We know that we can’t be everywhere at once, but our Man on the Ski can be. Our series with Sofla Nick takes you behind the scenes with some of the most influential people in the jet ski world. Next up? Juan Mallen.
Juan Mallen has been riding jet skis, WaveRunners, and SeaDoos since 1994. While he began riding in Miami, he soon realized that wasn’t enough for him. “It became boring for me, so I started to Google Earth places all over Florida,” he told The Wake Edit. “One of my most memorable rides was from Miami to Bimini. It took me almost four years to plan it. It hadn’t been done on jetskis before us. Everyone thought I was crazy”
Four years in the making, but well worth it. Our Man on a Ski Sofla Nick caught up with Mallen the other day. “It was nerve-wracking,” he told Nick. “We knew we would need three tanks of fuel to have no problems.” In terms of what else goes into the Bimini ride? “Weather is our number one priority, as well as all the equipment needed and the knowledge of traveling in open water for a few hours. But we got it done, and we made the way for others to experience this incredible trip. We had the time of our lives.”
Through searching for unique destinations to ride in, Mallen began to find his own community of riders. “As I discovered new places, I got to know more people that had a passion for what I loved to do, and I quickly thought about having a club where people can enjoy my adventures,” he said. And thus, South Florida Riders was born. “I attribute our club success to the new members that join us with the same adrenaline that we had when we started back then. Also, to the oldest riders that are still kicking! All our profits go to club rides, cookouts, and events that we do year-round.”
So what does Mallen do when he’s not on his SeaDoo RXP-X 325? “When I’m not riding, I’m running my business. We repair high-end appliances and commercial microwaves. I love my job and my SeaDoo life!”
You can follow Juan Mallen on Instagram, as well as his adventures with his South Florida Riders.