Travis Blacklin flies through the air, propelled by a jet of water, as Paul Reid operates a watercraft in the exciting sport of flyboarding. (Richard McGuire photo)
There are many ways to seek thrills and have fun on the water, but there’s nothing like flyboarding – which allows participants to “be able to fly like a bird and swim like a fish.”
For hundreds of thousands of participants across Canada and around the world, flyboarding is the latest craze, especially in Europe, where the sport/recreational activity was invented, says Travis Blacklin, the proprietor of Canadian Jet Pack Adventures.
Blacklin, 21, arranged a deal with management with the Walnut Beach Resort in Osoyoos to introduce flyboarding to this community.
“We started in late June and will be here for the rest of the summer,” said Blacklin, who was born and raised in Winnipeg, but has spent the past four summers in Osoyoos working for Wakepilot, an Osoyoos-based wakeboarding rental company that also operates out of the Walnut Beach Resort.
“Osoyoos Lake is the only lake in Canada where you can get out flyboarding without a wetsuit in the spring, so we’re hoping to get started early next year and really get this thing going.”
A man named Franky Zapata invented flyboarding in the south of France several years ago and the sport quickly took off like wildfire across most of Europe over the past decade and has started to become extremely popular across North America, said Blacklin.
Flyboarding allows participants to fly 20 to 35 feet in the air as water is pushed through a compression hose attached to an intake adapter valve on a jet ski.
Once the jet ski operator pushes the throttle, huge amounts of water are pushed through the hose and into the unit attached to the feet of the participant.
The water pressure pushes you high into the air and participants use their balance to stay in the air. Participants also learn how to dive in and out of the water performing tricks and are then driven back into the air as water pressure continues to be applied.
“If you have decent balance, weigh at least 100 pounds and aren’t afraid of the water, you can do this,” said Blacklin. “It looks difficult to some people, but it’s honestly pretty easy.
“The water pressure keeps you elevated and when you get tired, you can dive into the water a few times until you’re ready to be lifted back into the air.”
All participants are asked to view an instructional video before hooking up to the flyboarding apparatus and must also sign a waiver for insurance purposes, said Blacklin.
A 65-year-old man from Osoyoos was one of his first customers and absolutely loved the experience, he said.
“He told me this was the best toy he had ever used in his entire life,” he said. “He had no problem getting up in the air and staying up and absolutely loved it.”
People of all ages and sizes can also enjoy flyboarding, he said.
“I have a good buddy who’s a really big guy and he had no problems at all,” he said. “You just hit the throttle on the jet ski to sport mode and there’s more than enough power to lift everyone.”
Participants can book times ranging from 20, 30, 45 and 60 minutes and the price ranges from $89 for 20 minutes up to $219 for one hour, said Blacklin.
Group rates are also offered.
Blacklin has invested a significant amount of his own money to get his small business started, but he’s confident the venture will take off once more people know about how much fun flyboarding is.
“You try it once and you want to come back,” he said. “There aren’t many activities where you can literally fly like a bird and swim like a fish.
“It’s totally exhilarating and so much fun.’
Blacklin has met with Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band and is hoping to establish an eco-friendly park on Osoyoos Lake next year, where flyboarding would play a prominent role.
Blacklin invites all thrill seekers to visit Walnut Beach Resort and give flyboarding a try.
“It’s better than any ride at an amusement park,” he said. “You won’t regret it or forget it.”
For more information, you can contact Blacklin at 778-215-0125 or go online and visit southokanaganadventures.com.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
Travis Blacklin flies through the air, propelled by a jet of water, as Paul Reid operates a watercraft in the exciting sport of flyboarding. (Richard McGuire photo)
Travis Blacklin flies through the air, propelled by a jet of water, as Paul Reid operates a watercraft in the exciting sport of flyboarding. (Richard McGuire photo)
Travis Blacklin flies through the air, propelled by a jet of water, as Paul Reid operates a watercraft in the exciting sport of flyboarding. (Richard McGuire photo)
Travis Blacklin flies through the air, propelled by a jet of water, as Paul Reid operates a watercraft in the exciting sport of flyboarding. (Richard McGuire photo)
Travis Blacklin flies through the air, propelled by a jet of water, as Paul Reid operates a watercraft in the exciting sport of flyboarding. (Richard McGuire photo)
Travis Blacklin dives through the air, propelled by a jet of water, as Paul Reid operates a watercraft in the exciting sport of flyboarding. (Richard McGuire photo)
Travis Blacklin dives through the air, propelled by a jet of water, as Paul Reid operates a watercraft in the exciting sport of flyboarding. (Richard McGuire photo)
