Forum - Jetskiing and Waterskiing; Sounds Like Fun!

I was driving this past weekend past a large lake that had many boaters on it along with people having fun on jetskiis. There were also a few people also waterskiing as well. It reminded me when I was a little younger about 28 years of age; when I went with some friends to the beach. We had so much fun on the jetskiis and it was my first time on a jetski on the beach. I enjoyed it then; and I want to do it again sometime. I hope I remember how to drive a jetski since it's been a long while. I wanted to waterski as well back then; but never got the chance to do so. Jetskiiing is awesome and I bet that waterskiing is just as fun! Maybe I can get some direction from someone who knows about it.

But what is the difference between jet and water skiing. Sorry maybe i ask a bit silly question but i could not find an exact translation and can imagine only roughly.

It's ok;no problem at all.
Jetskiing is basically driving something like a small boat that is pretty fast that has handles almost like a motorcycle on the water.

Waterskiing is basically where you stand on waterskiies(look sort of like snow skii; but just a little different);and the skiis tied to the back of the boat or speed boat. Some people even sometimes just ski without the waterskiis and use their feet as leverage in the water while being tied behind the boat. I've seen it done and it looks like it would be fun.

Hm, I also didn't know the difference.
We usually call these small sppedy boats hydrocycles or just scooters, mostly the first as scooters are more commonly known as a wheeled vehicle.

Yeah, I have also heard people call them hydrocycles a few years back. Not so much in the south though. They call them jetskiis mostly in the south.

Remember to wear your life jacket when useing either of this sports. I ended up with a compression fracture of my vertrbrae when I ate it on water skies. Jetskies can be deadly.
I'm sure you'll remember how to use the jet skies and on water skies the hardest part is getting up! Remember! Let go of the rope when you fall. Hurts like hell to be draged behind a boatLOL.

Hi Paul,
Nice to see you back on the site. Hope you're doing well and recovering from surgery too. Yeah, I know about wearing the life jacket. I had to wear one years back when I was on the jetski. I was a little scared at the time of the jetski because it was my first time on one. It's been a long while; but surely when I do it again; I will be sure to know the basics to stay good and safe while jetskiiing. I haven't done water skiing. I have seen it done; and yeah I agree about the pain of getting dragged behind a boat. I saw that years back when I was jetskiing at the time. The person was trying to show off and kept hanging on to the rope. He ended up getting hurt too. He was ok later on; but I'm sure it hurt like hell though at first. So, I definately will be sure to let go of the rope when I do go water skiing.

LOL
Do you mean you didn't let it go of? It is interesting how long you were dragged after your fall.
:D

One unfortunate thing about jet skis is that they make a terrible noise and pollute the air and water.

A two-hour jet ski ride can add several gallons of oil and gasoline to the water.

You do have a point there daka1. I agree with you on that. Maybe,hopefully one day soon someone will come up with a more quiet engine and using maybe battery or electric jet skiis....well, I guess it's a thought. You never know; lots of people are coming up with different inventions and ways of using alternative fuel. It's not impossible for that to happen.

All water craft in Califiornia is now required to have a 4 cycle engine in order to prevent the oil contamination of a 2 cycle engine. Many older jet skis, personal water craft and boats have had to be refitted with equiptment which will capture or recycle the water that was discarded when used to cool the engine.
This law was passed back in the 1990's due to the pollution of Lake Tahoe and Nevada passed the same laws to protect Lake Tahoe and Lake Powell.
I believe that Arizona, if it hasn't already passed this law soon will in order to protect the Colorado River as it is the border between California for a great distance.

That is some good news Paul! Thanks for this information. Hopefully, SC has or will have a law on this sort of thing as well. It would be nice to be able to use boats,jetskiis, and ect... without worrying about polluting air and water.

IMHO it would be better to declare such laws on the Federal level, not state.

I agree with you on that. That way, all the water should be clean hopefully.

I think the problem in the US is that they can only regulate federal water ways, something to do with Federal Laws over state laws. It will be up to each state to regulate their water ways. The same thing applies to motor cycles.