Around a 200 jetski riders took part in a ride day from The Spit up and around South Stradbroke Island yesterday. Photo: David Clark

VISITING recreational jetskiers say Gold Coast waterways are awash with “ego” and warn water users to be “on their game” locally.

The warning was delivered yesterday by Brisbane enthusiasts Jack Lea, 21, and Ryan McGrath, 24, on a 200-strong recreational jetski ride from The Spit organised by retailer JSW Powersports.

It comes as Ports Minister Mark Bailey confirmed a planned review of local water rules would consider if tourists on guided jet ski trips should be licenced, a move operators said would kill the industry.

Around a 100 jetski riders took part in a ride day from The Spit up and around South Stradbroke Island including Ryan McGrath and Jack Lea. Photo: David Clark

“That is one of the issues that will be considered as part of the inquiries,” Mr Bailey said.

Visiting Brisbanite Mr Lea, jetskiing for two years, said there were so many boats and personal watercraft congesting Coast waterways it was impossible to stick to required separation distances from other users: “And there is a lot more ego on the Coast.

“Everyone wants to be there first and be the biggest. You need to be a bit more on your game when you are here on the Coast,” the carpenter said.

“I had a go at a bloke recently and he said ‘you can’t tell me what to do and I’ve got a bigger jetski’. You don’t see much of that in Brisbane — here it is a completely different culture.

“There are still plenty of good water users. But I think it’s just because of how congested it is, the anxiety and stress goes up.”

But both visitors said they didn’t think regulations should be tightened up saying it just came down to commonsense by individuals.

Around a 100 jetski riders took part in a ride day from The Spit up and around South Stradbroke Island: Event organiser Anthony Antees Photo: David Clark

The spotlight has been thrown on water rules after a collision between a boat and jet ski rider on a guided Broadwater tourist trip two Saturdays back. It left Gold Coast boatie Shane Randall hospitalised with a leg infection but he is now understood to be recovering at home. The novice 19-year-old jet skier, who suffered a bruised hip, was given a standard 40-minute briefing prior by trip operator Jet Ski Safaris.

JSW Powersports director Jeff McNiven and sales boss Anthony Antees, who organised yesterday’s group ride, said jet skiers unfairly copped a bad rap when a small minority caused problems.

Around a 100 jetski riders took part in a ride day from The Spit up and around South Stradbroke Island Photo: David Clark

“There are accidents on the roads every day. A jet skier has one and it’s everywhere, Mr McNiven said.

Mr Antees, a seven-time national jetski champion, said given how many jetski riders were out riding nowadays behaviour was pretty good and Jet Ski Safaris were always “pretty orderly”.

Mr McNiven said 70 per cent of jetski buyers were family users not young tearaways and it would be overkill to require novices on guided trips to have a licence.

Around a 100 jetski riders took part in a ride day from The Spit up and around South Stradbroke Island Photo: David Clark

Mr McNiven said the Gold Coast would become the only place in the world where guided jet ski riders had to be licenced.

“This is the tourism industry — if they keep flogging these guys, people won’t come.”

Both felt a 40-minute lesson provided by Jet Ski Safaris was ample given trips involved lead instructors at the front and back of groups.

Jet Ski Safaris owner Adrian Bond said 10 per cent of reported incidents on Queensland waterways involved jet skis and it would be “crazy” to require licences for guided trip clients.

“It would completely destroy the industry. I don’t think there is a safer way of taking people out than the way we do it.”

Article: Gold Coast Bulletin