rate of growth in freeride jetski?

masterblaster

masterblaster

X-H2
How many riders ya think the sport picks up every yr in the States. It seems to be growing fairly fast in other parts of the world where the surf is really good consistently. Must be more to it than that,Cali has great surf and very slow growth of the sport for what you would expect. You would think in a area with 10s of thousands of surfers,more would give it a shot? I tend to see the same people over and over at the large freerides,anyone have a idea on flatwater growth also?
 
Tommygunz

Tommygunz

Team PHP
Location
Wisconsin
I think they are both picking up. I think the local law and DNR cause many people to like the sport but then hate how much poop you get from the authorities:(
 
MADMAT

MADMAT

Location
Ohio
I think it is blowing up big time......waaaaay more riders in Ohio than 6 or 7 years ago! And I bet this is going to be the biggest Daytona ever!
 
swapmeet

swapmeet

Brotastic
Location
Arlington TX
Over the last 4 years in North Texas, we've had a huge spike (myself included) over and above the existing group of riders already present. I think some of those involved with the spike have dropped off for various reasons. So the net increase isn't as impressive.

I do think its growing though.
 
swapmeet

swapmeet

Brotastic
Location
Arlington TX
That's a good point... the growth in our immediate area was independent of social media influences, mainly word of mouth between a group of friends that were into custom cars/minitrucks. Basically one guy had a ski and let some of us try it, and one by one we all got sucked in. It was like a pyramid scheme, each person who got a ski brought a few buddies and one of them would end up getting bit and then they would need a ski. LMAO Superjets were hard to come by around here for awhile.
 
imabadfish

imabadfish

Location
Atlanta, GA
I haven't seen very many new riders in north GA, just noticing/meeting more folks that have already been doing off & on for a few years.
I think the surfers are getting more into the motorized surf boards (wavejet.com), maybe they need to work their way up in baby steps :p
 
OCD Solutions

OCD Solutions

Original, Clean and Dependable Solutions
Location
Rentz, GA
swapmeet said:
the growth in our immediate area was independent of social media influences, mainly word of mouth between a group of friends that were into custom cars/minitrucks. Basically one guy had a ski and let some of us try it, and one by one we all got sucked in. It was like a pyramid scheme, each person who got a ski brought a few buddies and one of them would end up getting bit and then they would need a ski. LMAO Superjets were hard to come by around here for awhile.
Click to expand...

Since you guys bought existing skis, is it really growth? I see it more like the passing of a torch.

Aftermarket hulls require enough OEM parts that in reality, one must die so another can live...so this really isn't growth either.

It's definitely progressing but growth is a bit optimistic.
 
masterblaster

masterblaster

X-H2
local authorities deff slowed our rate of growth.After guys ride in surf,its hard to stay excited about flat water where its easy to get away with riding.

jolo,that sounds like a natural growth,guys into performance cars,street bikes and motox are usually good converts,I still cant believe there are not more surfiers involved by now. What is the age range of most new guys riding in your area now.

227. sometimes its the opposite,if there is a big enough demand areas are created to support it,when catamarans were gaining popularity back in the day,all kinds of laws changed and areas opened up for them.Freeride would not need nearly as much space created.

ocd,i dont know bud,a 15 yr old ski in the back of the garage or worse yet the back yard,coming back to life still sounds like expansion to me.Talking new riders not skis.The riders are the important point.once they are in,its not long till new hull and motor are on the short list.
 
Last edited:
JamesG

JamesG

Site Supporter
Location
Here
OEM growth, I'd say no. Rider growth, I'd say definitely. Public awareness, huge growth lately.

I occasionally see random guys on the roads with standups now, which is pretty cool. Additionally, since I been going to USF, most people I talk to actually seem to know about standup freeride when I bring it up. The usual response is "Oh you do that?", rather than "What?". A surf club even took me in because I ride.

So, imo, it's growing in the younger crowd, despite what some of you oldies think ;)
 
TheBuzzard

TheBuzzard

Location
the jetski grave yard
the second wave of the jetski craze has definatly hit in the last few years. everybody and his dog had a ski in the 80s and early 90s , then it died. skis are/were laying around everywhere and are being bought up by mostly younger guys getting into it. there are a lot more lake and river riders that most of us dont even know about. way more than surf riders since you can only ride surf in a few select spots and if you dont live right on the coast, you ride where you can. i have a huge amount of local parts and ski buyers that prove to me that its growing big time. the problem now is there are less quality whole up and running skis , than there are guys that want them. thats why the price of whole skis continues to go up.
 
swapmeet

swapmeet

Brotastic
Location
Arlington TX
OCD Solutions said:
Since you guys bought existing skis, is it really growth? I see it more like the passing of a torch.

Aftermarket hulls require enough OEM parts that in reality, one must die so another can live...so this really isn't growth either.

It's definitely progressing but growth is a bit optimistic.
Click to expand...

I see your point, but if a ski is sitting, sometimes for years unridden, than at some point you have to say that it has died. (Enter people like the Buzzard who scoops up the crusty remains for pennies on the dollar and sells the parts.) But if a ski is revived, and ridden, and by doing so it encourages others new comers to the scene... I call that growth. By your definition, when no new stand-ups are sold, than growth can never happen. I see growth as a increase in participation.
 
tipafew

tipafew

Location
Grand Rapids, MI
227 said:
I just said this on Facebook yesterday- I fear the day when the surfing community finds out just how cool our sport is. More people = more rules = more riding spot closures
Click to expand...

I agree with John on this one. As much as I like other people to enjoy the sport I love, I see more and more people riding at my surf spot each year. It's a matter of time before they start cracking down on us.
 
F

Flyboy

Location
Southern Idaho
I still get people asking me "What is that?" I think there is both things happening. Riders finding other riders that they before didn't know existed. Also people seeing stand ups and saying "that's awesome I want to try that"
 
TheBuzzard

TheBuzzard

Location
the jetski grave yard
i dont just part them all out. if its a clean hull, then it gets sold as a runner. if its a beater roach ,it gets parted. beaters are worth nothing as a whole. if i bought every beater ski out there, there would be none out there to sell parts to........ usually a new kid buys a standup, then all his friends get them too. some guys dump them at summers end and the cycle goes on. they are coming back and thats a fact. i'm sure it comes back faster in areas that were loaded with skis back in the day.areas that there were few skis, still has to import them from other places. sacto area was loaded. folsom lake, sac river, camp far west,the delta and a lot of other waterways very near. plus the area has money, unlike some secluded hillbilly areas.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom