At a glance
Jetlev and flyboard are two increasingly popular new water sports. Have you heard of them?
Jetlev and flyboard are two increasingly popular new water sports. Find out what they're all about here.
In recent years, sports that let you fly through the air (jetpacks) have become more and more popular, particularly those combined with water sports. These include the jetlev and the flyboard, among others.
Jetlev and flyboard: flying above the water
Jetlev and flyboard were developed towards the end of the 2000s and are increasingly practised, both as a leisure activity and in competition.
The jetlev propels a person upward using the pressure of a jet of water directed downward. A small boat, to which the jetlev is connected, has a suction pump that pushes water through a large hose (20 m long) up to the jetpack, where it's released through nozzles on either side of the seat. This lets the person rise more than 8 m into the air at a speed of up to 35 km/h. (Jetlev photo: ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com)
The flyboard works on the same principle, but the propelled water is directed into a "board" (a bit like an adapted skateboard) fitted with nozzles at both ends. The person is strapped to the flyboard by their feet, allowing them to rise into the air, perform acrobatics above the water and do dives.
Beginners will learn to fly 1 to 2 m above the water, while professionals can reach heights of up to 15 m!
Do you need a lot of experience to try jetlev or flyboard?
According to fans of the sport, learning is fairly easy and intuitive. Flyboarding is very similar to skateboarding or snowboarding. Fans of these two sports will therefore learn fairly quickly how to manoeuvre, perform tricks and get out of the water. Buying or renting the equipment is however very expensive.
As everyone reacts differently depending on their experience and personal abilities, it's important for training to be supervised by people with the necessary experience, and for it to take place with proper safety rules and the right equipment.
