We formed Stratospheric Industries, Inc. to build hydro equipment in 2011. Our first project was to build a better, more accessible hydro jetpack system, the X-Jetpack H3X. After all if you have such a cool concept it deserves cool well made equipment, the first attempts and making hydro jetpacks were, well, first attempts. Around the globe, the centers that used the jetpack were impressed with the technology and the workmanship and many immediately asked if we were going to build a better Flyboard. Everyone had experience with a couple seasons of Zapata Racing’s Flyboard and yet was asking for more. They supplied us with a long list of requests, but the common thread was “build it like the X-Jetpack, build it solid and clean and build it to last.”
We take our time to get it right, we are nto fast, we cannot design and engineer a complete board in days as some have claimed. We design, test, simulate, review and iterate over and over until we are satisfied. We are freaks about equipment and making it right. We love what we do, we love to make equipment that others will push to the limits, we build tools that are flexible and can be expanded as this young sport grows.
Our experience engineering the X-Jetpack gave us the direction, build it tough to handle getting rough treatment in remote corners of the world. Build it efficient and flexible to fit into jet ski installations. Build it all from marine worthy materials that can handle salt water and light abuse. Use a double jacketed hose (where the weave is encapsulated on both sides) that holds up to real world usage. Make all the parts substantial and design and engineer out the tiny parts that get lost or break. Our experience working with and building equipment for pro-riders in other sports carried over directly, build it lighter, build it smoother, built it with a variable stance, optimize the center of gravity. In other words, build it for sport and let the athletes push the boundaries.
We announce the X-Jets Sidewinder, the ultimate sport “jetboard”.