If you want to feel an adrenaline rush from accelerating from zero to 50 mph in under five seconds without risking your safety on the asphalt, you have two options: purchase a ticket and blast to Mars, or climb onto a high-octane jet ski.
Since you’re reading this article, you most likely re someone that seriously wants to pursue their dream of riding a jet ski and you’ve probably Googled “How to Ride a Jet Ski,” and wound up with us. No matter how you got here, though, you’ve come to the right place.
We at Madison Jet Ski Rentals are happy to have you. Our team has always had a passion for introducing beginners to the thrilling world of navigating the Madison waters on Jet Skis.
In the spirit of it all, we’ve put together this simple beginner’s guide that will help any newbie be a seasoned wake jumper in no time!
How to Ride a Jet Ski
If you’re new to the sport, starting with these 10 super helpful tips before throttling up will help. These are the basics on how to ride a jet ski:
- Know your Boat-Ed: In Wisconsin, if you were born after 1/1/89 you must pass a boating safety course before driving a personal watercraft (PWC), or a jet ski.
- Climb on and find a sitting position that is comfortable for you.
- Place your hands on the bars and plant your feet in the footrests.
- Before turning on your Jet ski, you must have a lanyard (or something similar) around your wrist or attached to your life jacket that is attached to the key in the ignition. This is known as the kill switch cord. In a nutshell, if you fall off, it kills the engine.
- Turn on the jet ski ignition switch.
- Slowly push the throttle in. Cruise around at about 5 -10 mph until you’re comfortable with the feel of the throttle.
- Once you are at a safe distance from the shore, past obstacles and heavy boat traffic, you can accelerate and increase speed. However, stay at a speed you are comfortable with.
- Steadily maintain this slow and steady speed. Lean your WaveRunner in toward the direction of any turns you make.
- Be mindful that jet ski needs acceleration to turn. To avoid capsizing your jet ski, keep the load balanced and centered.
- Many beginners want to stand up on the ski, but resist the temptation until after you’ve become a seasoned or master rider. You could lose control of the PWC or fall otherwise.
Before we get into the next two tips about riding your Jet ski for the first time, let’s answer a couple of frequently asked questions we get about jet skiing.
Will I get wet?
Yes! Even if you do not fall in, you’ll likely get a sprayed by the water. That’s all part of the fun!
What Should I Wear on a Jet Ski?
Usually, a bathing suit and a coast-guard approved life jacket, but if the water or weather is on the cold side you may want to wear a wetsuit or drysuit.
Are Jet Skis Dangerous?
Any activity Involves risk. Injuries do occur. However, if you listen to your guides and proceed with caution your risk of injury is greatly diminished. That’s why you have to pay attention to our first-time jet ski rider tips in this article.
What to Bring on Your jet ski adventure:
Bring along the following for your first jet ski ride and any after:
- Enough gasoline: If you don’t check your fuel gauge, you can get stranded!
- A whistle, horn or other signaling device
- A GPS device (phone) in case you get lost
- All the required safety equipment for the PWC’s Class A certification Certificate
- A Coast Guard-approved PFD or life jacket (it’s the law) Or use ours
- The right water specific clothing and gear. Gloves, especially, will save your hands from painful blisters and help you grip the throttle and lines
- Certification from your boating safety course, or whatever certification or license your state requires for operating a PWC
- Proper documentation, including vessel registration with all the displayed decals
- A fire extinguisher (Coast Guard approved).
- A functional backfire flame arrestor & ventilation system
Of course, if you rent your jet ski at Madison Jet Ski Rentals, you can leave many of the safety and regulatory features on this list to us. We provide Coast Guard-approved jet ski safety equipment, vessel registration and more. Contact us to find out more about booking or what is needed for your adventure.
Other Tips for Beginning Jet Ski Riders
Before embarking on your adventure, here are some tips and advice for riding your Jet ski:
- Safety First – Know the safety rules and regulations that govern the waters. For instance, a PWC is considered a Class A vessel by the Coast Guard. Because of that, familiarize yourself with rules and regulations that apply to boats under 16 feet. Also, becoming overconfident when you’re learning is a common mistake.
- Keep it Straight! First time jet skiers often have difficulty keeping the jet ski straight. The good news is this is easy to correct. Riders often stare at the handlebars or the water just off the bow (front) of the ski. Instead, lift your head up and look off in the distance. This will allow you to drive straight and enjoy your ride. If you continue to struggle, simply pick a stationary target on land or water (buoy) and steer directly at it.
- Remember, You Can’t Turn Away from Danger Without Throttle – The “jet” in jet ski refers to the water jet that shoots out the back and makes the ski go forward. That jet moves side to side to steer the machine. There is no rudder, so when you slow down or remove your hand from the throttle all together your ability to steer is diminished or lost completely. So, if an emergency occurs and you need to avoid a collision don’t take your finger off the throttle. Doing that will make it impossible to steer away from danger. instead, keep your speed up and steer away from the danger.
- Splash Down…How to Re-Board Your jet ski – Sometimes people fall off their jet ski. This is typically no big deal and can be a part of the fun. However, there is a tried-and-true method to getting back on. You always reboard a ski from the stern (back). Most Jet skis have a step that flips down. Simply reach up to the handle behind the seat and step onto the step and pull yourself out of the water onto the back deck of the ski. If you are riding tandem, only one person should board at a time. Attempting to reboard from the side will cause the ski to flip. If you’re out of shape and have several failed attempts to reboard you can get very tired, very quickly. Relax in the water, think about how you’re going to get back on board and then slowly climb back aboard.
- Relax! It’ll Hurt Less! – Many new riders complain that their hands get tired or they feel slight soreness in their shoulders. This occurs because new riders often hold on tightly. Instead, lean forward slightly and relax your grip. Keep your elbows slightly bent. This will allow you to ride without fatigue. Don’t lean too far forward keep your head up looking out beyond the handlebars.
- Hold Tightly. But Not Too Tight! We’ve talked about driving, but there is a trick to being a good and comfortable passenger as well. It is best to Hold the driver’s waist or the back of their life jacket. However, don’t hold on so tight that you make it difficult for your partner to drive the ski. As with driving, relax. Keep your body loose, not stiff. This will lower fatigue and increase your enjoyment. Also, when the driver leans into a turn, passengers should too lean with them.
- Stick with It – Riding jet skis is a blast, but doing it safely and correctly takes time and practice. Follow this guide, and the next time you climb aboard yours, you should be fully prepared!