HO Hovercraft: The Ski That Is Changing Our Sport

In recent years, we’ve seen many innovations in waterskiing, but only a few have truly changed the way people approach this sport like the Hovercraft by HO Sports. Working every day with people approaching our sport, we immediately noticed a big difference. Not only do skiers feel more stable on the water, but with the Hovercraft the learning process becomes significantly faster. As a result, people start having fun right from their very first attempts at mono skiing.

Let’s start from a simple point: waterskiing isn’t an easy sport at the beginning. After getting comfortable on two skis, the next step is moving to a single ski—something that, for many, is not straightforward nor easy.

The deep-water start is often the first major obstacle, a moment where coordination and a good amount of patience come into play. It’s also the phase where many people unfortunately get discouraged and decide to stop or stick with two skis. On top of that, there’s the fear of speed when crossing the wake, which some find intimidating, especially in the early stages. And this is exactly where the Hovercraft makes the difference.

Less effort

If you’re just starting out, or if in the past getting up on a single ski felt like an impossible task, there’s no reason to be discouraged anymore. With this ski, you can finally enjoy the experience while also building a solid position for slalom.

Thanks to its shape, getting up and feeling stable with one foot in front of the other is immediately easier. This means less effort and many more successful starts. When you get up right away, everything else becomes more natural—you can focus on your feeling on the water, body position, and control, rather than struggling with the initial movement. And let’s be honest: getting up on the first try completely changes your mood for the day.

From a technical standpoint, the Hovercraft helps you build solid fundamentals right from the start. The wider surface and the presence of three fins improve balance and control, making it easier to work on position, alignment, and load management. At the same time, it doesn’t alter proper technique: the positions you develop are already consistent with those required in traditional slalom. It’s not a shortcut, but a smarter and more progressive way to reach the same goal.

More time on the water

One of the most interesting things we’ve observed at Jolly Ski is how quickly the Hovercraft builds confidence. People who try it immediately feel safer and, as a result, more willing to push themselves. This leads many beginners to transition to a single ski faster—and to do so naturally, without forcing the process.

In some cases, especially for those coming from board sports like wakeboarding, snowboarding, or surfing, the change is even more noticeable. The two-ski phase, traditionally considered as a necessary step, becomes almost unnecessary. People move straight to the Hovercraft, reducing intermediate steps and increasing the actual time spent skiing.

That said, this ski isn’t revolutionary only for beginners. We’ve seen clear benefits in more specific situations as well, where a traditional single ski can be more demanding. One example is Tanja, a regular at Jolly Ski and a former powerlifter with back issues, who managed to return to skiing consistently thanks to the Hovercraft. Today, she not only skis without discomfort, but also regularly runs the slalom course.
In this sense, it is the ski that adapts to the skier—not the other way around.

Seeing is believing

After many years of coaching waterskiing, the most common thought from people transitioning from two skis to one has always been the same: “How is this possible? I get up right away on two skis, but on one ski I need a lot of attempts!”

With the Hovercraft, there’s no longer a need to spend 30 minutes in the water just working on starts. The adrenaline you feel right away on two skis can now continue seamlessly into your first rides on a single ski.

Here at Jolly Ski, we have both new models available to try: Fluro Camo in 67” and Tribal Pink in 65”. We use them every day with both beginners and intermediate skiers, and the reaction is always the same: fun—and the desire to go again right away.

If you’d like to buy one, you can do so directly on the HO Sports website or through your nearest pro shop. The new models are designed to be fully compatible with standard equipment. The insert layout is identical to traditional skis, so you can easily mount your own bindings without any modifications, if you already have them.

Whether you’re starting, coming back, or simply looking to try something new, the Hovercraft is one of the most effective skis you can use behind the boat today. So… why not try it with us? We’ll be happy to see you at Jolly Ski!