Protective Gear

Helmets and leg guards explained

If you’re riding chop, jumping waves or putting time in at freestyle or racing, the jet ski is putting you and your kit through real impact. Protective gear is what stands between a routine crash and an injury that ends your season. Helmets. The Jetpilot Vault Race helmet is DOT and CE certified — the certifications that matter for real impact protection on the water. That’s a different category to a bump cap, which only softens incidental knocks. A certified helmet is what you want for freestyle, racing, or anywhere a serious fall is on the cards. Available in four colours, all the same shell and certification, sized by head circumference. Fit matters: it should sit level on your head, low at the front, snug all the way round with no rocking, and the chin strap firm enough that it can’t shift in a fall. Leg guards. The Jetpilot ProTech leg guards protect against shin and lower-leg impacts — the bruises and cuts you pick up from boat hardware, missed landings, and chop slamming the lower legs against the ski. Strapped on under your rideshorts or wetsuit, they’re light enough to forget once you’re on the water. Who needs this. Freestyle riders chasing tricks, racers, and anyone running hard in offshore chop. For casual lake riding at moderate speed, it’s optional gear — nice to have, not essential. For riding at the limit, it’s essential gear, not optional. Legal note. In Australia, a helmet isn’t a legal requirement for general jet ski riding (this varies by state and event). At organised racing or freestyle events, helmet rules usually apply — check with your event organiser. Care. Rinse helmets and pads with fresh water after each session, dry out of direct sun, and replace any helmet that’s taken a serious impact — certified helmets are designed to absorb one big hit, not multiple.