Comments on: I've got the powa!

I've got the powa!

lazaruslong — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:45:37 -0800

So, uh, apparently Jet Boards are a thing. Maybe you knew this? I did not. At first I just thought that video was kinda neat, and the idea was interesting. Then I looked at their website and found a ton of amazing photos, a lot more SCIENCE! explanations of stuff than I would have expected, and finally this promovideo which features both an endearingly cheesy original themesong, as well as lightning and explosions (GIF!). Soooooooooo yeah. Jet Boards. Apparently invented as early as 1965. Pretty sweet.

By: saladin

saladin — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:48:59 -0800

Dear God. So much lost time to make up for.

By: Malice

Malice — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:52:43 -0800

Aren't these like stand-up jet skis?

By: lazaruslong

lazaruslong — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:54:35 -0800

Sort of? I think the idea is that there is more balancing / maneuverability / speed / g-force going on because it's kind of like a surfboard down there? I dunno, I'm not a surfer but it looks more like that.

By: mosk

mosk — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 15:06:44 -0800

But...they don't work over water! Oh, that was hoverboards? Nevermind. Please carry on.

By: davejay

davejay — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 15:16:13 -0800

Jet Boards::Jet Skis as Skateboards::Scooters, so of course they exist.

By: Huck500

Huck500 — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 15:16:57 -0800

Aren't these like stand-up jet skis? Jet Skis are stand-up...

By: phaedon

phaedon — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 15:22:18 -0800

But...they don't work over water! Oh, that was hoverboards? Nevermind. Please carry on Warning! You may find this depressing.

By: polyglot

polyglot — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 15:28:26 -0800

Cheap version: hop on a normal surfboard behind a ski boat. Bonus: you get to play on the wake.

By: pont

pont — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 15:33:57 -0800

Jet Boards::Jet Skis as The Cat::Duane Dibbley.

By: Artful Codger

Artful Codger — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 15:44:34 -0800

Uh huh. The first video, which starts with a pack of riders tearing across calm, glassy water, conveniently omits what must sound like a mob of angry hornets on cocaine. (translation - they're probably frigging noisy) As a sailor whose preferred mode of water propulsion is inaudible... I guess I'm just grateful that where I like to be is too wavy or inaccessible for these beach-toys. Filed under Jetskis.

By: HuronBob

HuronBob — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 15:54:43 -0800

God forbid these become popular on my river!

By: ninjew

ninjew — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 16:33:19 -0800

polyglot, wake surfing is definitely a thing. a thing I spent a lot of time doing this summer. but cheap it is not. when you sink the entire starboard side of the boat with 1,000lbs of ballast to make the wake curl over, what you're also doing is adding enormous amounts of drag. the boat isn't going to plane out and as a result it is very fuel-intensive. however, it is also cool. you can surf basically as long as you can stay up. you get right in that spot where you're riding the edge of the wave and it's pulling you along and you get lost in it.. these jet board things seem like wakeboarding and surfing combined. but I think I'd rather be behind the tow boat..

By: RolandOfEld

RolandOfEld — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 16:52:35 -0800

Price, c'mon someone here knows but isn't telling...

By: lazaruslong

lazaruslong — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 16:54:41 -0800

I clicked on the thingy to buy via paypal because I was curious too. $4,400.

By: Hicksu

Hicksu — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 17:04:51 -0800

Warning! You may find this depressing. Wait. If memory serves me, doesn't Marty go to 2015 in the second film?

By: Pruitt-Igoe

Pruitt-Igoe — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 17:30:33 -0800

Wait. If memory serves me, doesn't Marty go to 2015 in the second film? Not only was the year not 2012, the image looks badly faked. Seven-segment displays do not work that way.

By: Pruitt-Igoe

Pruitt-Igoe — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 17:31:16 -0800

Here is a real screen capture.

By: trackofalljades

trackofalljades — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:15:12 -0800

Perhaps the most interesting part is how the engine is laid out.

By: Popular Ethics

Popular Ethics — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:44:18 -0800

Perhaps the most interesting part is how the engine is laid out. Neat design, but dear god that video has some of the worst copy I've ever heard.

By: nostrada

nostrada — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 19:32:16 -0800

Next thing will be Yoga on them, no doubt.

By: silkyd

silkyd — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 20:15:34 -0800

some of the worst copy I've ever heard But at least it's being read by Troy McClure!

By: Chekhovian

Chekhovian — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 21:45:45 -0800

When do the autobots get these?

By: GallonOfAlan

GallonOfAlan — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 03:30:54 -0800

I Was on one when working on the Isle Of Man during summer 87. Mad fun. Haven't seen one since.

By: Justin Case

Justin Case — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 13:31:32 -0800

More than 20 years ago I had a friend that owned one of these. It was a ton of fun to ride. Took a few tries to get the hang of.