10 Surprising Things You Can Do on a Jet Ski [Video]

What is the purpose of a jet ski? Contrary to popular belief, jet skis are no longer just small water toys that can only be used for adrenaline rushes and “playing around.” Instead, you can do many other things on a jet ski such as:

Doing tricks
Touring, exploring, camping
Towing a wakeboarder/tuber
Flyboarding
Swimming
Snorkeling
Jet ski fishing
Assisting surfers
Racing
Working and other professional use

If you want to discover all the hidden purposes of jet skis, this post is for you.

For your convenience, we at JetDrift have compiled all of them under one roof!

What is the Purpose of a Jet Ski?

It’s safe to say that the original purpose of a jet ski was simply to have fun on the water, which typically meant quick spins close to the shore. But over the years jet skis have become bigger and bigger, with many of them being the same size as a small boat. Therefore, the purpose of today’s jet ski goes far beyond pleasure riding, as they can be used for watersports, fishing, and even work.

Would you like to find out what these activities are? Keep reading!

What Can You Do on a Jet Ski?

It might be surprising at first glance, but many riders start getting bored on their jet skis after a certain period of time. To avoid this, it’s good to know what else there is to do on a jet ski beyond circling around the dock!

Without further ado, here’s our list of the 10 best things you can do on a jet ski:

1. Doing Tricks

There is no question that the best things to do on a jet ski are the various tricks. If you have a stand-up jet ski, you are probably familiar with the most popular ones.

But if you would like to learn some new tricks, don’t miss our compilation about the best stand-up jet ski tricks!

Do you have a sit-down jet ski? Don’t worry!

Contrary to the popular belief, you can do many tricks with a sit-down jet ski as well! On the other hand, wave jumping is not recommended with any sit-down jet ski. Why?

This is because the dynamic forces can cause cracks on the hull, engine misalignment, or any other issues, which can lead to severe damage or malfunctions in the long run.

2. Jet Ski Camping, Touring, Exploring

Besides the great adrenalin rushes and tricks, today’s jet skis can even cover long distances. This is especially true of the Luxury models that feature large fuel tanks and get great gas mileage, which makes them great for touring.

Also, you can carry a lot of gear in their storage compartment and rear platform. So, why not load your camping gear on your jet ski and discover new places?

If you are looking for extra storage capacity, you can consider investing in a jet ski rack or even a special trailer that can be towed behind the jet ski.

3. Doing Tow Sports

Thanks to their powerful engines, jet skis can tow wakeboards and tubes without any issues.

Besides these popular watersport activities, don’t forget that you can also tow water skiers, wakeskaters, or even wakefoil riders with a jet ski.

And believe it or not, you can even wake surf behind a jet ski! However, this definitely requires some practice!

4. Flyboarding

Another great activity you can do with your jet ski is Flyboarding. It’s a lesser-known fact that Flyboard equipment can be attached to virtually any modern jet ski that features at least a 100 HP engine.

Simply put, a Flyboard is a “jet-powered wakeboard” that allows you to fly high above the water. You can also find some other hydroflyers on the market like the Hoverboard, JetPack, or Flyride.

5. Swimming

If you prefer something safer and more relaxing, you can swim at any time. For your convenience, jet skis are typically equipped with “reboarding steps.”As their name suggests, these foldable steps help you reboard from deep water. They basically work like a boat ladder but they are usually much shorter, so it takes more effort to get out of the water.

6. Jet Ski Snorkeling

The key advantage of the newest jet skis is that they can reach remote areas and can accommodate a snorkel set. Therefore, you can discover amazing marine life, shipwrecks, and so on.

Just make sure to properly anchor your jet ski, so you can find it where you left it!

7. Fishing

If you like fishing you can turn your jet ski into a mini fishing boat with some basic accessories!Jet ski fishing is more and more popular not only in the United States but also in many other countries worldwide.

If you want to read more about this unique activity, don’t miss our post about the basics of jet ski fishing.

8. Jet Ski Assisted Surfing

Surfing on huge waves is thrilling, but a lot of paddling robs the surfers’ energy and time. That’s why jet ski-assisted surfing is increasing in popularity.

To make the process easier, these jet skis are equipped with a “rescue board” on which they can transport the surfers. Thanks to much faster transport, they can catch many more waves and save a ton of energy.

But keep in mind that riding on big waves is definitely not for beginners! These jet skis are typically operated by skilled riders who have experience in such water conditions.

9. Racing

If you are interested in jet ski racing you can find many amateur and professional competitions nationwide. Would you like to find the closest events?

You can make a good start by visiting the official websites of the International Jet Sports Boating Association or Pro Watercross.

10. Working and Other Professional Uses

Since many jet skis virtually look like small boats, they offer excellent stability and capacities.

That’s why they are used by many organizations like SAR (Search and Rescue), the NAVY, and even lifeguards.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many things to do on a jet ski if you get bored with playing around.

It’s safe to say that besides pleasure riding the most popular activities with a jet ski are touring, wakeboarding, and jet ski fishing.

If you have a jet ski, you can’t go wrong by storing a snorkel set in the storage bin. You never know when you will feel like swimming or diving a little in the clear water.

This is our short list of the best jet ski activities. We hope you find it useful!

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