Last Updated on July 7, 2021
Flyboarding In Kelowna
I had always thought that flyboarding was not something that would be easily accessible to try. I felt like I was going to have to direct our travels to some far-off place just to try it, and it was certainly on my list to do just that. When I saw that there was flyboarding near me in Kelowna, British Columbia, a four-hour drive from our home base of Vancouver, I knew it had to be one of my next destinations.
We had last been to Kelowna years ago, so we were overdue for another visit. Kelowna is a city on the breathtaking Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley (southern interior) of British Columbia, Canada.
We also were in Kelowna during a heatwave, so it was an excellent way to spend time on the water. Learning to flyboard in Kelowna with Hydrofly also helped us escape some of that summer heat as we played in the refreshing lake. Flyboarding is one of the coolest water activities in Kelowna.
Flyboarding is as fun as it sounds. You will feel like Iron Man (or in my case, Iron Woman) as you feel yourself rising from the water.
Have you ever dreamt of flying like a superhero?
Table Of Contents
Here is everything you need to know for your first flyboarding experience:
What Is Flyboarding?
Flyboarding is a fast-emerging watersport. The board itself is a lot like a skateboard, with two boot attachments like a snowboard, with a pressurized stream of water that helps to propel you into the air. A hose connects the flyboard to the jet ski, where the water is pumped out that creates the pressure to keep you flying above the water.
Is Flyboarding Hard?
Like anything else, flyboarding will take some practice to improve your skills and to be able to start to attempt tricks. You will have to be comfortable with balancing on the board before you can attempt anything further.
You will not be learning tricks when you are fresh on the board for your first half-hour session. Flyboarding is, however, a lot easier than it looks. I was nervous that I would not be able to get myself out of the water, but I was up and flying within five minutes. When I say flying, I also mean crashing a lot, but I did get a few good runs. I felt like I did much better than I could have ever expected on my first try!
Flyboarding is quite intuitive. It takes a few minutes to get a grip on what you need to do to get into the air, but once you get a feel for it, you will know what you need to do.
If you are familiar with how to balance on a moving surface, such as through snowboarding, skiing, skateboarding, or surfing, you may find you pick it up slightly faster than someone who is not familiar with that way of movement.
Certified Flight Instructor
You will not be alone out there. A certified flight instructor is right there with you, on the jet ski. As you keep working on your skills, you will be fed the details on what they see and how to fix your form. Mike from Hydrofly was so helpful and his instruction really helped me get a grasp on the basics.
The instructors are also there to ensure your safety and control the pressure of the water. You will never be in danger above your ability and will get the proper propulsion you will want and need according to how you are progressing on the board.
Safety Gear For Flyboarding
You will wear a life jacket and watersports helmet when you are flyboarding. It is inevitable that you will spend some time crashing into the water. Embrace the fall, laugh, and have fun. It will make the experience much more enjoyable. I had so much fun falling! Get up and try again after each fall.
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Hand Signals
Since you will be a distance from the jet ski, hearing can become difficult. You will be shown hand signals so that you can properly communicate.
How Does A Jetpack Work On A Flyboard?
The water from a jet ski’s impeller tube is re-directed into a long hose that is attached to the flyboard. The water goes through the board instead of using it to move the jet ski.
The water pressure passes through the tube and into the jets under the board.
When the water exits the jetpack, the force will lift the flyboarder above the water.
Learning To Flyboard
The instructions were simple, the execution takes some practice. There is a bit of a learning curve when you are learning to flyboard.
The first step is learning to levitate. You will stand upright and tall in the water, with your legs locked beneath you, as you push down on your heels to keep the board and your feet level. The water pressure will push you up and out of the water.
You can move backward and forward, higher and lower by pointing your toes up and down. Pointing your toes down will lower your altitude but move you forward. Pointing your toes up will raise your altitude and move you backward.
Lifting one leg will make you turn in the opposite direction. Lifting your left knee up will move you right, and your right knee up will move you left.
Avoiding Collisions
You always want to be far away from the jet ski, so you do not get tangled in the hose, or crash into the jet ski.
Do Not Look Down
Eyes up! When you are in the air, focus your eyes up at something in the distance. It gives you a focus point, but also helps you to not try to look down at your feet and throw off your center of balance.
The Verdict
Flyboarding was a ton of fun. I am also quite relentless, so every time I fell down, I wanted to immediately get back up out of the water as many times as I could during the session.
I would go flyboarding again in a heartbeat. I would love to take some lessons to improve on the basics and to have some more fun. Luckily, Kelowna is a short drive from Vancouver and is always a great weekend getaway.
Flyboarding In Kelowna With HydroFly
I was so impressed with Mike and Kev from Hydrofly during our flyboarding adventure. They really put us at ease with their friendly approach when we were nervous about even making it out of the water. They were so calm and knew exactly how to direct us to make sure that we were flying in no time.
Learning to flyboard In Kelowna is an excellent choice. If you are looking to have your first flyboarding lesson, you are definitely in the right hands with Hydrofly Kelowna.
Disclaimer: Our flights were provided courtesy of Hydrofly Kelowna, but as always, our opinion is our own. We legitimately loved it.
Would you ever try flyboarding?
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