Before I could afford a real jetsled with a real jetpump back in the 70's, I purchased the "poorman's" version. It was an extremely light 15' Koffler experimental flatbottom sled (a forerunner of the Koffler Lite Kenai R. sled). On the raised transom I mounted a 20 hp Merc.with a Riffle Runner. These were a large strong tunnel housing attached to the cavitation plate so the sled could run 6" shallower. I had installed a different prop pitch so that it's "out of the hole jump" was strong. I had run it a couple times just fine with a friend in the front.- I parked it at his cabin on the Clackamas R. & I invited my brother & another friend to Steelhead fish the next morning. Before starting I told them to wait while I run a couple laps around the large hole to warm up the motor; while secretly planning to impress them how quick it got on plane with only one aboard. I definitely impressed them! I slowly built up my circling speed until I had a pretty good sized wake going. As I approached it I slowed then gunned it right as I hit the wave. I knew this would bounce the front end up a little, but I'm at a loss to describe the feeling that would follow! Right as the front end started up I hit full throttle. At the same time the Riffle Runner's front lip scooped water, tilting the prop outward & upward, which with no weight in the front of the boat caused it to do a near vertical "wheelstand" right out in the middle of the Slab Hole!! At it's zenith I thought it was going to do a running backflip! Because I had left my my tackle box open I sat there as stunned Steve with a couple spinners hanging on the brim of my cap. Wow! I putted over to the cracked up pair & just said "ready?". NO... When I added a real jetsled to my driftboat a few years later for fulltime guiding, I remember thinking to myself that it would have made a great Candid Camera stunt if I had kept that boat, perfected the one man wheelstand trick, & meet new clients at the boatramp to watch my "warmup act"; then come back to them & say something like "dang, it's a little jumpy this morning but I think we'll be alright". - Steve Hanson