Flyboarding makes waves at the Jersey Shore

People lounging on their boats on Barnegat Bay and relaxing in the recreational area at Sunset Park in Harvey Cedars on Saturday, Aug. 24 stopped what they were doing and turned to look at Justin Chiusolo perform tricks on his Flyboard.

Photo by Ryan Morrill
Justin Chiusolo busts out some
of his best moves on the Flyboard.

Surfing, skimboarding, Jet Skiing and windsurfing are all thrilling watersports to try, but anyone looking for something a bit more intense should definitely consider Flyboarding. Although no one has ever actually flown before, Super Fly NJ co-owners Justin and Brittany Chiusolo said the extreme watersport, which propels a person under and above water via a Flyboard made specifically for the sport, is the closest anyone will probably ever get to soaring on water.

“Everybody just flocks to us when we do it. Even the Harvey Cedars police loved it,” said Brittany.

The brother and sister, who grew up spending their summers in Waretown and Harvey Cedars, were first introduced to the sport in February while on vacation in Mexico. They opened their own Flyboarding establishment on Long Beach Island in July.

“As soon as I got my feet out of the boots, I picked up my phone and knew I had to buy it. Flyboarding was going to come to New Jersey whether we did it or someone else did it. So we brought the first one here,” said Justin.

Franky Zapata, owner of Zapata Racing in France, invented the Flyboard in Spring 2011. The Flyboard became a worldwide sensation after the posting of a YouTube video, which acquired more than 2.5 million global views in just two weeks.

Upon returning from Mexico, Justin and Brittany immediately bought a personal watercraft, a Sea Doo Wake Pro 215, which manually thrusts water through an attached 55-foot long hose to propel the Flyboard. In June, Justin flew to Utah to purchase a Flyboard and to participate in a Flyboard certification class, which included an eight-hour training course and 40 hours in the boots.

Photo by Ryan Morrill
Chiusolo soars above the
Barnegat Bay.

“We’ve been kneeboarding, tubing, banana boating, you name it. There’s nothing else like (Flyboarding),” said Brittany. “You have power coming out of your feet, and you’re balancing and using a lot of muscles that you probably never even knew you had. It’s definitely an adrenaline rush. Anyone that’s ever tried it is like, ‘Wow, this is the coolest thing I’ve ever done,’” she added.

Besides being lifted 3 to 5 or more feet into the air above water, Flyboarders can also try out different tricks. The “superman” and “dolphin dive” are some of the most basic techniques. Back flips require a more advanced skill set.

“You can swim like a fish and fly like a bird,” said Justin.

John De Nero, 14, of Harvey Cedars practiced the sport again on Saturday after trying it for the first time a month ago.

“It’s awesome. It’s really easy, and I learned how to balance quickly,” said De Nero, before strapping into the Flyboard.

He said he has been handing out business cards with his friends to help promote Super Fly NJ.

Justin and Brittany’s father, John, 61, said he had also tried the sport, even though he had been through two prior hip replacements.

“I didn’t know if I could do it, but I did and it was amazing. Everyone’s watching, and it feels like you’re walking on water,” said John.

“It’s nice to see a brother and sister starting a business together at the Jersey Shore. I’m so proud of them. The shore was hit pretty bad from Sandy, and they’re helping bring business back,” he added.

All ages are welcome to try the sport with Super Fly NJ, which is insured by Evolution Insurance. Participants are required to watch a demonstrational video and to sign a legal waiver. A helmet and life jacket are provided.

“Even though I’m a girl, I can do it. I can get up there, and I feel confident,” said Brittany. “The more you try it, and the more time you spend on it, the more comfortable you get. But sometimes you see something and you think, ‘Oh, that’s a boy’s sport.’ But everybody can do this. That’s what’s so cool about it.”

Although the pair both hold full-time jobs as an electrician and a nurse, they plan on bringing Flyboarding back to the area, as well as in other locations along the Jersey Shore, next summer.

“We started on LBI because this is our home turf,” said Justin.

Super Fly NJ is available as a seasonal operation for Flyboarding on weekends and by appointment. For more information, visit superflynj.com or call 551-486-0955.

— Kelley Anne Essinger

This article was published in The SandPaper.