Discovering Jet Skiing

By Tiana Kennell

When you think of jet skiing, you may be reminded of the action-packed beach scenes of the 90’s television show “Baywatch”. Whenever there was trouble in the water, a lifeguard was quick to jump onto his watercraft and race across the ocean, bouncing and weaving through the choppy water to save the victim. More often than not, the lifeguard was a California-bred, Caucasian sex symbol, not an average, working-class African American living in Detroit. But more Black Michiganders are defying the stereotypical image and climbing onto jet skis.

Detroit-native Billy Womack, 46, has blazed a foamy, white trail for them. Womack has professionally jet skied for 20 years, gaining three national championships and several dozen awards in the sport. He is one of very few Blacks who has jet skied professionally and the only one to reach his level of success. However, being the minority in his field has worked to his advantage. “I got a lot of notoriety and fame from doing this,” says Womack. “I stand out as an African American. Everyone calls my name out immediately.”

Unfortunately, many African Americans feel that the idea of jet skiing is farfetched. Minister Carlton Honey, a recreational jet skier, thinks that the problem is a lack of exposure to the sport. “People don’t step out of their box and try new things,” says Honey, 23, from Word Restoration Ministries on Detroit’s west side. “If I wasn’t introduced to it, I wouldn’t have done it.”

To encourage friends who may be fearful of riding, Honey compares jet skiing to riding a motorcycle. “If you can get on a motorcycle, you can jet ski. There are the same risks.”

Womack, who is now residing in Long Beach, Calif., grew up racing motorcycles and dirt bikes in Michigan, but gave up the land activities when he was 30 years old. “I was getting hurt and thought water would be safer,” says Womack, brother of the Detroit Board of Education President Dr. Jimmy Womack.

Billy Womack was living in Florida when he began jet skiing as a safer alternative. He enjoyed the hobby, but his competitive spirit drove him to race. He entered his first jet skiing race at age 34 and won first prize. He had only participated in three competitions when Yamaha, a company that makes personal watercrafts (PWCs), offered Womack a sponsorship deal. He moved to California to race for Yamaha specializing in endurance racing. The course for the endurance race stretches more than 30 miles up the Pacific coast from Long Beach to Catalina.

Two years ago when Polaris, his latest sponsor, stopped manufacturing PWCs, Womack retired from racing. After 20 years, he says it was time. “I was ready for a break,” says Womack, who has also been a pilot for American Airlines for 27 years. “Now I just do it for fun.”

Twice a week, Womack and his friends still ride the course of the endurance race for recreation and exercise. “It’s an incredible workout in the open ocean,” Womack says. “It’s an adrenaline rush and a cardiovascular workout.”

Jet skiing can have great physical health benefits, but riders have found that it also adds a refreshing thrill and relieves stress. Honey and his family head to Lake St. Clair twice a month during the summer to jet ski together and relax. Honey says he loves being in control of the watercraft. “It’s the rush! My energy level! My heart is racing—I’m a whole new person!” he says.

A few places that metro Detroiters go to jet ski are the Detroit River, Cass Lake in Waterford, Ford Lake in Ypsilanti, and Orchard Lake. Honey sometimes rents or uses his uncle’s PWCs. Many boating stores have jet skis available to rent. The cost can vary depending on type and size.

Maria Lawton, a Detroit Public School teacher at Golightly Education Center, and her friends have also found enjoyment in the water sport. She has been a jet skier for 10 years, but Lawton found serenity in water long before she began riding. She has an apartment on the riverfront in downtown Detroit, a lakeside house in Canada, owns a boat, and has aquariums throughout her home. But the exhilarating feeling of being on a jet ski couldn’t compete with any of that. Her admiration for jet skis was sparked during her teenage years at Country Day High School after seeing some of her classmates’ families with their PWCs. “I saw it and I wanted it,” says Lawton, 40. She bought her first craft 10 years ago and her second, larger one seven years ago.

Their passion for the hobby gave Honey and Lawton the will to overcome the hurdles they encountered when they got started. Honey has never learned how to swim, but wears a lifejacket every time he rides. Lawton had never taken lessons in jet skiing before buying her first PWC. That didn’t stop she and her friend from hitching her brand-new, top-of-the-line watercraft onto a trailer and driving to a lake to break in the machine. “It was hilarious,” says Lawton about her first time riding. “I didn’t know what to do with it.”

She and her friend struggled all day with the jet ski. Not knowing how to transfer it from the trailer to the water, they sank the craft in the lake. After pulling it from the water, they drained it and inserted the tubing that kept it afloat. Just when they thought their troubles were over, the friends climbed onto the vessel together and flipped off of it before ever starting the engine. They learned the hard way that each jet ski has a certain weight capacity. By trial an error, the educator and her friend finally got the hang of it. “Now I’m an expert,” Lawton says.

Knowing the ins and outs of operating a watercraft beforehand is important when operating a watercraft is an important factor for having a safe time on the water. A careless mistake can put novice jet skiers and those around them in danger.

Last May, the NFL’s New England Patriots player Marquise Hill was killed in a jet-ski accident at the age of 24. When falling off of his watercraft, the lake’s strong current swept Hill away. The tragic incident is a reminder of how important it is for jet skiers to wear a life jacket, which will help keep them afloat if they fall off their craft. Carrying a signaling device is another good safety measure since it helps rescuers find toppled jet skiers more easily. Many other safety precautions are similar to those for operating a car. “Be aware of others in the water,” says Womack. “Look over your shoulder before turning.”He also warns riders of avoiding distractions. Multi-tasking caused Womack to sustain an injury. Womack says he was playing with his GPS tracking system on his craft before a race when he fell off and tore a groin muscle.

Be careful of letting children ride. After seeing his 7-year-old niece fall off, Honey says he thinks jet skiing is only suitable for teens and adults. Michigan law requires that jet ski operators have a license, which is available for people ages 12 and older. Those up to age 14 must meet certain safety requirements. They include having a boating safety certification, being accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and only using a PWC that’s equipped with a lanyard.

The lanyard, which cuts the engine off is a rider falls off the jet ski, must be tied to either the child or parent. A lanyard-equipped jet ski isn’t just a good idea for kids, though.

Honey warns newcomers to be aware of the power of the machines. He says that many new riders are thrown off of their jet skis when they first start.

Although safety is important, Honey says Blacks shouldn’t let fear of water—or something new—prevent them from discovering the thrill of jet skiing.

“The world says we are only doing typical sports like baseball, basketball and football,” Honey says. “There are more things in life than what they give us. The only thing we have to do is go out and get it.”

African American Family Magazine July 2007