Freestyle Best way to get started for a noob

danthaman916

danthaman916

Location
Nashville
Hey guys. Whitewater kayaker looking to get into the freestyle ski scene as my new residence is lakeside. I'm wanting a good starter ski that I can build on as I progress. Not too worried about the cash, but I'm not sure I could build one from scratch. I'd like to get to a point where I can barrel roll/flip and understand that won't come stock. I see the Superjets are popular, but can I get one to that level through mods?

Any help is greatly appreciated!
 
krash45p

krash45p

Location
US
I would check out krash and the new rtr 50cal if 12000 not to much for you !you will spend that much easy on a ski if you build one or just by a ski built from somebody a sj wont flip and roll with a wave

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
x2mafia

x2mafia

Maximum effort
Location
WA
Would this be your first jetski all together? Do you have any experience riding stand ups? Are you mechanically inclined or have "wrenching" abilities already?
 
Citizen

Citizen

Location
Coeur D' Alene, ID
What lumber said, but i would skip the rickter too. Have ridden a few of them flatwater and was far from impressed, they were surf models tho in rickters defense. Much better flatwater hulls out there imo.
 
Lumberjack

Lumberjack

Location
Saskatchewan
yep or anything quality AM. I'm kinda stuck on SJ for this season but i shouldnt complain since it's a real nice ski but its limiting my progression and I've only been on it for a season. kinds sucks riding flat water when there are no surf boat wakes to slam. get bored pretty quick.
 
danthaman916

danthaman916

Location
Nashville
Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to get in touch with some local riders.

I haven't done stand up skis before but I've been on a jet ski as long as I can remember. I can watch vids and usually follow something step by step to wrench on my bike or jeep, but I wouldn't be able to drop an engine in either.
 
OCD Solutions

OCD Solutions

Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
Location
Rentz, GA
Welcome to the sport! A standup compares to a jet ski about as much as those new 3 wheel Can-Am spiders compares to a dirt bike so get ready for some learning. :)
Some guys pick it right up, others struggle for a bit but both have a ton of fun. It's not easy but that's what makes it so challenging and fun.

Wrenching is riding so get used to tinkering, reading and learning.

There's not much you will come across that hasn't been covered on this forum so you've already discovered one of the biggest asserts you will need to stay on the water.

Other than that, stay afloat, keep getting back up and have fun!
 
OCD Solutions

OCD Solutions

Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
Location
Rentz, GA
I would tend to agree but stand ups are one of those things where power greatly reduces the learning curve.

I first played on a built 550 and then on a built 701 and the 701 was far easier. It had the power to pull you out of a fall where you would have fallen off the 550.
 
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Citizen

Citizen

Location
Coeur D' Alene, ID
OCD Solutions said:
I would tend to agree but stand ups are one of those things where power greatly reduces the learning curve.

I first played on a built 550 and then on a built 701 and the 701 was far easier. It had the power to pull you out of a fall where you would have fallen off the 550.
Click to expand...

I agree, power and upgrades change the entire ride of the skis. Why learn to ride a stock superjet when you just have to spend time relearning once you have quick steer installed, footholds, etc? There is a baseline of quality and cost effective mods that are well worth starting with if you can afford them imo.

I understand that logic of "if you can learn to ride a 550 well you can ride anything." Yes your riding skills will be better, but you still will have to relearn a lot of stuff once you upgrade to a ski worth riding. (sorry 550 lovers)
 
OCD Solutions

OCD Solutions

Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
Location
Rentz, GA
There's nothing more discouraging than trying to learn on a POS either. If you spend more time wrenching, (or falling) than riding, the chances of walking away are pretty high.

If you can start on a reliable machine and get the better part of a season under your belt before you have to start wrenching, the hook will be set for life!
 
Vumad

Vumad

Super Hero, with a cape!
Location
St. Pete, FL
It doesn't matter what you buy, as long as you can ride it a year by doing nothing more than putting gas in it. Once you have something, you can get out an meet people. Showing up every ride with a stock superjet that runs like a top is vastly better than missing out because you have an expensive turd that is always broken. Getting out and meeting people and riding as much as possible will give you the answers to every question you have first hand. What each person who has posted in this thread wants is different than what every other wants.

People will tell you to start with a superjet with a pipe because you can do anything with it. Ride some with some racers, then head to the surf, and rock some old-school tricks on the flat water.

Be sure to make it to the Daytona feeride (which include flatwater friday). You can test ride just about anything at that event.
 
OCD Solutions

OCD Solutions

Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
Location
Rentz, GA
Vumad said:
as long as you can ride it a year by doing nothing more than putting gas in it.
Click to expand...

That was my first ski! I paid $2500 for a built 92 SN with a piped 701 and rode it for 7 seasons before it ate a reed. To this day it has been the best bang for the buck out of all my skis.
 
BradyK

BradyK

Location
GA
Started on a 550 for a year, went to a somewhat modded SJ and practically had to relearn how to ride. After learning how the SJ worked it was far better than the 550, but still took practice. You'll only be able to love a ski after you become comfortable with it. However, I'm not sure a SJ will provide backflips and rolls. You'd want a much lighter AM flatwater hull to produce those tricks, but I can honestly say I doubt many people here started out flipping and rolling first hand. Just takes time and practice through different skis
 
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