Skip to main content

Flyride Is the Insane Flying Watercraft You Never Knew You Needed

Man wasn’t built to fly, but that little wrinkle in evolution hasn’t stopped many of us from trying. If bungee-jumping, skydiving, and wingsuits are … nice, but not quite disco enough for you, the one-of-a-kind Flyride may be the antidote.

Zapata Flyride

In short, Flyride is the world’s first flying personal watercraft. It looks a bit like a Jet Ski, rides like a Jet Ski, and is even powered by the jetwash from a Jet Ski. Except, it has added controls for going up and down — for flying. A thick, high-pressure hose connects from a running Jet Ski to the rear of the Flyride. Water is forced up the middle of the bike, below the seat, and out two steerable jets near the front. Take-off is possible from the water or the shoreline, and it’s allegedly easier than riding a bike. Allegedly.

Related Videos
FLYRIDE® , Zapata's new invention !

The four ride modes ensure things only get out of control if you want them to. Most users are wise to begin their training in “Beginner Mode” or even “Child Mode.” When you’re ready to take the training wheels off and unleash the craft’s full 300 horsepower, switching to “Advanced Mode” turns things up to 11 (complete with “Kickstart My Heart” soundtrack).

Lest you think this whole thing is an express train to a broken neck, the Flyride features automatic self-balancing sensors to ensure it remains upright at all times. A series of gyroscopes provide balance assistance, and there’s even computer-assisted throttle, elevation, and take-off control. However, a dedicated “barrel roll” button deactivates many of these fun-stopping safety features. Provided you have enough altitude, depressing the button will spin you up to two times before automatically righting the Flyride.

Zapata Flyride

Flyride comes courtesy of Zapata, the same folks responsible for Flyboard, the Silver Surfer-inspired HoverBoard, and this insane hydro jetpack. The French brand was founded by world champion Jet Ski racer Frank Zapata. Since its beginnings in 1998, the Zapata team has continued to pioneer the most insane ways for humans to travel over water at breakneck speeds. Given their already lengthy catalog of extreme products, we’re stoked to see what they’re planning next.

Flyride is available for pre-order for a cool USD $6,000. Check the official Zapata website to locate your nearest dealer.

Editors' Recommendations

Make shopping easy: The best gifts for men (no matter what he’s into)
These are the best gifts for men in 2023

Shopping for the best gifts for men can at times seem like a daunting task, whether it be for a birthday, an anniversary, or any gift in between. So, we decided to help you out and lend you a hand and make gift-giving a little less stressful with a thoughtfully curated list of tried-and-true gifts suited for men. And at times, no matter how well or how long you have known someone, you just don't know where to look.

From small everyday carry items and others from the cool tech world to experiences that help you disconnect to reconnect, we offer you a gift guide for every guy on your list or some nice ways to treat yourself, too. Ahead, you will find a list of the best practical gifts for every type of guy. With that being said, here are the best gifts for men in 2023.

Read more
The most and least visited National Parks: See popular sites (or avoid crowds)
Whether you like the least or most visited ones, these are the best National Parks out there
People kayaking down the river at the Big Bend National Park.

If you love the outdoors, history, camping, or backpacking, then you've probably visited a few National Parks in your day. Well, if you're looking for some new spots, we have the list of the most and least visited National Parks for you to plan your next visit around where to go.

Fun park facts
Before we dive into the specific parks, we want to dive into some fun park facts that we know you are dying to know.
Trivia time

Read more
Burton Custom X snowboard review: Don’t hold back
Tried and tested: What we really think about the Burton Custom X snowboard
burton custom x review snowboard deck

Here’s an abstract question to start a Burton snowboard review with: have you ever driven a Ferrari?

A Ferrari is a masterfully engineered sports car without compromise. It costs more than the average sports car, but anyone who owns one will tell you it’s worth whatever they spent. Ferraris have the ability to convert fans into fanatics; many are looking for their second or third Ferrari. There’s just something special about driving a Ferrari; it’s unforgettable, and you’ll chase the feeling constantly after driving one.

Read more