Cajundude (Jason) and I went to Surfside yesterday to jump hurricane waves. By the time we got there, they were 10 to 12 feet. No big deal, we've done this before. We were having a blast and taking pictures of each other catching humongous air.

I see a monster wave coming, about 12-15 feet tall, so I tell Jason to get ready with the camera. I take off the top, and am so high I can't believe it. I land so hard that I fall off to the right, but my seat pops off from the impact and goes to the left. No big deal, right?

As I start swimming back to my ski, which is about 10 yards away, another wave comes along. It hits my ski, goes over the top, and my ski completely sinks within 3 seconds. I absolutely can't believe my eyes, my ski is under water and gone. Jason does his best to help, but the impact has opened the hood of my ski and spilled the contents into the water. His ski sucked up my dock rope, and he can't go anywhere on his ski. He starts getting swamped, and points his ski toward shore.

I see the very tip of the nose of my ski sticking out of the water, so I swim to it and hug it I'm so happy just to know it's not on the bottom of the ocean.

Then the fun begins.

I start getting hit by these gigantic waves, and they're rolling me under water for what seems like 10 seconds at a time. By the time I come up for air, another one is right on top of me. Within minutes, I'm gasping for air in between waves. I look for the shore, and it's about 1/2 mile away. I start panicking, because I'm all alone in the water, and I'm struggling to stay afloat, and I start hyperventilating from lack of oxygen. I honestly start thinking that I'm going to die.

Finally another jetski comes to my rescue. After running from waves for about five minutes and catching my breath, we hook up a tow line and drag my ski near shore and beach it.

When I got it home, there was about 2 inches of sediment in the bottom, some of the rub rails were torn off, and it looks terrible.

I called Fercho, and he walked me through the steps to try and get it running. I worked for three hours to no avail. I had pretty much written it off. Then he had me use a primer bulb on the return line to get gas flowing through the carbs. It finally fired at 11:45 last night, and boy did it run rough. I'll skip the rest of the details, but I was finally able to put it on the garden hose and run it until the cops showed up.

Sincerest thanks to Fercho for staying up past midnight helping me, and keeping me calm. Also to Jason, who walked the beach for an hour looking for my seat, bucket, and other belongings that washed ashore (he found everything, believe it or not).

At this point I have no idea if the engine suffered damage. Although it ran on the hose for about 30 minutes last night, and I'm confident there is no more water in the engine, I'm worried about all the sediment that may have found it's way into the crankcase. Guess I'll find out on Saturday.

Lesson I learned - no matter how experienced you are, or how skilled you are, at jumping waves, the unexpected can happen. I am absolutely STUNNED at how fast my ski completely sank under water. It literally took 3 seconds. And, even with two people skiing, things can get out of control really quickly. What are the odds that the other ski will suck up a rope and become disabled at the same time?

I feel so lucky just to be alive today.

Boogie - Glad to see you made it... With the ski.

Hope everything works out.

Hey, how much of the factory foam did you keep in your boat?

ME TO SAME THING but,lanched at west beach almost from the high way. Ultimate air eight footers and some ten plus that would go all the way to road. My sons boat hit so hard the hood came open and that was it, that thing was under. It took three hours to let it wash to the beach. Lucky to be alive. been there done that and don't need any more... Have some pics later

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DarthRaider,

David, that really su*ks. Im sorry to hear about your ski. That is one reason why I dont like going out to the bay on my gpr alone.
I had a water line spring a leak at the inlet while out there once. I was glad my ski has duck bills.

If there is anything I can help you with on your ski let me know.
Oh I got your mail about the plate for your driveway.
Mick

Sorry to hear it Fullboogie. I am glad your ok. I hope there isn't too much damage to your ski.

That is a good reason to have an old Waveblaster 2 for jumping. They have a hatch that seals and do not rely on the seat. Also they cost under 2000. Seats have popped off GPR's a number of times over the years.

quote:

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Sincerest thanks to Fercho for staying up past midnight helping me, and keeping me calm. Also to Jason, who walked the beach for an hour looking for my seat, bucket, and other belongings that washed ashore (he found everything, believe it or not).

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What seat? I didn't find any seat with a awesome new Jetrim cover. BTW, if anyone wants good exercise, try carrying a fully soaked GPR seat (must be around 50 lbs.) through the water because the tide is way too high (there wasn't really a real beach at the time) and the water trying to pull you in every few seconds for 1 1/2 miles. Oh yea, while wondering if your best friend is dead or not because your boat wouldn't move and is beached a mile in the other direction and is unable to go search.

David you forgot to mention some other things that put the icing on the cake...

His keys were in his ski so there was no way to get into his car. I got a ride back to my car to get my trailer and we got his ski up on that and then had to get a cop to pop the locks on his car (fortunately he had another key in there that he just had made) and swapped trailers and went and got my ski.

More icing...

Dropped his cell phone in the footwell of the ski while on land after we got into his car. Week old phone gone.

More icing...

The sweet arse pics we would of had...Camera gone.

I guess the best thing that happened that day was the 24 yr.old 113 lb. nurse in a sweet arse bikini I got to hang out with for a while while when they disappeared trying to rescue the ski.

Maybe Jeanne will come our way, wanna go?

How exactly did the seat pop open? Did the latch break? If so is their anything that can be done to prevent this from happening?

Ah - no - think I'll stay home!

Hope your ski is ok David. Are you going to be able to run it today? Sounds like it's still possible you will end up with only a good story to tell and no damage.

Man that sounds wild.....glad y'all are ok..and the skis are still alive...........Darth...call me......

Let's see those "Big Air" pics that started all of this!

This sounds like your average offshore endurance race at surfside! Been there and done that!

You guys are crazy down there! In Michigan we think cruiser waves are huge. I'm glad you're ok and I hope no major problems with your ski.

Camera went down with the rest of the stuff.

Thanks for the comments. As far as I can tell, nothing malfunctioned on the seat. It was simply the force of the impact. The seat just popped off and floated away.

Yeah, forgot about my new $250 GPS (not my phone) that's toast, my car keys, etc. I'm so freaking glad I left my expensive GPS in the car.

I plan on running it again on the hose tonight for a while, same thing tomorrow. Will run it like crazy on Saturday to clear it out. I just really worried about silt/sand in the crankcase.

Think I'm retired from jumping hurricane waves for now...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: fullboogie,

David,
I think that saying “I don't run from hurricanes, I drink them” applies to you better.

The good thing is your ok. I thought that sounded so kewl going out in that water....sounded like fun. I guess it was until the seat popped off. Maybe your camera will float up on a beach someday and someone will develope the pictures. I could imagine what they would say...Holly .....

Glad your OK fullboogie. Ski's can be rebuilt but life is precious.

MAN!! David I am glad you all made it back alive. Thats the main thing, material possesions can be replaced/fixed.

Yep, at this point I consider getting the ski back a bonus. Just glad I'm not getting picked apart by crabs right now.

What a true ski lover, you were huging your ski while the waves were crashing over the top.(I would have done the same)

Glad you made it out in one piece and and spared the crabs a nasty meal.
Even though your ski may be damaged it can be repaired.

Another word of advice, thats a good idea. Keep a key under your car. Because I always lock my keys in my car, I dont know how many times that key has saved me.

After hearing this story I think I will stick to the lake....