WINONA LAKE - Riding a jet ski is like riding a motorcycle on water, according to Aquatic Express co-owner Luis Cervantes.
In the business’s second summer of providing jet ski rentals on Winona Lake, Aquatic Express had a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday with the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce.
“Hopefully, we’ll add more jet skis so we have more people come out and enjoy the lake,” said co-owner Tito Cuellar. “It’s something that we’ve been excited to start up two years ago.”
Cervantes said they’ve always been in Winona Lake, running, walking and biking so they thought jet skis would be a fun activity for the summer to share with the community.
Currently, they have two jet skis for rent, Cervantes said.
“To rent them, you would need to book a time with us on our Facebook page or Instagram, Aquaticexpress23,” he said.
Cuellar said they have one jet ski that can fit two people comfortably and they recommend just one person for the other jet ski.
“At a maximum we have three people, but hopefully next year we’ll add more jet skis so we can have more people out here,” he said.
The jet skis can be rented by the hour, Cervantes said. For one rider, it’s $85 per hour; for two people on one jet ski, it’s $105 per hour; and for two people on two jet skis - each person on their own jet ski - it’s $140 per hour.
Cervantes said when a person rents a jet ski, they will set a place to meet on Winona Lake.
“For new riders, we do have the best equipment on these jet skis, so they do come fully equipped with the brake, reverse, so if you’re a first-time rider no need to be worried. We will teach you on how to ride them, and from there we just tell you to take it easy in the first steps and from there it’s just how comfortable you get with a jet ski,” Cuellar said.
Cervantes said because of insurance restrictions, riders must be at least 18 years old, or 16 with a parent. Aquatic Express does offer an introduction course before a person goes riding on the jet ski on how to operate a jet ski and the rules to follow on the lake. The course is about 15 minutes.
“It’s just to make you comfortable with the jet ski on how to use it,” Cuellar said.
Life jackets are provided, as are walkie talkies. Cervantes said they also offer iPhone waterproof pouches.
He said, “Winona Lake offers many varieties of things to do - lot of activities, shops, restaurants - and I think people should come out and ride a jet ski. It’s my favorite thing to do ever. It’s like a motorcycle on water. It feels free!”
Cuellar said, “We do live here in Winona, but we want to be a part of this community, and since we’ve been growing up we’ve fallen more in love with Winona and we wanted to add something that the community can be a part of as well, for people coming out of Winona from various places, but also people living here as well who don’t have access to jet skis.”