In a world paralysed by nannying paranoia, a product like the Powerski Jet Board deserves to be embraced . . .

The trouble with inventing new things is that, unless your genius verges on insanity, the likelihood of genuine originality is very slim indeed. After all, the fundamental things like the wheel, the engine, the internet and the bikini have already been invented. But if you do, by some miracle of ill fortune, stumble upon something no-one has yet even imagined, you tend to be dismissed as a dangerous fool and locked in a cage to dream dreams of a future when a canny marketing man would no doubt make fortunes off the back of your torment.

Yes, the best we can legitimately hope for is a fresh mixture of established objects or a reinvention of purpose - and that often works out rather well. Take the Powerski Jetboard. It basically combines surfing with wakeboarding and more than a hint of PW-style jet propulsion and comes up with an object that, to most of us, feels quite fresh and exciting.

The hope of the manufacturers is that this one-man jet-propelled board will kickstart the world’s next big watersports craze. They say that “its combination of speed, power and agility makes it simple to operate, stable and very easy to ride” so it ought to be the kind of thing you can pick up quickly and then develop with various freestyle tricks as your confidence grows. The idea (and it is a good one) is that the keen surfer will no longer be forced to rely on wind or waves and the keen boarder will no longer be forced to find a towboat or a cable lake. Here, you have the board and the method of propulsion combined in one product.

The Jetboard has similarities to a stand-up ski but what is apparently unique about this thing is the fact that you have to ride it instead of ‘steering’ it. You have to carve into the corners and involve your entire body in the exercise of control. And if that sounds tough, it’s nothing compared to the technical challenges of producing an engine small enough to fit inside a relatively low-profile surfboard and yet remain light enough and powerful enough to propel a 20-stone man (yes, it caters for the American market) at speeds in excess of 40mph. The solution to the design difficulties is a forward-mounted 330cc two-stroke engine producing 45hp. Sandwiched neatly inside the board, it pumps out an outrageous 350 pounds of thrust. There will apparently be a four-stroke version later this year but in truth the Jetboard seems tailor-made for the vigorous response of two-stroke power.

An 11-litre fuel tank should keep you on the water for long spells and the lightweight composite construction should make it easy enough to manhandle. To help you stay in control you get a non-skid rubber deck and a leash-style mechanism connected to the front of the board through which you operate the level of thrust you want to apply.

Now anyone with a bit of powerboating experience knows how much more thrilling a burst of raw power can feel when you get that bit closer to the water. That instant amplification of the sensations as you downsize from a 30-foot sports cruiser to a 15-foot Fletcher is extraordinary. You feel it again when you downsize from a 15-footer to a small personal watercraft. And while we haven’t yet ridden this ourselves, we’re willing to bet that the experience of ‘helming’ the Jetboard is about as interactive and visceral as power-driven water-borne recreation gets.

With a truly rude power to weight ratio and a configuration that sees you virtually standing on the water’s surface, the Powerski looks like a riotously invigorating new form of watersport. If you feel your boy’s toy collection lacks a sufficiently arbitrary piece of power-driven self-indulgence, this could be the curiously addictive centrepiece you’ve been looking for.

Price: from £7,000 plus VAT
www.powerski.com