same way he pushed everything else. In 2010 he entered the Hydrodrag World Finals to test what he had built. He came back in 2011 as an underdog running his own ski and made the podium.
From there the racing community pulled him in deeper. In 2013 he was awarded Sportsman of the Year on the circuit, a recognition built on more than race results. Ernesto became known for shaking hands with competitors and giving honest build advice to anyone who asked. Racers started coming to him specifically for that.
Calas Performance started the way most real shops do: out of a garage, at local races, selling springs, retainers, and his own custom cams to riders who needed parts they could trust. That grew into an online business backed by the same principle it started with. Honest answers, real parts, and performance guidance from someone who has actually built the machines.
Today Calas Performance is endorsed by racers in the hydro community and serves both competitive riders and recreational PWC owners looking to get more out of their Sea-Doo or Yamaha.
From the Drag Strip to the Waterways
From the Drag Strip to the Waterways
Body: Ernesto ran the quarter mile at over 180 mph before he ever touched a PWC. When he made the switch to personal watercraft racing, he brought that same build discipline to the water. A podium finish at the 2011 Hydrodrag World Finals and a 2013 Sportsman of the Year award on the circuit reflect both the results and the reputation he built there.
Honest Answers. Real Parts.
Calas Performance started because racers kept coming to Ernesto for build advice and he kept giving it straight. That has not changed. Every kit, every product recommendation, and every piece of content on this site is built around the same standard: tell riders what their machine actually needs, not what sells easiest.
Questions for Ernesto
Ernesto focuses on PWC performance, parts selection, staged upgrade planning, fitment guidance, and helping riders choose components that make sense for their build.
Performance parts can vary by year, make, model, engine platform, and supporting modifications. Fitment-first shopping helps reduce guesswork and avoid mismatched parts.
Calas Performance started out of Ernesto's garage and at local races in South Florida. Racers would come to him for build advice and he kept giving it straight. That eventually grew into a full online parts and kit resource built around the same standard.
No. Ernesto works with serious recreational riders, weekend builders, and competitive racers. The common thread is that they want honest guidance and parts that actually belong on their machine.
Yes. Use the contact page to reach the Calas Performance team. If you have a specific build question about your Sea-Doo or Yamaha, that's exactly the kind of thing Calas is set up to help with.
Ready to Build Smarter?
Start with your watercraft and find performance parts that fit your build instead of guessing your way through the catalog.