Flyboard Takes to the Air at Lake Las Vegas

Hundreds of spectators lined the water’s edge in MonteLago Village while others boarded the 80-foot La Contessa yacht moored in the adjacent marina to watch Flyboard creator, International World Champion Jet Ski Racer, Franky Zapata of Zapata Racing in Le Rove, France, perform amazing aerial stunts and thrilling dives that can only be called a mix of The Jetsons, Ironman and the exotic gadgets of 007 James Bond. 

To preview his new Flyboard creation, Zapata soared as high as 25-feet atop two powerful streams of water created by the trust of a tethered jet ski. Once aloft, he used only a hand-held throttle and two smaller water jets in a ski pole-like fashion to choreograph a stunning airborne show that included high dives and back flips leading to a series of fast dolphin-like in and out mini-dives that had onlookers cheering and applauding every time.

“The Flyboard combines all of my passions,” states Franky Zapata, “the Jet Ski, snow skiing, snowboards and acrobatic dives. Flyboard brings them all together in one.”

A six minute video clip of Franky Zapata riding the “Flyboard” on You Tube has gone viral and, to date, it has been viewed nearly 3 million times in just over four weeks. The clip can be seen at http://tinyurl.com/FLYBOARD.

“Lake Las Vegas was pleased to host this unique and exciting event,” states James Coyne, Principal for Atalon Management Group, “which was made possible through the combined efforts of the Lake Las Vegas Marina and MonteLago Village.”

The Flyboard will be available here in the United States starting in April 2012. The initial estimated cost is about $4,500 and it will be distributed locally by Proshop Motorsports and Marine, 575 West Lake Mead Pkwy, in Henderson. For more information contact Dan Boyle at 564-8895.