Wow, I have watched way to many videos of you guys doing backflips, rolls, racing and it made it look waaaay to easy! I took my first ride on a stand up jetski yesterday, didn't do as well as I thought I would have! I am riding a decently modded RN (pipe, head, carbs, etc etc) so probably not the best ski to start on, also theres no idle screw which I hate! So I started it up and tried my best to hold it to the dock and let it warm up, couldn't do it. So I said F it and started it up hopped on and punched it, well it died before all that happened and over I went into the water, haha. Then I tried the laying down method, worked a lot better. I got away from the dock, got to my knees and hopped up to my feet pretty easily and took off. So all was well until I had to turn, turned to the left fairly easy but turning to the right is a lot harder for me. I am so used to motorcycles where you actually turn the bars the opposite way you turn. There was times when I was turning the bars and wasn't really turning at all then others when I was trying to keep them straight and the ski had speed wobble it seemed like. I have no idea how you guys go slow on these things, especially setting up your own wake. I have really good balance but man this is tough! Going to take a lot of practice before I get out into the surf and have some real fun. I only fell twice, I saw a video of people racing and they leaned all the way over almost into the water taking turns, yeah, I am not that good. Also my ski FILLS up with water from the stock rear air holes, I am worried about the engine taking on water, I have a scupper and bilge, but still don't like water in my hull, what can I do about that?
Freestyle New found respect for stand up riders
- Thread starter Stunts
- Start date
- Location
- Cleveland Ohio
Welcome to the rewarding world of stand-ups! You have a great ski to start on! Plenty of power to pull you out of trouble and nice and stable....
Don't worry about the water issue...you have a bilge and scupper and that will take care of it. Keep your bilge on the whole time you are riding. If you are planning on staying with the standup you could get an aftermarket hood eventually.
Try to balance with your feet pushing down on the tray to keep it level. Don't use your arms to try to pull it back up...keep them loose. You'll use less energy and be more stable.....and when in trouble, hit the gas, pulls it right back up!
Keep riding!
Don't worry about the water issue...you have a bilge and scupper and that will take care of it. Keep your bilge on the whole time you are riding. If you are planning on staying with the standup you could get an aftermarket hood eventually.
Try to balance with your feet pushing down on the tray to keep it level. Don't use your arms to try to pull it back up...keep them loose. You'll use less energy and be more stable.....and when in trouble, hit the gas, pulls it right back up!
Keep riding!
Thanks! I have a lowered hood and nose piece coming in a few weeks. Will that help riding, lower center of gravity? It seems like this ski was horribly balanced, too long and narrow. I feel like I'd be much better on a freestyle hull that is shorter and wider. I definitely did not push down with my feet, used my arms more, so that didn't help. Is it ok to leave the bilge on the whole time? I just don't like the fact of it running dry and all the time possibly burning it up? Yeah, just like a motorcycle, if you get the wobbles, hit the gas! But I see riders going so slow standing up sometimes, I don't know how! Practice practice practice! Anyone can go fast on a motorcycle, but going slow was the challege, guess I will just have to work on that.
- Location
- Largo, Fl
if it seems like your scupper is leaking (yes, it happens) you could block it off and just run your bilge. You will not "need" your scupper until you are ready for tricks and are more stable/confident riding....
Just ride that thing, a lot. It will take some time to master it. I have been riding a long time and I still don't have it mastered.
Stick with it STUNTS, I hate when I see people give up after a couple times out.
Just ride that thing, a lot. It will take some time to master it. I have been riding a long time and I still don't have it mastered.
Stick with it STUNTS, I hate when I see people give up after a couple times out.
227
Its all about the surf!
- Location
- Oceanside, CA
First thing to do is to get your ski so it will idle properly. Its extremely hard for or a beginner to ride a ski that won't idle because they usually haven't mastered the trottle control yet, and throttle control is EVERYTHING on a ski.
sjetrider
615 Freeriders are addicted to T1 madness.
- Location
- in the 615 (Nashville)
Think of it like snow skiing. If you turn to the left you need preasure on your right foot, and the oposite for the right turns. Very important to keep your chest near or over the bars and your arms bent some to maintain control as well. Use the power of the ski to pull you out of sketchy situations.
A shorter hull will be tougher to learn on. You have a great hull to learn on. The hood will not help alot at this stage, more so when you start rollong , stabbing or doing hood tricks. Scuppers are not a first timers best freind, I recomend plugging it for now or at least stiffen the flap up.
Its a challenge and you have to WANT to master it to stay motivated. If you really want to get it then keep at it and before long you will LOVE it. Following someone through a course or through some figure 8's is the best way to learn as it makes you turn on demand, not just when and how it feels confortable. Or find some bouys to menouver around.
A shorter hull will be tougher to learn on. You have a great hull to learn on. The hood will not help alot at this stage, more so when you start rollong , stabbing or doing hood tricks. Scuppers are not a first timers best freind, I recomend plugging it for now or at least stiffen the flap up.
Its a challenge and you have to WANT to master it to stay motivated. If you really want to get it then keep at it and before long you will LOVE it. Following someone through a course or through some figure 8's is the best way to learn as it makes you turn on demand, not just when and how it feels confortable. Or find some bouys to menouver around.
I am definitely not giving up, I just don't know how much time I will have to ride. I want to get back out there and ride again, just wish my friends were into it, I am the only one. There are a few people on this site that are somewhat close to me, but I don't think anyone rides where is closest to me (bohemia river) and who would want to ride with a noob?
Why are scuppers not good for beginners? You have to be moving fast for it to work right? I got up to at least 35-40mph (apparantly my ski tops out at 54.7mph gps). So when I fell, the hood flooded the hull and I just turned the bilge on before starting it, waited a minute, started it and got on and first thing I did was a high speed run. What should I close the scupper off with? I am not even sure exactly how they work, I just bought the ski will all the mods done. I do not like having holes in the hood, but I guess the engine needs the air, I am just terrified that the carbs will suck up water and my engine blows.
I will definitely try figure 8s next time I get out there, got practice!
I've never snow skied before, so your saying if I turn left, push down with my right foot? I see people taking crazy turns, their whole body is off the ski practically in the water leaning, like you would on a motorcycle when you put your knee to the ground. That is what I tried, and right over into the water I went. I didn't push with my feet at all that I can remember. I was really nervous, just going in a straight line seemed very unstable, like I wasn't a good fit for the ski or dimensions, going to take a lot of getting used to.
Where can I get an idle screw or anyone know the size?
Why are scuppers not good for beginners? You have to be moving fast for it to work right? I got up to at least 35-40mph (apparantly my ski tops out at 54.7mph gps). So when I fell, the hood flooded the hull and I just turned the bilge on before starting it, waited a minute, started it and got on and first thing I did was a high speed run. What should I close the scupper off with? I am not even sure exactly how they work, I just bought the ski will all the mods done. I do not like having holes in the hood, but I guess the engine needs the air, I am just terrified that the carbs will suck up water and my engine blows.
I will definitely try figure 8s next time I get out there, got practice!
I've never snow skied before, so your saying if I turn left, push down with my right foot? I see people taking crazy turns, their whole body is off the ski practically in the water leaning, like you would on a motorcycle when you put your knee to the ground. That is what I tried, and right over into the water I went. I didn't push with my feet at all that I can remember. I was really nervous, just going in a straight line seemed very unstable, like I wasn't a good fit for the ski or dimensions, going to take a lot of getting used to.
Where can I get an idle screw or anyone know the size?
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gc4
I'd be lost without the x
- Location
- Kingston, Ontario
straight line fast isn't the most stable on these things. they dont like to go fast without being on an edge, they start dancing on top of the water. a similar example i guess is like wakeboarding. if you try and ride the board straight and not on an edge the board starts walking around until it catches an edge. a ski isnt this unstable going straight but it is a similar idea
just ride man, u need to get the feel of how the ski reacts with different movements of your body. and like the other guys said, just leave your bilge on for the entire time your out there. they are made to run dry so it should be fine.
and a scupper is basically a tube that runs from your engine compartment to the back of your hull to quickly drain water from the engine compartment. the end at the rear of the hull has a one way valve that only allows water out (in theory). they are great for getting water out of your hull quickly after a trick but they can leak and aren't really necessary if your just starting out.
just ride man, u need to get the feel of how the ski reacts with different movements of your body. and like the other guys said, just leave your bilge on for the entire time your out there. they are made to run dry so it should be fine.
and a scupper is basically a tube that runs from your engine compartment to the back of your hull to quickly drain water from the engine compartment. the end at the rear of the hull has a one way valve that only allows water out (in theory). they are great for getting water out of your hull quickly after a trick but they can leak and aren't really necessary if your just starting out.
swapmeet
Brotastic
- Location
- Arlington TX
Congrats on your first time riding. Its funny to hear that your RN is "long and skinny", try riding a JS440 or a FX1, they are narrower and more unstable. At the same time its that much more rewarding to master. Those two skis are all i've ever ridden and riding a super jet feels like i'm piloting a barge. I know they're great skis, its all in what your used to.
If you have good balance you'll master it in no time. Like everyone said, ride it like you stole it, keep pushing yourself and for the love of pete leave your bilge on LOL!
If you have good balance you'll master it in no time. Like everyone said, ride it like you stole it, keep pushing yourself and for the love of pete leave your bilge on LOL!
You can put a piece of heavy duct tape over the scupper, will prolly fall off after some time but will help keep it closed.
For turning, u really don't need to be leaning that far, if u ride in surf stance push down on ur front foot, when turning and it will help, and for a lil more stability try to ride with both feet shoulder with apart, in ur footholds if u have them, and that will make u more stable also!!
Keep rippin and u will get it, practice makes perfect don't get discouraged
For turning, u really don't need to be leaning that far, if u ride in surf stance push down on ur front foot, when turning and it will help, and for a lil more stability try to ride with both feet shoulder with apart, in ur footholds if u have them, and that will make u more stable also!!
Keep rippin and u will get it, practice makes perfect don't get discouraged
spork
down with the sickness
- Location
- Indianapolis Indiana
Welcome to the worst hell you'll ever love! It takes time to get used to using the engine/pump to help stabilize you. It's kinda like patting your head and rubbing your belly at the same time, but once you start to figure that out it'll be much more rewarding. The motor will typically stall before taking on enough water to do damage, and if you do drown the motor with water just pull the plugs and crank it over to blow the water out then put the plugs back in and go to town. Keep at it cause it only gets better and better!
AZRIDER
stupid desert
- Location
- TUCSON ARIZONA
like common sense says Keep your weight down-----knees
but who listens to common sense my legs get tired
but who listens to common sense my legs get tired
- Location
- Ocala, FL
More throttle=more stability. You can ride out of some sketchy stuff if you just pin the throttle.
Also be glad you started on an SJ! After learning on a FX1 the SJs ive ridden felt huge and too stable, i cant imagine going from a SJ to a FX1 if i thought an SJ was unstable!
Also be glad you started on an SJ! After learning on a FX1 the SJs ive ridden felt huge and too stable, i cant imagine going from a SJ to a FX1 if i thought an SJ was unstable!
Thanks for the replies. I am definitely not giving up, just is a bit discouraging because everything typically comes very easy to me. I didn't do poorly for my first time out, I was racing up and down the river, just didn't feel comfortable, especially turning right. I don't know if I need more speed in my turns or what, but I know I am going to fall a lot more learning what I need to do! I know SJs are supposed to be very stable boats, definitely a lot others that are smaller out there, but for my first time this is how it felt. I can't wait to get back out on the water, I have so much practicing to do! Thanks for all the tips, I will definitely keep my bilge on now and practice carving on my edges, not straight line speed, we'll see next time I am out!
- Location
- indonesia / Spain
don't let it bother you , the best bit about stand ups is crashing the 
out of them and not getting hurt . the lighter you are the easier it is kids and girls make it look easy as they weigh nothing .
i have friends that race motocross and supermoto at national and european championship level that couldn't even stand up after 45 min :-}}}
so just get out and have fun ride as much as you can and remember youtube is your best friend watch learn and put into practice
out of them and not getting hurt . the lighter you are the easier it is kids and girls make it look easy as they weigh nothing .i have friends that race motocross and supermoto at national and european championship level that couldn't even stand up after 45 min :-}}}
so just get out and have fun ride as much as you can and remember youtube is your best friend watch learn and put into practice
OCD Solutions
Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
- Location
- Rentz, GA
It is the difficulty in riding that draws me to standups in the first place. My Seadoo was boring me to death after the first season but standups have held my attention for over 12 years now and I learn a little more everytime I ride. I may not be progressing as fast as others but this is not a race and I'm in it for the long haul.
I have another 30 years at least to learn how to roll, backflip, etc and I am in no hurry to learn how to glass my ski back together from failed attempts.
Sent from my Droid so spelling mistakes courtesy of Android keyboard.
I have another 30 years at least to learn how to roll, backflip, etc and I am in no hurry to learn how to glass my ski back together from failed attempts.
Sent from my Droid so spelling mistakes courtesy of Android keyboard.
baxt3r
BBQ
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
I'm still getting the hang of things while riding. Made a bit of progress this weekend and it made the sore muscles and stiff back all worth it. I find myself reading, and re-reading threads on here and it helps. The second or third time through I pick up on something I missed or that just didn't click. Stick with it and you'll have loads of fun. I know I am.