Jet Ski is a line of personal watercraft made by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Many people use the term “Jet Ski” incorrectly to refer collectively to all personal watercraft with a pivoting hand pole. Other popular lines of personal watercraft include the WaveRunner by Yamaha and the Samba by Silveira Customs.
History
The first use of a motorized personal watercraft was the Skiboard, invented in 1929. This device was a powered surfboard that the operator guided by shifting his weight. The first commercially successful personal watercraft was the Jet Ski 400, invented in 1973. This personal watercraft had a fiberglass body and a flat hull. The Jet Ski 440 entered production in 1978, and had a new jet pump with a larger engine. The Jet Ski 550 was released in 1982, which featured a mixed flow pump that generated more torque at low speed. Kawasaki began producing sports Jet Skis in 1986 with the X-2, which had greatly improved handling and a more powerful engine. Jet Skis made since 1993 have had V-shaped hulls, which makes them more maneuverable but less stable than flat hulls.
Freestyling
Freestyle tricks are characterized by turning and spinning the Jet Ski while driving over waves. Freestyle Jet Skis are light and maneuverable. They are usually ridden in the standing position, although models such as the Yamaha Waveblaster allow the rider to assume a sitting position. Freestyle riding is a professional sport in which competitors perform a routine consisting of specific tricks. A panel judges routines based on the quality and difficulty of the tricks.
Freeriding
An emphasis on more aerial stunts has led to an extreme form of watercraft riding known as freeriding. The rider drives directly at an oncoming wave at the highest possible speed to launch into the air, using the wave as a ramp. The rider lands on the wave and continues to ride it. Freeride Jet Skis have very powerful engines and long, narrrow hulls. Modern freeriders perform tricks that imitate those performed by surfers and motocross riders.
Racing
Jet Ski riders also race on closed courses. Buoys of various colors indicate the direction the riders must take. Typically, a yellow buoy indicates a right turn and a red buoy indicates a left turn. Professional Jet Ski racing is classified according to engine size, with 1200 cc engines being the largest category as of 2011.