Flyboarding might just be the future of watersports. If you’ve had a knack for the adrenaline rush and watersports, then the flyboard might just be the ultimate synergistic combination of the two. It’s a thrilling, fun filled and energy intensive exercise that provides a liberating sense of freedom when you hover off the water surface flying around wherever you please.
How it came into being
The flyboard is a recent invention. It was developed by Franky Zapata in France and it wasn’t until 2012 that the flyboard was available in the market. The idea of a flying board stemmed from the Jetlev’s R200 Flyer. The idea for the Jetlev R200 itself was conceived back in 2000 and it took around a decade to bring it to the market.
The flyboard is an impressive jet powered watercraft that you can dart back and forth like a silver surfer. These flyboards are basically water jetpacks that enable you to do all kinds of crazy maneuvers in air once you develop a firm grasp on its controls. It takes some practice, but soon you can be flipping, spinning, diving in and out of the water like a pro. On average, it only takes 3 – 7 minutes of practicing the basic maneuvers until you can glide above the ocean surface with grace and majesty. However, if you have already had some experience with other board sports like snowboarding, then the flyboard might come just as naturally to you and you might not even need to practice.
Also, you don’t need to be young and agile to try the flyboard either. It doesn’t matter if you’re 17 or 70, it is an age friendly sport and easy to maneuver for people of varying ages. The flyboard might just be what you’ve always wanted to do.
Let’s take a quick look at how the flyboard basically works
The user begins by strapping their feet into the flyboard, binding them to the board. Under each foot is a water jet pack that receives its supply of water from a Jet Ski. This Jet Ski is a part of the flyboard and attached to it with a long tube which carries the water and an adapter.
The water is pumped from the Jet Ski, along the connection tube and propelled out from the jet pack components beneath each of your feet to produce enough thrust to lift you up into the air and perform all those feats of maneuverability and skill. Unlike the jetpack prototypes out there, the flyboard uses water propulsion so you don’t have to worry about unprecedented fuel combustion.
That’s not all though; the throttle of the Jet Ski, called the Personal Water Craft or PWC is responsible for controlling the level of pressure that comes out of the flyboard. A very important function indeed. So, when you press down on the throttle, the energy is directed toward the tube to provide the flyboard with increased propulsion. If you’re trying out the flyboard for the first time, your certified instructor will be regulating the propulsion for you. But, when you’ve got accustomed to it and feel you are ready to step up your game, you can get your adapter (commonly referred to as the electronic management kit).
The direction you want to glide towards is determined by the distribution of your weight on the flyboard. Therefore, pretty much all of your movements will be controlled by your stance and the direction of your feet. So, if you want to go forward, all you have to do is lean forward and if you want to rise further up, just stand straight to elevate perfectly vertical.
Quick Guide for Beginners
One of the best things about the flyboard is how user friendly it is. One would imagine it’ll take weeks of training, but that is not the case. You can grow into your flyboard in your first go. If you haven’t had the exhilarating flyboarding experience as yet, then you must try it out because you don’t have to do too much to learn it.
Here’s a quick guide to learn to flyboard in a few easy steps:
- The first thing you need to do is jump into a wet suit, and put on a helmet and life jacket. Then, you’re ready to strap your feet into the flyboard boots on the boat or the docking platform.
- Once you’re suited up and wearing your personal protection gear, lie down in the water with your stomach down and face away from the Personal Water Craft. This is when your certified instructor will power up the flyboard and start it up by giving the waverunner small quantities of gas.
- When you feel the flyboard starts tugging at your feet, this means that the Personal Water Craft thrust has been initiated and it will start pushing you through the water. It’s best to give yourself a few minutes to grow accustomed to the feel of being propelled into the water. You can even play around with it if you like.
- Once you get used to the propulsion, your personal water craft operator can then step it up by providing even more gas and this will increase the amount of propulsion beneath your feet. Once this occurs, place your feet beneath so that you go upward and out of the water. Once you rise over the water surface, it is important not to look down if you want to stay there for longer. First time flyboarders make the amateur mistake of looking down as soon as they rise up, this will move your center of gravity forward and consequently, you will lose your balance. You can control the direction of your flight with the direction of your feet. Level the feet if you want to go up, move your toes up if you want to go backward and move your toes down to go forward.
Even if you do feel off balanced and anticipate your fall, you need not worry because the water will cushion the fall so you can rip right out of it again and back up in the air!