The first time Aero Sutan Aswar took part in a world Jet Ski tournament was also the first time his father realized how serious his son was about the sport.

At the 2008 Junior Runabout 800cc Super Stock World Finals in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, Aero crashed into another rider, leaving him with injuries that included a cracked rib. Aero didn’t need surgery, but it made his father think twice about their commitment to the sport.

Syaiful Sutan Aswar recalled asking his son if he wanted to continue after the accident.

“He said yes,” Syaiful said. “As a father, all I want to do is support my son.”

Aero hasn’t wasted a second proving he is worthy of his father’s support.

He has won several medals around the world, most of them coming from the American Power Boat Association National Tour series in Arizona last year.

He capped off a stellar 2010 season by winning a gold medal in the endurance open event at the Asian Beach Games in Muscat, Oman.

And at 16 years old, Aero has barely scratched the surface of his potential.

“Riding a 500-horsepower Jet Ski takes skills and a lot of energy,” Aero said.

“I want to be a world champion, no matter what.”

Personal watercraft racing enjoys little following in Indonesia, but Aero got the hang of the sport when Syaiful, the owner of a Jet Ski rental business in Ancol, introduced him to the watercraft when Aero was 3.

Aero’s high skill and interest levels were so in sync that he easily rose through the ranks.

In 2005, he competed in his first international tournament, the Expert Runabout 1200cc Limited Singapore Watercross Open. He was 10 years old, and he finishing seventh.

In 2008, Syaiful decided to take Aero to the United States to give him a chance to further develop his skills.

After the Lake Havasu incident, Aero split time between competing in Indonesia and the United States until he fully recovered from his injuries.

A fully healed Aero broke out of the gates in 2010 when he earned a number of top-three finishes on the APBA Tour and the top prize at the Asian Beach Games.

What makes Aero’s accomplishments more remarkable is the fact that he still attends high school at Jakarta’s Mentari International School.

He said that he followed a strict schedule because his time on the US tour meant that he had to be away from school every two months.

“I do my homework early. I don’t watch TV, because it’s a waste of time,” Aero said. “Being disciplined in terms of time management, it’s the key to becoming a world champion.”

Not only is Syaiful proud that Aero has excelled in his chosen field, but he is also pleased that his son continues to listen to his advice throughout what Syaiful considers “bonding time between father and son.”

“I will support him all the way as long as what he’s doing right now won’t affect his education,” Syaiful said. “I want him to be responsible in everything he does, and he has been showing that.”

Source: Jakarta Globe