where is this sport going?

[WaveDemon]

Where is this sport going? We hear it's growing but what does that mean to me, a regular guy who likes to jump waves and has aspiration of barrel rolls? Are we talking about growing a cottage market for a few venders/shop owners to make money (this is the least of my concerns)? Are we talking about big business being involved in some way? Are we talking about dozens of full time free riders who pimp their products as if they were NASCAR drivers (swapping hats in the middle of the post race interview, etc.)? For bigger businesses to be involved does that mean less freerides and more freeride competitions so there can be winners and losers? Is the sky falling? If you add a couple dozen riders to my town my spot would be swamped. I spread the word about this sport because I like it and I think others might too but where does that take us?

I don't want to sound like an a-hole but I'm happy riding with my current riding buddies in a niche sport/hobby that no one else even knows about.


Maybe everyone talking about the sport growing means we have twice as many people as there is now, no big deal.

 

[Matt_E]

According to certain informed ex-Seadoo-now-Honda-Riders, the sport is going down the toilet.
I find this source very credible.

 

[WaveDemon]

According to certain informed ex-Seadoo-now-Honda-Riders, the sport is going down the toilet.
I find this source very credible.

let's not turn this into a Thejeffski is a tool thread. I'm not that worried but I'd like to hear from the visionaries.

 

[unclehulka13]

I may be young, but i remember going to the local events in wyandotte michigan and seeing endless rows of stand up skis. Freestyle had just started to show itself, and everyone loved it. We're at a low point right now not because of standup vs. sitdown, but the economy. No one has money for toys, so they stay home. There were a ton of people at WF, but nedra said this was nothing compared to the years prior.

Right now, with Ratti, Lee Stone, and the like, Kids are going to idolize them because they're great role models. I dont care who you are, but when you see a 14-20 year old busting tricks that these veterans are doing, we're doing a good job with this sport as a whole. I dont see popularity declining anytime soon.

Getting kids involved in freestyle and racing should be a main priority. Yes, its expensive, but in the end, smiling faces make it all worthwhile. I see us growing again within the next 5 years, there will be another national tour, and there will be more money for sponsorships because of it.


/end rant.

 

[Frosty]

I hear WaveDemon, I'm rather curious about that myself. I'd love to see freeriding really explode... however, I too like my little area of the world... where me and my pals can ride without having to run into a ton of other people... Kinda nice having your own playground.

May sound dorky, but It's like the sole surfer who surfs to be one with his world vs the masses of people now out there because of the commercialization of a percieved life style.

I do think growth would help fuel innovation, both in terms of tricks and machine advancement. Without growth though, I think the sport will surely decline, and Unclehulka is right... need to start them early...

 

[ArtMaybee]

It'll never be like it used to be unless people can go into a dealership and buy a new ski. There are very few dealerships that even carry standups anymore. There is one here that will order one for you but on a custom order there is no way to haggle the price.

You can't even find a decent PWC mag on the racks anymore. Hell, you can't even find a ****ty PWC mag on the racks.

I'd LOVE to see the sport grow again. I introduce new people to standups EVERY CHANCE I GET. Sometimes when I go to the water I'll let people take turns trying out my skis. It might be better in some ways for the sport to be small... But growth is always good.

At Lanier right after the group pic last year, I rode up the lake and turned around. At that point I saw a large mass of standups coming toward me about 1000 feet away. It was a very nice experience.

Now we just have to see if anyone will even be making 2-stroke standups next year. If not, will it be a 4-stroke? Will they make a standup at all? If they do will it be worth buying?

a lot is up in the air right now too...

 

[Matt_E]

Demon....I didn't mention any names. :biggrin: But good point.

Anyhow...I have been in this scene actively for a little over a year now.
Just in that one year, FS/FR has gotten a big jump in popularity in my opinion.

However, I don't think it ever will be a main stay extreme sport, or whatever you want to call it.

It's simply too much of a niche. It's expensive, you need rideable water, you need to spend time to develop skills, etc.

 

[Phill]

Demon....I didn't mention any names. :biggrin: But good point.

Anyhow...I have been in this scene actively for a little over a year now.
Just in that one year, FS/FR has gotten a big jump in popularity in my opinion.

However, I don't think it ever will be a main stay extreme sport, or whatever you want to call it.

It's simply too much of a niche. It's expensive, you need rideable water, you need to spend time to develop skills, etc.

that goes for any sport

 

[SkiDaddy]

To address Tim's concern about overcrowding - Freestyle/Freeride is a physically demanding sport. You need balance, coordination, and situational awareness. Then there's physical conditioning.

These things will filter out a great number of people. Then some will buy skis, ride & have fun for a season or two then get bored or injured. The remainder will discover it takes at least a moderate degree of mechanical aptitude. This will filter out more. The remainder will become the new riders. The rest will sell their skis to all of us.:biggrin:

Let's just hope someone comes out with a good, light, affordable 4-stroke, DI, or something once they quit making 2 strokes. If the SJ-F & SX-RF (my guess) go out of production our sport will shrink.:frown:

 

[Matt_E]

that goes for any sport

I agree on the skills. However, money-wise, fs/fr is exceptionally expensive.

 

[MADMAT]

I don't want to sound like an a-hole but I'm happy riding with my current riding buddies in a niche sport/hobby that no one else even knows about.

This is how I feel also. I do try to turn a few select people every year onto stand-ups though.

Overall, I think freeriding in the surf is growing but I doubt we will ever see ESPN2 or even FUEL on a regular competitive type basis.

 

[djkorn1]

I think the number of people out 'Freeriding' (just riding for fun) on stand-ups is increasing. I don't think competitions are going to happen, but the Freeride events are growing exponentially. I think there was 75 skis at FSF and Jersey Rager last year and even more at Daytona. There are more and more events and there are more and more people going to them.

Our group in Cleveland has grown from 5 to about 15 in the last five years. Most of em were the cool couchers who switched over, but a few are new to the sport and we will make sure they know whats up and are not 'A-Holes' on the water.

Even if they stop making stand ups tomorrow, there are still 1000's of old superjets and racing SXRs out there waiting to be converted into freestyle machines.

People still fix up old Yamaha Banshees and 250R's even though they don't make them anymore. The 4 wheelers know they are the lightest and
quickest and are 2-strokes with the most aftermarket parts. I think the free riders will grow over the next five years... after that, who knows???

 

[MADMAT]

Wazzup Korn:headbang: :headbang:

 

[beachedflunkey]

I'd like to see the sport grow (especially in my area!) mostly so we can all feed off each other. A bonus would be to always have someone to ride with so I'm not sitting at home on going stir crazy on decent riding days.

I think being a role model to the younger generations is great too. It is an expensive sport and will teach them some financial responsibility, as well as challenge the mind to find budget ways of working on their own skis and developing cheaper alternatives to very expensive solutions.

The only downside is the more nutjobs that get into the sport, the more unsafe it can get, the more the "jetskier" label gets associated with dirt. Constructive criticism and encouragement is the key to educating the next generation of freeriders. I have certainly received positive reinforcement and very usable advice in the six months since I've been on these forums with all yall.

 

[Takeastand SJ]

I believe the sport is growing all around, more so in europe and the freeride. Racing still has a lot of kinks that needs worked out.

 

[kawasakit2me]

I don't want to sound like an a-hole but I'm happy riding with my current riding buddies in a niche sport/hobby that no one else even knows about.

Ditto x 10

Hubby and I also love to introduce people to the sport, but I would hate it if freeride/freestyle became "all the rage". It would truly suck...for someone like me who does it just for fun, but it would rock for guys/girls who would like to be doing it as a living. I usually hate that which is popular though, so that's just how I think in general.

It is growing around here though, a few people at a time. When I started riding we might see 2 or 3 standups a weekend. Now we dominate the beach. That is a beautiful thing I must admit.

 

[kingnothing3]

I would like to see the sport grow because i would love to see it on tv and have more people know what i am talking about. On the other hand though i enjoy people looking twice at my standup. And I do enjoy being one of the "select few" I just dont want this sport to get like dirtbikes and fourwheelers. I go riding my raptor in a public place thinking i really have something real nice and cool. When i get there, everyone and their brother has something VERY similar or if not identical to mine. I just wish i could ride by myslelf sometimes. And thats what i like about standup freestyle/freeride, the limited amount of people to get in the way and make me feel like i am just another number.

I would like a FEW more people to ride with around here though and thats what this site is for. I will continue to spread the word about standups because i hope others will enjoy the sport as much as i do, and its all i think about and dont have much else to talk about.:biggthumpup:

I guess either way i will be happy

 

[Mile9c1]

I think freeride/freestyle will always be a niche sport.

There's virtually no OEM support, and for potential new riders... if they're not living on water, it's a ton easier to get into other sports like motocross before they even try a jetski. Look at some of the factors... dirtbiking is already hugely more popular than jetskis; it's on tv every week; there's no age limit for dirtbikes, brand new dirtbikes can be bought really really cheap; they have many models to chose from; and they can be found everywhere; and they're cheaper to operate. So how does someone get started in jetskis??

I'm really lucky that I discovered standups, I'm only here now because my brother found a 650SX on the side of a river for $250 and I got hooked on it (I actually called him retarded when he first bought it, *everyone knew they were too hard to ride*mfg: ) Damn stereotypes.

There's probably a huge untapped pool of couch riders who would love standups, but they don't know enough to try one.

 

[RadRat]

unklehulka hit it right, id like to see younger people catch an interest so that the sport can continue its current growth plus the future growth with the younger crowd. we all have what it takes and as long as we dont fight amongst ourselves people will notice and catch on!

 

[Blaster94]

For what its worth here's my opinion. I think that for the next few years the manufacturers will continue the big 2 seater and even bigger 3 seater trend. This will continue until the ban/restrict PWCS from everywhere movement is over. It's hard for the manufacturers to warrant building a small fun ski that is less than one percent of there sales volume, much less R&D a new version. After a few years I think there will be a resurgance and small lightweight skis will be reintroduced and marketed. Until then I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for good deals on used SJs and B1s.