Jet Sport Nationals

Thursday, 21st March 2024 at 12:20pm

Tommy Cahill (Year 12) has a need for speed, some may say he even has racing blood in his genes!

Tommy is currently placed 5th in New Zealand, having raced in the Expert/Elite Runabout NA Class at the Jet Sport Nationals Summer Series, held at Lake Karapiro over the weekend (16, 17 March 2024).

With the final two rounds of the Summer Series still to be held (22, 23 April, in Taupo) Tommy is looking forward to claiming end-of-season points.

Proudly flying the Auckland Jet Sport Association flag, Tommy has been riding the waves to jet ski success for the past three years, however, this was his first year competing in the top class: Expert Elite Ski Lites, a stand-up jet ski reaching speeds of around the 75kph mark.

Stand-up jet ski races are physically taxing on the back, arms, and legs. Tommy tries to keep in ship-shape with regular gym workouts during the week, and water training every second weekend.

“Sit-down jet skis can get up to 125kph, which are faster, but less draining physically.”

So, what does Tommy enjoy most about the need for speed and getting out on the open water?

“The adrenalin rush, and bragging rights … honestly that’s about it!” he says with a chuckle.

Image above provided by Tommy Cahill / Photographed by: David Rowe Photography (used with permission)