The Best New Jet Ski for Beginners Isn’t a Yamaha or Kawasaki
It happens every year: Sun-seekers check out new jet ski models and boats for their good times. However, not everyone is an experienced boater or wave-jumping warrior. Don’t fret; many manufacturers offer the latest and greatest in beginner-friendly rec-lite PWC models. Still, one new jet ski might be your best bet for budget-minded fun: the 2024 Sea-Doo Spark Trixx.
What’s so unique about the 2024 Sea-Doo Spark Trixx?
The 2024 Sea-Doo Spark Trixx is the razor-sharp, trick-focused variant of the brand’s most affordable personal watercraft (PWC). However, it’s more than just an upsell on the base second-generation Spark; the eager jet ski model has a namesake “Trixx mode,” which improves maneuverability and braking. The result? The improved next-gen Trixx will perform back-to-back nose dives and donuts without issue.
Christian Comtois, the Global Product Strategy Manager at Sea-Doo, likened the Spark jet ski to the venerable Volkswagen Golf in its evolution. Comtois said the Spark is the result of years of development and lessons learned from previous years, not unlike the Golf’s evolution from Mk1 to Mk8.
All that development is evident with the Trixx, which accounts for around 70% of the Sea-Doo Spark jet ski sales. It’s clear that today’s entry-level and budget-minded skiers want the ability to flick their PWC models into raucous, water-spouting tricksters.
Even for a relatively inexperienced jet ski rider, the Spark Trixx is a fun factory
I had the opportunity to take the 2024 Sea-Doo Spark Trixx out in its solo and three-seater jet ski applications, and, needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed. Mind you, the last time I took to the waves aboard a PWC, we thought we could congregate without causing a pandemic. The Spark Trixx, however, was an eager companion.
We coaxed speed out of the Spark’s Rotax 900 ACE engine on the way to a spot wherein we’d unleash the Trixx. After toggling the model selector to Trixx mode and heightening the trim, I performed water wheelies in no time. Despite the joys of watching the Trixx buck journalists left and right, the platform is as compliant or instigating as you push it.
What are the pros and cons of the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx?
The next-generation Sea-Doo Spark Trixx is affordable, maneuverable, and fast enough to be seriously entertaining. Also, the lineup is 100% audio-ready, meaning the models will easily accommodate the BRP audio system. Better still, the Trixx features new modular Action Camera mounts, so generating wave-riding content has never been easier.
Unfortunately, fans who opt for the single seating arrangement won’t be able to fit a three-up application after the fact. Moreover, in the presence of the brand’s latest range-toppers, the RPX-T and RXT-X, the Spark’s 90-horsepower mill just seems, well, precious. Understandably so, given the 325-horsepower output of Sea-Doo’s latest performance models. It’s like comparing oranges to boosted apples with exposed carbon fiber.
Still, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The Sea-Doo Spark Trixx is one of the most accessible beginner jet ski models on the market. As a result, would-be jet ski owners have a budget-friendly option to hop on a PWC that begs to perform tricks.
What does a new Sea-Doo Spark cost?
The Spark lineup of jet ski models includes everything from a two-seater base model to a three-seater Trixx with no shortage of sky-pointing athleticism.
| Spark model | Starting price |
| Spark Two-seater | $6,999 |
| Spark Three-seater | $8,299 |
| Spark Trixx One-seater | $9,099 |
| Spark Trixx Three-seater | $9,699 |
Better yet, at $9,099, the Spark Trixx is simply the best jet ski option for a new rider with their eyes set on daring maneuvers and moments to remember. Furthermore, the closest rec-lite option to the Spark, the Yamaha EX, demands at least another $800 over the two-seater Spark.
Is the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx worth buying?
With every variant of the Spark falling below the $10,000 mark, the jet ski model is difficult to ignore in the entry-level PWC segment. Of course, the Trixx is a unique proposition for new skiers; it offers accessibility and silly shenanigans all in the same package.
In the hands of a beginner, the Spark Trixx is a confidence-inspiring portal to good times. However, in the hands of a well-seasoned waterborne weekender, the Trixx is a weapon.
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