Ace Your Jet Ski Experience With These Hacks

Riding a jet ski is quite a thrilling experience. Gliding along the surface of the water at high speeds is one of the best ways to watch the city’s skyline pass by. However, if you want to add a little more thrill to your ride, trying a few jet ski hacks wouldn’t hurt.  Doesn’t matter if you are a skilled jet ski rider or merely a beginner, learning some cool tricks can really amp up your experience on the jet ski. When you watch high-level jet ski pros do backflips in a row, it can get daunting. However, it’s not as difficult as it looks. There are some simple hacks that you can learn quite quickly, even if you’ve not been riding for years.

Get To Know Your Jet Ski

Before you even step onto a jet ski, there are a few things to bear in mind to help you sail smoothly. Most jet ski experts advise taking a boating class of some sort before getting into the water. In fact, in some places, it is required by law to obtain a boating license. A boating license is like a driving license but for watercraft. A few boating or even jet ski classes can help you learn the basics of riding and give you an idea of how jet skis work. 

You might also want to get familiar with the laws of the country or area you will be riding in. Find out the riding speeds and the locations you are allowed in. Of course, if you ride with a professional jet ski company, chances are they will already be well aware of these details.

Be Prepared For Emergencies

As with any sport, it’s always best to prepare yourself for emergencies. Although jet skis are safe for the most part, there could be times when mistakes happen and you might be thrown off the machine. If you’re a beginner, don’t worry. This is common and is nothing to be afraid of. Although it may seem scary, there are proper techniques to navigate through the event. 

If you find yourself thrown off the jet ski, remounting is very simple. All you need to do is swim to the back of the jet ski and pull yourself back up onto the deck. This is completely safe since all jet skis come equipped with safety lanyards. The lanyards are attached to your body in case you’re thrown off and the jet ski will automatically shut down. 

In case the jet ski lands upside down, it is necessary to flip it back over. Although the engine and storage compartments within the jet ski have watertight seals, water might seep in if the jet ski is turned upside down for a long time. This might eventually damage the vehicle.

Speed And Brakes 

Accelerating and stopping a jet ski is super simple and basic. It may take a few practice sessions since jet skis have pretty powerful engines. So practice a couple of times before you take your jet ski for a ride in order to judge how quickly or slowly your jet ski moves, and to just generally get a feel of your vehicle. Higher performing jet skis can go anywhere from 0 to 30 miles per hour in less than 2 seconds so it’s easy to lose control without any practice. You can actually opt for a short jet ski tour to clock in a few hours on a jet ski and get comfortable with the vehicle. Learn how to maintain your body posture, hand position, and balance, especially when the speed changes quickly. 

When it’s time to bring the jet ski to a halt, all you need to do is let go of the throttle, and if you want to decrease your speed, just ease the throttle. There is no actual brake on a jet ski except for a few rare jet ski models.

Riding While Standing

While sitting on a jet ski mostly requires you to use your upper body and core strength in order to maintain balance, riding a jet ski while standing requires you to use your lower body strength as well. So now you need to use your feet, legs, ankles, and knees to stand up in addition to using core and upper body strength to maintain stability. If you’re looking to master this technique, you need to learn to ride in smooth and rough water conditions. It is important to also become familiar with accelerating and braking your jet ski. You need to find a position where you’re comfortable with your feet and can bend your knees according to the situation. Be aware, you also need to know how to lean your body while turning.

Making Sharp Turns

Let’s face it. The most fun part of jet skiing is taking those really sharp turns. This is known as carving. With jet skiing, carving is important to avoid obstacles. However, carving is not just quickly turning the handlebars in one direction. There’s a good chance you might get thrown off if you resort to this. When carving, ensure that whichever direction you turn your handlebars in, you also lean your whole body in that direction. If you lean over too much, you might fall off or tip your jet ski over. Naturally follow the curve of the jet ski. While you’re carving, decrease your speed by letting go of the throttle easily but not completely. Once you’ve turned enough in the direction you want to go, you can re-engage your throttle with ease. With carving, ensure you progress gradually. Don’t try to flip all the way around when you’re just starting out. It is best to practice this in a large open area to ensure you have enough space and are not a danger to yourself or others.

Circling Around

For most tricks on a jet ski, you require natural waves or wake to jump. However, waves might not be naturally available everywhere. This is when making circles helps. Riding in a circle does not require sharp turns like in carving, but this also depends on how big of a circle you want. Again, to make a circle, just turn your handlebars slightly and lean in the same direction. Start wide and gradually make your circle smaller. Keep going in a circle till you get comfortable. Once you get comfortable, you can start taking sharp turns and go back to use the wave you created. 

Remember that jet skiing is as simple or difficult as you make it. Like any other sport, it takes practice. Starting off with a qualified jet ski company is recommended since the instructors there will help you set your own pace and get comfortable first before you hop onto your first jet ski. Stay focused on following each step gradually instead of attempting to do a backflip on your first try. Most importantly, remember to have fun and stay safe. 

If you’re looking to try a jet ski session, get in touch with us!