How Alex Mak Has Turned His Love for Jet Skiing into a Business
By Gaby Keiderling
Alex Mak, aka Aquabikeman, has been making waves on his jet ski for over a decade. What began as a new way to explore his home of Thailand has now become his lifestyle. As a globally-recognized jet skier, content creator, and business founder, Mak tours the world on his Sea-Doo, documenting his adrenaline-induced adventures on his Instagram.
But Mak’s taken jet skiing one step further. His company SLEDEXT designs custom jet ski (and at one point, snowmobile) expeditions, taking guests on the most unique, thrilling adventures they could ever imagine. Below, Mak fills The Wake Edit in on how he got to where he is today, as well as what’s next for him and SLEDEXT.
The Beginning
I have loved traveling since childhood, a passion passed down from my parents. As a child, I started rafting at the age of eight and later moved on to kayaking, exploring countless rivers. In 2013, I bought my first jet ski and rode it almost every day near my home in Thailand, where I lived by the sea.
On January 4, 2016, tired of regular rides around the pier, my friend and I embarked on our first multi-day journey on jet skis from Pattaya to Koh Samet Island, Thailand. This trip changed my life forever, setting a new course for my travels. Realizing that jet skis could be used for fast, exciting, and comfortable long-distance travel, we began planning other destinations.
Concurrently, I participated in circuit racing competitions on jet skis, but found them boring due to their repetitive nature—especially as my friends were not particularly interested in this sport. We quickly explored all interesting places in Thailand and craved something new. At that time, my construction business in Thailand was running smoothly without much involvement from me, so I looked into new markets for company development.
A Business Began To Grow
In autumn 2016, I relocated with my family to Cambodia’s Sihanoukville city. The sea, islands, and beaches there were even more beautiful than before, prompting me to buy jet skis just two weeks after arriving. Since my friends lived in different countries, I purchased three Sea-Doo models immediately, so they could fly over and ride with me whenever possible. It turned out that besides having stunning seas, Cambodia also boasted several powerful rivers ideal for exploration, including the mighty Mekong River.
Freshwater has always appealed to me more since my youth when I engaged in river rafting; it’s refreshing, cool, and best of all, you don’t need to wash your jet ski afterward. I made many new friends through the local Sea-Doo owner community, thanks to dealers in Phnom Penh. While maintaining my primary business, I developed a new company in China and frequently traveled there, leaving less time for jet ski adventures, which required careful, meticulous planning. I stored my jet skis with an acquaintance who rented his own jet skis on the beach and occasionally leased mine too.
One day, I had the idea to take my international business partners on a journey combining river and sea trips on jet skis in Cambodia. A person helping us store the jet skis assisted with everything. My friends and partners enjoyed this adventure immensely and requested similar trips every few months.
Thus, a team and company called SLEDEXT emerged, though initially under another name. It soon became evident that this although format was quite appealing, yet sustaining a support crew for occasional trips every few months wasn’t cost-effective. Therefore, my team simultaneously organized excursions for my acquaintances. Through word-of-mouth, information about these unique experiences spread, attracting new clients continuously. For me, it remains primarily a hobby—a product I’ve grown fond of. Seeing people’s happy eyes after such trips is far more valuable than any money or reviews.
A Company Unlike Any Other
We created a distinctive jet ski travel style where you start in one place and finish elsewhere, avoiding monotonous circular rides. All essential items and gear are carried along during some journeys, while others involve accompanying vehicles or boats providing additional support. However, I prefer autonomous trips because they offer greater freedom and excitement. Most of our heroes (as we call our guests) are individuals with high incomes accustomed to maximum comfort in daily life. Consequently, we strive to maintain comparable levels of comfort in our travels, although true thrills come from self-exploration and encountering unusual situations. After Cambodia, we conducted several tours in China, facing significant challenges.
Conquering The Impossible
In Chile, witnessing breathtaking glaciers in Patagonia inspired us to reach them via jet skis. Initially, people claimed it couldn’t be done without ship escort, but following our Turkish experience, we increased average daily distances to 125 miles—far exceeding the initial 50-75 miles per day in Thailand. This improvement was facilitated by convenient fuel canister attachments provided by Sea-Doo, for which I’m extremely grateful. Our goal was to reach San Rafael Glacier in Chile on jet skis without ship assistance, covering nearly 800 miles across virtually uninhabited areas. Hotels along the coastline were available only every 125-250 miles, meaning substantial distances needed to be covered each day, making this expedition our most challenging endeavor ever.
In 2018, I returned to Turkey with my family and became fascinated with mountain snowmobiles. Alongside jet ski expeditions, we introduced snowmobile trips in the Kackar Mountains. That’s how the name SLEDEXT originated. From 2019 to 2023, we focused mainly on snowmobile tours, organizing trips in Turkey and Chile during summer.
Nearly a year of preparation culminated in January 2025, marking the beginning of our mission. Skipping all nerve-wracking moments, we succeeded despite widespread doubts. We’ve completed this feat multiple times and plan to do it again in 2026. Chile has become our flagship expedition destination, renowned for its incredible landscapes, majestic ice formations, and massive glaciers captivating everyone with their beauty. However, our guiding principle is never to repeat established programs; those familiar with our trips know we explore new locations no longer than two years before moving forward. We avoid replicating expeditions and refrain from rental businesses; instead, we constantly seek novelty.
To me, this isn’t merely a livelihood—it’s a labor of love driven by personal interest. Stagnation in one location bores me, hence we’re continually pushing ahead, discovering new lands and leaving conquered routes behind, emulating great explorers and seafarers of old. The world is vast enough that riding in the same spot daily seems pointless. Jet skis provide an excellent means of exploration and travel, offering views unavailable through conventional methods, combined with physical activity and extreme challenges.
Next Up For SLEDEXT
In 2024, we launched a new initiative involving Sea-Doo Sparks on mountain rivers, navigating super-challenging rapids on jet skis, even jumping off waterfalls—we believe ourselves to be pioneers worldwide. Dubbed Rockjet, this direction compares mountain snowmobiling to standard sledding, incredibly exhilarating and mandatory for every adrenaline junkie. These achievements stemmed from extensive training in rafting and kayaking during my formative years. By summer 2025, we decided to eliminate snowmobile trips entirely from our schedule, focusing solely on jet ski expeditions. Currently, we’re conducting a jet ski expedition in Indonesia, departing from Jakarta towards Papua and subsequently heading to Australia.
By December 2026, we aim to cross Drake Passage on a jet ski, establishing a new objective for the upcoming year. Covering 530 miles of open ocean, I’ll be accompanied only by my jet ski, currently selecting the model for this challenge. Preparatory tests and preparations will commence in March 2026, aiming to cover 560 miles within one daylight period. For me, this represents a lifelong pursuit that I cherish deeply.
Nowadays, I no longer engage in core business activities and dedicate myself purely to traveling, occupying approximately 70% of my time. I’m delighted to share insights with anyone eager to try or already passionate about this venture. Invitations to new countries and events bring joy, as do partnerships supporting our expeditions. Challenges testing equipment in real-life scenarios excite me.
Join our team and meet us on the water—water signifies life, and jet-skiing symbolises movement. Just as in life, you’re free to move wherever you want alone, safe in the knowledge that there’s a group of friends ready to support you—that’s our ultimate goal for you.
