“Swim like a Dolphin, Fly like a Bird”:
Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Sports Slogan Rings True with Wild Flyboarding Ride
Aley Lewis
Imagine this. You’re average height, brunette, athletic build, with a crippling fear of sharks. Now, add that onto the fact you’re from a city so naturally, you have no experience in any kind of water sports. (i.e: kayaking, surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, etc.) Until one sunny Thursday evening, your boss decides to surprise you in your adventurous life as a staff writer, and sends you to try flyboarding.
Flyboarding. No, you don’t fly up in the air like a plane using a board, but close. Imagine Iron Man. Now imagine him gracefully exiting the ocean surface, body straight, eyes forward, armor in check, with water streaming from his feet propelling him upwards. Now, imagine yourself in his position (Armor not recommended).
Located across from Fishbones Restaurant in Oak Bluffs Harbor lies a tiny information desk where all your water sport dreams can come true. Serving 
the Vineyard for over 25 years, Martha’s sVineyard Ocean Sports has certainly granted many wishes.
MV Ocean Sports has a wide variety of safe, instructed and well-executed activities to pick from. From jetski tours, to parasailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing or riding on the famous Banana Boat, there are plenty of activities to pick from that is fun for the whole family.
Now, you’re probably wondering how the experience went, right? Even for someone who hates the open ocean, and is convinced that the great white from Jaws is coming back to life to find swimmers on the Vineyard, it was absolutely incredible.
The instructors, Kevin, Ivelin and Hunter made the experience enjoyable and effortless. With Kevin certified last year as a fly boarding instructor on Lake Mead in Las Vegas, him and the others specialize in teaching beginners. Professionals themselves, they took the time to make sure everyone strapping on the boots and buckling their helmets knew the safety precautions, and how to properly operate the equipment.
Calming the nerves of his passengers, Captain Kevin assures everyone that it’s easy to learn, and that anyone can do it. He was right.
Explaining how to use the boots, riders must always keep their legs straight and core tight to allow body weight to be distributed evenly while in the air. If legs of the riders are bent, flying is impossible and rising out of the water is an unforgiving task. However, once the legs are straight, upper body is parallel, and hands by the side, it is more than easy to feel yourself slowly rising out the water. With your feet in control of how your body is propelled, a light touch of the toes forward sends you moving, while a decline in the heel sends you the other way.
Kevin and Hunter, controlling the pressure of the water streams from nearby jetskis, were in constant encouragement, and provided necessary positivity to help make learning how to maneuver in and out of the water super easy, fun and exciting.
“The guys were really friendly, and after the first few minutes, I felt like I understood how to do it. It took a little bit of practice, but I loved every second of it” says a fellow flyboarder.
No matter the experience level, age, or size, there is something for everyone. Whether you have never been on the ocean before, or have been sailing the Vineyard Sound for years, the opportunities are endless.
With a slogan like “Swim like a dolphin, fly like a bird”, there is no reason to not step out of your comfort zone and try something new with MV Ocean Sports.
