Water Jetpack Stag Do

A water jetpack stag do lets you fly. Sort of. You’re strapped into a pack or onto a board that’s connected by a long hose to a jet ski, which pumps water through it hard enough to lift you clean out of the water. Get the balance right and you’re hovering above the surface like a budget superhero. Get it wrong and you’re doing an undignified belly flop in front of the whole group.

You’ll see it sold under a few names. A water jetpack sits on your back, flyboarding puts the jets under your feet, and a jetovator is the one that looks like a flying motorbike. They all work on the same idea, and they all make grown men squeal.

It’s unusual. Plenty of stag groups have done paintball and go karting, far fewer have strapped on a jetpack. That alone makes it worth a look if the stag thinks he’s seen it all.

It’s also a spectator sport. Usually only one or two people fly at a time, so the rest of the lads get to stand on the side, heckling. Since everyone gets a turn, everyone gets heckled. It’s fair, in a cruel sort of way.

Instructors are good at getting beginners up. On many sessions the instructor controls the throttle while you concentrate on staying upright, so most people get airborne at least briefly. How gracefully is another matter.

• Flight time. Sessions are usually short per person, so ask how long each flyer actually gets and how long the group will be there in total.
• Group size. Because it’s one or two at a time, it suits smaller groups best. For a big group, think about splitting it with another activity nearby.
• Weight and fitness. Providers often have weight limits and want you to be a reasonable swimmer. Check before you promise the big lads a go.
• Kit. Wetsuit, helmet and buoyancy aid are normally provided. Bring swimwear and a towel.
• Booze rule. Strictly sober. Flying while tipsy is a bad idea, even when you’d only land in water.
• Weather. Wind and choppy water can cancel a session, so ask about rescheduling before you pay.

Make sure the stag flies last. By then the lads have all had a go, everyone knows how hard it is, and the whole group is watching. If he nails it, he’s a legend. If he doesn’t, you’ve got your opening line for the speech.

Get someone on the bank filming everything, because a still photo never does the wobbling justice.

The jetpack works best as the headline act with something easier around it. Add wakeboarding or a boat party to keep the water theme, or swap the wetsuits for crash helmets with go karting. If the lads loved the flying bit, indoor skydiving is the dry version. Our stag do organising advice covers the rest of the plan.