Tuesday
Sep062011
Riding High On Waves; Crashing Down Into Them
Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 11:17PM
That's what Jet-Skiing (or Wave-Running) is all about. And boy is it fun! I have seriously never had so much fun, while cursing so much at the same time. It's intensely thrilling, surprisingly physically demanding, and rather expensive, but it is totally worth it.
Almost every time I have been on a family holiday to the US, my Granddad and I have opted to go jet-skiing. As I said, it isn't cheap, and each time it has required some thinking about with regards to the cost. Its usually about $80 an hour.
But each and every time we've done it, it has been totally worth it. It began with me on the back of my Granddad's ski, clinging on for dear life as he bounced over the waves. One time, he thought he would copy the guide, and do donuts in the bay in Sarasota. Needless to say, it didn't work, and he somehow managed to flip the jet ski, throwing us both into the ocean.
Then there was time he fell off the back of the jet ski, but made it look like a really cool dismount. There was time we took my friend, and accidentally left him behind because he couldn't see without his glasses.
There was the time Nicole and I took a dolphin tour on Jet Skis, and got incredibly close to some bottlenoses in the Atlantic.
I have some incredible memories from these experiences, and I wouldn't/couldn't have done it without my Gdad. So thanks Gdad!
This last holiday, we almost didn't go. The costs just seemed to be too much, not enough time, just not worth it. We agonized about it for a little, and the decided, it may be the last chance. So we went for it. 5 minutes in, I was sold.
A nice smooth cruise out of the inlet at 65mph, and then you hit the waves in the ocean. Boom. And sometimes it really is like that. Boom. Or crack. The force at which you crash into some of the waves is just incredible. There is no where to go, except into the wave. And bang, it's like hitting a brick wall, except you get a face full of ocean spray too!
Then there's the times you hit the waves just perfectly, and off you fly. You go pretty high, for a fair amount of time, when you hit the crest at 60+mph! It's worse if you hit it at an angle, as I did numerous times... then you come down at an angle, and you're inches away from being thrown off, gripping the handles until your knuckles are white. But the thrill of that weightless flight is indescribable.
Then there's time when you're leaning down to see how fast you're going, and you fail to see the wave coming. Then you hit your own lip on the handle bars! I did that. Not once, but twice. Smart huh?
My muscles may have ached the following day, but it was totally totally worth it. If you have never tried it, I heartily recommend it- you're really never too old for it!
Almost every time I have been on a family holiday to the US, my Granddad and I have opted to go jet-skiing. As I said, it isn't cheap, and each time it has required some thinking about with regards to the cost. Its usually about $80 an hour.
But each and every time we've done it, it has been totally worth it. It began with me on the back of my Granddad's ski, clinging on for dear life as he bounced over the waves. One time, he thought he would copy the guide, and do donuts in the bay in Sarasota. Needless to say, it didn't work, and he somehow managed to flip the jet ski, throwing us both into the ocean.
Then there was time he fell off the back of the jet ski, but made it look like a really cool dismount. There was time we took my friend, and accidentally left him behind because he couldn't see without his glasses.
There was the time Nicole and I took a dolphin tour on Jet Skis, and got incredibly close to some bottlenoses in the Atlantic.
I have some incredible memories from these experiences, and I wouldn't/couldn't have done it without my Gdad. So thanks Gdad!
This last holiday, we almost didn't go. The costs just seemed to be too much, not enough time, just not worth it. We agonized about it for a little, and the decided, it may be the last chance. So we went for it. 5 minutes in, I was sold.
A nice smooth cruise out of the inlet at 65mph, and then you hit the waves in the ocean. Boom. And sometimes it really is like that. Boom. Or crack. The force at which you crash into some of the waves is just incredible. There is no where to go, except into the wave. And bang, it's like hitting a brick wall, except you get a face full of ocean spray too!
Then there's the times you hit the waves just perfectly, and off you fly. You go pretty high, for a fair amount of time, when you hit the crest at 60+mph! It's worse if you hit it at an angle, as I did numerous times... then you come down at an angle, and you're inches away from being thrown off, gripping the handles until your knuckles are white. But the thrill of that weightless flight is indescribable.
Then there's time when you're leaning down to see how fast you're going, and you fail to see the wave coming. Then you hit your own lip on the handle bars! I did that. Not once, but twice. Smart huh?
My muscles may have ached the following day, but it was totally totally worth it. If you have never tried it, I heartily recommend it- you're really never too old for it!
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