How to learn to ride a jet ski: 14 tips for aquabike driving for beginners

In our country, water sports are a seasonal pastime. First of all, it is influenced by climatic conditions. In the second place – accessibility, since there are not many water spaces or opportunities do not allow to enjoy them.

Naturally, when it comes to water, swimming, sailing, rowing or surfing immediately come to mind. All those things where you can do without an engine. But this does not mean that there are no water-engine sports. We decided to tell you about one of them today. We will tell you about the nuances of riding for beginners and explain what experienced amateurs who dream of competitions need to be ready for. But first, a little bit of history.

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How the jet ski appeared

The jet ski was invented for sporting purposes. The first copy came off the conveyor belt of Bombardier – the same company that created the snowmobile – in 1968. Bombardier had the task of creating self-propelled skis for the water, but the result was a jet ski. It was equipped with seats for driver and passengers, necessary electronics and a steering wheel. As it happened, the invention was not put into mass production – the creators failed to prove its practical application. Already in 1970 the work on jet skis was stopped.

Two years later, the company Kawasaki Heavy Industries decided to make jet skis to order, but with a small innovation – they were aquabikes without seats and were intended for riding standing. The devices were released under the Jet-Ski brand and became so popular in the U.S. that the brand name became a household name for all types of jet skis. Despite the fact that the Japanese have now retained their hegemony in the market, still more in demand are models on which you can sit.

It should be remembered that you can sit on a jet ski, while an aquabike is ridden standing up.

Jet skis have always been considered speedy watercraft. Most models reach a length of up to 3 meters and have a load capacity of up to 300 kg. Such technical features allow you to develop speeds of up to 200 km / h. It is this technique is in high demand in places of recreation near the water and the interest of people who immediately dream of riding with the wind.

What is important for beginners to know about riding

Everything that has to do with water requires special attention and safety techniques. Riding a jet ski is no exception. Recall that at sea resorts and in urban water areas in the rental you are likely to offer to ride on a jet ski, that is, sitting. The list of rules is small, but definitely useful.

You should always remember that the apparent ease of control – a hidden danger. Do not forget that at any moment you can become the culprit of an emergency situation.
You should wear special protective equipment: wetsuit, life jacket, hydrobots, gloves, goggles, and in case of participation in competitions – a helmet.
The ability to swim well and stay on the water is mandatory.
A license is required to operate a jet ski like a snowmobile. Be prepared to be asked for one.
Before you start driving, listen carefully to the safety briefing and ask for clarification of any points you don’t understand.
Inspect the machinery for damage and technical faults before starting.
Get on the jet ski from the back, not the side. In this case, you will not flip over.
While driving in the water area, carefully and at slow speed bypass people and other equipment at a great distance.
If you are riding for the first time, do not go far from the shore.
Do not forget to fix the “check” (safety key, which helps to start and shut off the jet ski) on your arm or vest. It will allow you to stop the technique if you “fall out of the saddle”.
Accelerate smoothly, without jerks and deliberate showmanship.
Do not let off the “gas” in corners and on bends, otherwise you will definitely overturn. Also try to avoid sharp turns and turn on a wide radius.
Riding perpendicular to the waves is reckless. If the technique bounces on a wave, it will be very difficult to stay on it without experience.
Riding under the influence of alcohol is strictly prohibited.

Remember that safety on the water – it is necessary and important. Do not neglect it. When you get used to driving a jet ski, you will be able to move to a sport technique, namely aquabike and try sport riding – aquabike freestyle.

What’s important to know about aquabike freestyle riding

Rashid Ali Al-Mulla

Four-time world aquabike freestyle champion

Aquabike Freestyle (another name for Jet Ski Freestyle) is an official sport discipline where athletes perform spectacular acrobatic stunts on a standing jet ski (a model without a seat).

It’s expensive

If you want to go professional, you’ll have to pay a lot of money. You’ll need a standing aquabike, a helmet, a wetsuit, a lightweight life jacket and hydro shoes. You will also need a professional coach with a lot of experience and a good mechanic to maintain your equipment.

You need to be in good physical shape

We don’t have very tough conditions and it may seem like anyone can just get on an aquabike and go. But that’s not entirely true. You must be in good physical shape and weigh no more than 75 kg. Everything is simple here – with excess weight or, on the contrary, with its lack will be difficult to control the bike. If a person weighs a lot, it will be difficult for him to jump and do flips, and if he weighs little, it will be difficult to pull the bike and control it. Although, you know, for simple riding regular and uncomplicated physical training will be enough, just to keep yourself toned.

Professional riders, on the other hand, are required to do more, and that’s natural. You need to emphasize cardio and avoid muscle building: you need to be light and strong to ride.

You can ride in equipped water areas

I think, in any city there are equipped beaches where you can practice water sports. There you can try aquabike. Of course, it will not be easy at first, but with time and practice on a super-jet it will be easy to move from simple riding to freestyle.

You can go to competitions

Most who start riding do so on a hobby level, but aquabike freestyle is also an official sport with many competitions and events around the planet. I will say that 60-70% of countries are trying to develop aquabike riding because they have access to water. There are so many official competitions.

Local aquabike championships are held all the time, there is even a Russian championship held by the Federation of Water Motor Sports. Naturally, there are world and European championships. On the website of the international union (UIM) you can see an up-to-date list of all events and competitions. I think this is the best way to find out about events if you ride and want to compete.

All aquabikes are under the jurisdiction of the International Water Motorcycle Union (UIM) and the International Jet Ski Association (IJSBA), which have been organizing competitions for professional athletes for many years. There are now World, European, Brazilian, French, British, Australian and Thai championships. In addition, riders can participate in the international tournament “Royal Aquabike Cup”. The association and the union are independent of each other, separately create regulations for their events, as well as conduct licensing of different models of jet skis.

You will be able to see the freestyle aquabike discipline under a microscope during the Jet Rush Extreme Fest on August 26 and 27 at Krasny Oktyabr. The event will also feature flyboarding performances and the Russian BMX freestyle championship, which recently became an Olympic sport.

And if you want to learn even more about extreme sports, subscribe to the “Voice of the Street” Telegram channel. There we talk about extreme sports and try to reveal its behind-the-scenes.