Other Where is jetskiing going?

[Freakrider]

I think without a vision of riding goals, a new trick to work on, friends to ride with, a hope that a new mod will be fun to test out (trim) and a perspective that this is one of the most fun ways to get intensive full body exercise; one can get bored with this sport.

Should we tell newbies on here to "do a search" does it sends a message that everything has been answered to the fullest and we don't discuss much anymore, go away. Some information gets updated along the way since 2006 and is no longer the best way to go. How do we develope better ca·ma·ra·der·ie (Goodwill and lighthearted rapport between or among friends; comradeship) ? This site used to discuss more stuff like "worst and best mods" threads went for pages of thought provoking ideas...

If you think you have said, done and learned it all, then you are bored for sure....

 

[Matt_E]

Jump On It, excellent posts with great points. It's often way too easy to say "search "
I'm guilty of it.

 

[RiverRat]

Sadly, I think the sport is dying off due to many factors. OEM's are backing out and have been for some time, cost of parts is high and that sucks in a down economy and lastly allot of guys (myself included) have had priorities shift. Many younger guys may be getting married or having kids and can't justify spending the time or money on skis. Sadly my ski is on the market bc I can't spend the cash on it anymore. Buying my own furniture and getting a down payment on a house has taken over my riding budget

 

[SXIPro]

I'm in it for the long haul. Hell, I will base my next home purchase on available riding areas. I live on the water now, and my wife wants to move to a3000+ sq foot house in a "beautiful neighborhood" . Ain't gonna happen. I'd rather be in my small house and be able to jump on my ski 5 minutes after I get home from work, than to live in a big house with a big lawn. If we do move it will be on the water again, and more than likely to a place with a much longer riding season. Plus riding my skis with my kids is the most fun we have as a family.

 

[Freakrider]

Jump On It, excellent posts with great points. It's often way too easy to say "search "
I'm guilty of it.

Thanks Matt, I think I have said it before too...

I've been riding a SJ for 2yrs now and hope the novelty never wears off...try to learn something on here everyday and provide info when I can...

This can be an expensive hobby when the HP/mod addiction gets a hold of you...

 

[WaveDemon]

OEM's have never changed their mind based on markets before? It may go underground for a while but the OEM's will be back when the market is stronger. On that note, I have never seen the after-market this full of offerings ever before. Even though I can't (for now) and haven't been able to ride for a while, I still conciser my self a jetskier/freerider and I keep that in mind with all life choices I make. The best friends I've made were on skis.

 

[Matt_E]

Thanks Matt, I think I have said it before too...

I've been riding a SJ for 2yrs now and hope the novelty never wears off...try to learn something on here everyday and provide info when I can...

This can be an expensive hobby when the HP/mod addiction gets a hold of you...

In six years of riding standups, the novelty and sheer thrill of riding has never worn off or gotten weaker. Honestly, the ONLY reason why I considered getting out has been the expense of it. But that is self-imposed.

 

[Matt_E]

OEM's have never changed their mind based on markets before? It may go underground for a while but the OEM's will be back when the market is stronger. On that note, I have never seen the after-market this full of offerings ever before. Even though I can't (for now) and haven't been able to ride for a while, I still conciser my self a jetskier/freerider and I keep that in mind with all life choices I make. The best friends I've made were on a skis.

Same here. I have made many friends through this over the years, in person, and online.
My very best friends today are of that group.

 

[scooter jet]

Started riding in '87 on a Kawi 650 at age 9; been through a couple of SJ's since then and looking to add more to the stable. I'm 32 now, injured my knee pretty bad on the last day of the summer this year riding my ski. I'm itching to get back on and ride in the spring. It'll be a cold day in hell the day I quit riding stand ups.

I don't do a lot of posting on here, but I do spend a lot of time reading.

Thank you for the site; I do enjoy it even if I don't post much.

 

[oxnard111]

I can say that I've kinda lost my drive for riding this last year or so. I'm not excited like I use to be to go riding. A buddy and myself use to ride multiple times a week if possible (after work and sat & sun). Now I'm lucky if I make it out once every couple of weeks. Don't know what has done it. I know I've been really busy this year with buying a house, but if I was really excited about riding I would make time to ride.

That being said, I can never see myself not owning atleast one ski. Even if it was just a yearly summer lake trip and the pismo rides.

 

[yamaslut]

I have noticed a huge decrease of traffic on this site, I used to get tons of pm's and questions concerning the freeride, but this year, nothing... Makes me wonder if this will be the beginning of the end for this site. I think the "know it all" attitudes on this site run people off. It has me and I was as die hard as they get.

As far as riding goes, I might have ridden 1 time since August and I don't really care... I guess I just don't have the fire anymore. I hope it comes back, but w/ the economy and job situation it's hard to care about skis when you are barely making it and working 3 jobs w/ no future...

 

[Charlie_Hustle]

In my city (Las Vegas):

The two stroke ban on Lake Mead takes affect December 2012. I have seen a small increase in the number of stand ups on the lake in the last two years. The two stroke ban will put the nail in the coffin though and the only stand ups on Lake Mead will be the HS owners. The rest of the riders will have to travel to ride.

On another note, I would like to thank x-h2o, Liquid Militia and all the freeriders that attended the Spingbreak Freeride in Pismo. That event changed my life. I rode the entire weekend in survival mode. It was the hardest thing I ever did on a jetski. I looked like a complete yahoo out there, and I was hooked. From Las Vegas to Oceanside is 300 miles. Vegas to Pismo is 400 miles. I have been to Pismo 4 times this year and to Oside more times than I can remember. I have also met tons of awesome people that have welcomed me and my son with open arms. The biggest thing for me this year is that I never thought I would own a Super Jet, and I never thought my 13 year old would want to ride surf. Both happened and I dont plan to stop riding surf anytime soon.

Proud parent moment

 

[swanny]

you dont have to ride your toys- you just have to have them, for when you want to.

been riding surf since 1986 in pacific city (not very good rider) and will ride there till I die. Just a handful of times a year but I will be there.

Nick said it best many moons ago- one part surfer one part skiier, take one away im done. But you cant take one away so I will not be done.

 

[ATS_Aaron]

I've felt myself and the sport getting older. We ride less because of our kids now. I can't wait for my son to be old enough to ride. I plan to get him and his friends addicted. I like to keep a stock-ish ski on the trailer with us, just in case people (read hot girls) show up we can teach them how to ride.

As far as OEM's bailing out, that's not that big of a deal to me. The aftermarket is stronger than ever. New low priced hulls are popping up everywhere, and even some not so low priced hulls that are designed around other low price parts (IE Q8 Stalker and the Rickter XFS).

Aaron

 

[yamaslut]

yup, I am by no means quitting either... I guess after a wile the toll on your body and wallet just make you realize that you have to slow.

another thing, I used to ride every weekend at least 1-2 times per week all year, thats like 3 season a year compared to guys that live up north, so in my 10 years of riding it has put like 30 years of beating on me and I feel the effects bigtime. my lumbar spine is toast, my arms go numb all the time, my upper back is starting to follow the lumbar and I have tendinitis in my right arm so bad that I can barley pick up anything, along w/ multiple concussions that I have received from landing flat or on my head...

Is it worth that toll, not sure...

 

[ATS_Aaron]

Oh yeah, my passion for the water over the street was reinforced this morning. I was driving my second MR2 car to work (basically a silver/grey copy of the one in my sig) and got pulled over. As usual I built a beast of a car that whenever I drive it like it was meant to be driven I could end up in jail.

Aaron

 

[special fx]

Been riding consistantly for 27 years and I'm as excited when I go out now as I was when I started. I still seem to learn something new everytime I ride and even though the body probably isn't as pliable as 27 years ago, I feel F'ing great everytime I ride! I hope this shiz never goes away!!

Oh...and Nick, The whole FX Mafia crew is still jazzed for Daytona....so don't fear, someone will show up

 

[oxnard111]

I think one reason why I'm not into riding as I use to be is that I don't want to hurt myself. I've always been a careful my whole life, not a big risk taker, have never broken a bone or had a cast. Any progression above my current riding level would require getting hurt every once in a while.

 

[yamaslut]

Been riding consistantly for 27 years and I'm as excited when I go out now as I was when I started. I still seem to learn something new everytime I ride and even though the body probably isn't as pliable as 27 years ago, I feel F'ing great everytime I ride! I hope this shiz never goes away!!

Oh...and Nick, The whole FX Mafia crew is still jazzed for Daytona....so don't fear, someone will show up

I think people will show for Daytona, it's just very hard to gauge the interest when people don't post about it... The hotels are all sold out or close to it so there will be people coming...

 

[WaveDemon]

As I my body gets beat up I'm less interested in aerial tricks and focus on surf riding. The knee shaking thrill of aerials has been replaced with the zen of wave riding. It may not photograph well but the feeling of a bottom turn is the best feeling. I think I'll be able to pull off bottom turns for a couple more decades.