New wave surfing offers a swell time
A Czech-made motorised surfboard has eliminated frustrations of traditional surfing and enabled water lovers to make the most of the Swan River as part of a world first.
Rebecca Rempel and Neil Mans brought Jetsurfs to WA after seeing a YouTube video last year and thinking it was "the coolest thing ever".
Jetsurfs, which cost about $17,000, have a 17 horsepower engine on a 1.8m board that hits a top speed of 57km/h.
And it has proved a hit since the couple started renting the boards out on the South Perth foreshore four days ago.
Ms Rempel said the Swan River was the only place in the world where people could rent a Jetsurf, described as the greenest petrol-driven personal watercraft.
"There's only about 1000 boards in the world and 10 are in WA," she said.
"You don't have to know how to surf. If you've got wakeboarding, snowboarding or surfing experience it helps, but it is not essential."
The river's flat water conditions made it easier for people to learn to ride a Jetsurf, with a 30-minute experience costing $129.
Ms Rempel said a video she made of the Jetsurf in action in WA went viral after she posted it on social media recently.
"We've had 600,000 views that have been shared all over the world so the phone and emails have been going crazy," she said.
"The feedback has been really positive.
"We're going to be open every day- weather and wind permitting."
