The person behind these stunning images is Gold Coast-based Jet Ski photographer Jeff Lakeford, who balances precariously on a Jet Ski in big swell – with more than $10,000 worth of professional camera gear around his neck – to capture epic photos like the ones you see here.
He does it for the love of the sport, uploading hundreds of photos on Facebook for the Jet Ski community to share – capturing images that iPhones and GoPro cameras simply cannot match – and he doesn’t charge the riders a cent to download them.
We previously shared his Top 10 photos from 2020 here, and we also interviewed the former Gold Coast stunt man who gets mega air in another story here.
The image below is just one of the iconic photos from his latest collection.
Today we’re celebrating high-flying ladies, after Jeff Lakeford captured another round of superb images from a recent big wave jump session off South Stradbroke Island near the Gold Coast.
Tessa Lee, 46, (pictured below) has been riding Jet Skis for about 10 years and by her own admission was a late starter.
After spending time around motorsport, drag racing, and the performance car scene, Tessa Lee embraced a new hobby after some friends suggested she try Jet Skis.
And so it was at age 36 Tessa Lee not only bought a Jet Ski, but started to get big air pretty much straight away.
Fast forward to about a year ago, and another Gold Coast girl, Bec Bates, 43, slid into Tessa Lee’s DMs – having seen photos on social media of Tessa Lee getting sky high – to ask if she could get a few tips on Jet Skis.
Tessa Lee happily obliged and the two have become close friends ever since.
Above: Tessa Lee gets some air while Bec Bates (foreground) circles back for another set of waves.
Below are interviews with Tessa Lee and Bec Bates explaining how they got into Jet Ski riding – and whether they get scared or not each time they send it.
They also give some insight into the reactions they get on the water when the bros see a couple of pony tails getting as much air – if not more – than they do.
Tessa Lee interview:
WZ: How long have you been riding Jet Skis?
TL: About 10 years.
WZ: When did you first learn to get air?
TL: Straight away. A bunch of mates (guys and girls) and I decided to buy Jet Skis and we hit the waves immediately.
WZ: When approaching a big wave, preparing to get massive air, are you scared sometimes, every time, or none of the time?
TL: There’s always a little bit of a heart flutter but I think everyone does. I hate big swell. I prefer to use throttle for big air, as opposed to big waves.
WZ: Have you had any bad spills or injuries?
TL: Not really. I’ve only come off a couple of times thankfully. I did twist my knee once on a not so smooth landing, but other than that, maybe a bruise or two but that’s about it.
WZ: How many Jet Skis have you owned and what were they?
TL: All Sea-Doos. The first ski was a little 2007 model Sea-Doo GTI 130 that I bought in 2015 to see if I liked Jet Skis.
I had that for less than one week and then upgraded to a 2015 Sea-Doo RXT-X 260.
After a couple of months I found it was too big and bulky to get good, vertical air.
So I sold that and switched to a 2016 Sea-Doo RXP-X 300. I have now owned eight Sea-Doo RXP-X models.
My latest one is a 2024 Sea-Doo RXP-X 325. I have customised it and modified it so I will probably hang onto this one for a while now.
WZ: Which one is your favourite Jet Ski?
TL: My current Sea-Doo RXP-X 325. Although, for jumping I do prefer the older Sea-Doo RXP-X 300 hulls. The new hulls turn sharper but the older ones were better for getting air.
WZ: You’ve had some interesting registration numbers over the years, which one was your favourite?
TL: I love them all. But probably prefer my older rego numbers: WOH00 Q and WUH00 Q. My current one is LFG00 Q.
WZ: Do you have any other hobbies that put the boys to shame?
TL: I love high horsepower Japanese performance cars and we previously had a couple of Nissan GTRs that had more than 1000hp at the wheels.
WZ: Are guys on the water surprised you get so much air?
TL: Yes, absolutely. It’s funny to see their reaction once they realise it’s a chick who just got mega air.
WZ: How many hours do you clock up in a year?
TL: Around 100 hours. I don’t go out in windy conditions or when the swell is big, so I save hours there.
The only place we can wave jump or freestyle on the Gold Coast legally is off South Stradbroke Island, which has a very long and exposed beach.
It’s roughly 14km of straight beach, no headlands or banks to provide any shelter from the wind. The conditions are usually always pretty poor for jumping or surfing.
It’s pretty rare that we get amazing conditions. Our jump sessions only last for a couple of hours before the wind comes up and the ocean gets rough.
WZ: What are your dislikes on the water?
TL: People who don’t stick to the 6 knot speed limits on flat water. Surfers that think they own the waves. And kids on skis that see you jumping, so they come over right close to you and start trying to jump next to you, trying to show off. Dude, you’re not impressing me, you’re being dangerous, go away!
WZ: What are your likes on the water?
TL: The ocean is my temple. I’m in my element when I’m wave jumping and the conditions are sweet.
I love winter conditions on the Gold Coast – much smoother and cleaner waves, offshore winds, and super clear and aqua-coloured water that isn’t too cold.
It’s always cool seeing lots of dolphins, manta rays, dugongs, whales, various species of fish and sharks too.
And also the social aspect of it all – good mates I’ve met and friendships that have been created through our passion.
Like my new bestie Bec Bates. We met about a year ago after she slid into my DMs on social media. She asked if she could come jumping with me one day and if I could teach her how to do it.
Next thing you know, I’m teaching her how to jump and we just hit it off. We are literally inseparable, and now our husbands are good mates too.
Bec Bates interview:
WZ: How long have you been riding Jet Skis?
BB: A bit over 12 months.
WZ: When did you first learn to get air?
BB: About a month after I started riding.
WZ: When approaching a big wave, preparing to get massive air, are you scared sometimes, every time, or none of the time?
BB: Sometimes, when the surf is big.
WZ: Have you had any bad spills or injuries?
BB: I’ve had a couple of whoopsies when I started jumping, but no significant injuries. Just bruises.
WZ: How many Jet Skis have you owned and what were they?
BB: I’ve had four Jet Skis in 12 months, getting a better one each time. I started off with an old secondhand 2014 Sea-Doo Spark as my first ski, then an old secondhand 2010 Kawasaki Ultra 260 as my second ski. Then I switched to a 2017 Sea-Doo GTR 230. But now I’m finally happy and settled with a 2022 Sea-Doo RXP-X 300.
WZ: Which one was your favourite Jet Ski?
BB: Definitely the 2022 Sea-Doo RXP-X 300. I like the power and how it handles.
WZ: Have you had any unique rego numbers?
BB: I currently have BLK300 Q even though the ski is now more pink than black. If I was to change, I would probably try for PNK300 Q.
WZ: Do you have any other hobbies that put the boys to shame?
BB: I have horses and compete in Show Jumping, which is interesting because you’re using some of the same muscles – arms, shoulders, quads – to jump a ski.
WZ: Are guys on the water surprised you get so much air?
BB: Yes! It’s funny to see their faces when you can get more air or get more vertical than they do.
WZ: How many hours do you clock up in a year?
BB: I would estimate well over 100 hours, although I haven’t yet actually owned the one Jet Ski for a year straight to be able tell exactly yet.
WZ: What are your dislikes on the water?
BB: Getting sprayed.
WZ: What are your likes on the water?
BB: The feeling of freedom and spending time with a great bunch of people including my son and husband wave jumping. Plus I was lucky enough to have the best mentor in the world, Tessa Lee!
Copyright for these photos is owned by Jeff Lakeford (Nautical Image) and have been used here with permission.
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