Jet Ski World Champion
Oliver Koch Hansen
Article and project: Marco Storm Braskov, Liv Thorsted & Kamilla Thunberg
Published: 29/05 2026
Theme: The Lindbergh Community
Anyone can win once, but I think the real achievement is continuing to win. My goal is to do it again, year after year. The only title I haven’t won this year is the European Championship, so I’d really like to add that to the list.
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Oliver Koch Hansen: From North Jutland to the World Elite
22-year-old Oliver Koch Hansen is Denmark’s first-ever Jet Ski World Champion and currently holds the number one spot in the world rankings. Through Lindbergh Racing, Lindbergh has supported Oliver from an early age and followed his journey every step of the way.
He began his career in 2015 at just 12 years old and, through hard work and dedication, quickly progressed through the sport’s ranks, from GP3 to the pinnacle of the sport in Ski Division GP1. In 2023, he established himself among the world’s very best, and 2025 proved to be a defining year in his career. A standout victory at Lake Toba in Sumatra, Indonesia, marked a major turning point, and later that year he secured the World Championship title in Ski Division GP1.
Explore this editorial from Løkken in North Jutland, Denmark, where we join Oliver during a training session in the powerful waves of the North Sea. Together, we look back on his journey as he shares what it truly takes to become the best in the world, while also reflecting on what the future may hold.
For this editorial, Oliver has selected his favourite pieces from our summer collection, focusing on comfort and timeless styles with a casual feel that suit his fast-paced and practical everyday life.
I’m a big fan of Lindbergh’s clothing because it’s practical, stylish and easy to move in. We’re constantly on the move, preparing equipment and spending time in and out of the water, so comfort is essential. The clothing needs to be breathable and flexible enough to move with you in all kinds of situations.
What’s your name and profession?
My name is Oliver Koch Hansen, and I’m a professional jet ski racer.
You grew up in North Jutland, near Mariager Fjord. Has the water always played an important role in your life?
My two brothers and I have always spent a lot of time on the water, whether it was sailing or water skiing when we were younger. We’ve had so many great experiences on the water, and it’s given us the opportunity to enjoy plenty of fun activities together.
Where did your interest in jet skiing come from?
It all started one summer in Skagen when my older brother bought a new “toy” that we obviously had to try out. That toy quickly got completely out of hand and ended up becoming a huge part of all our lives.
How old were you when you realised this wasn’t just something you were good at, but something you wanted to dedicate yourself to?
I was probably around 15 when I realised I was genuinely good at it. Around that time, I started winning championships across Europe and the Nordic countries. My interest naturally grew, and as my level improved, I could see that it had the potential to become something much bigger.
Most people who watch jet skiing see the speed. What actually goes through your mind when you're out there?
When I’m out on the water, I’m thinking about how to approach every turn and every buoy. I’m constantly reading the water, figuring out how to take each corner and how to carry as much speed as possible into the next section. It’s a very tactical sport, so I’m always thinking strategically when I’m racing.
When you won the World Championship, can you describe the moment you crossed the finish line in the final moto?
As I crossed the finish line, my first thought was relief that nothing had broken. Once I realised that simply finishing the race would be enough to secure the title, the only thing that could have stopped me was a mechanical failure. That was all I could think about until I finally knew it was done.
Only then could I breathe a sigh of relief. In the hours that followed, the joy started to sink in. We’ve invested so many hours and so much hard work into this. It was an incredible sense of release and reward.
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It’s the drive that keeps me going. The desire to keep improving and becoming better at what I do. I’m highly motivated by performance, but it’s also about the fact that we do this together. That’s what makes it so much more meaningful. My team, my brothers and everyone around me are a huge part of the journey.
Have you ever experienced something breaking at the worst possible moment?
Yes, actually. The last time it happened, I was on the verge of winning the World Championship in Sardinia. I was 16 years old and only had five laps left before the race was over when the entire exhaust system failed. I ended up losing and missed out on the World Championship that year. So this title was a long time coming. I was close back then, but this time I finally made it happen.
In motorsport, there are two things that have to work together: the machine and the rider. It’s not enough to be good yourself. If the machine isn’t working with you, that’s just the way it goes. You have to accept it and move on.
Racing is decided by fractions of a second, but it’s also built on hours and months of preparation that no one sees. What does a typical day look like when there’s no competition, no crowd, just you and the water?
A lot of my time is spent preparing. There’s always something that needs developing, testing or improving. Our goal is to be better this year than we were last year. We always want to stay one step ahead of the competition, and the only way to do that is by constantly refining and improving our setup. That’s what we focus on almost every day.
Where do you find the motivation to keep developing and improving?
It’s the drive that keeps me going. The desire to keep improving and becoming better at what I do. I’m highly motivated by performance, but it’s also about the fact that we do this together. That’s what makes it so much more meaningful. My team, my brothers and everyone around me are a huge part of the journey.
You’ve raced in Portugal, Hungary, Sardinia and Indonesia. Every body of water is completely different. How do you read a location, and do some venues require special preparation?
A lot of it comes with experience over the years. You learn how to read the conditions and adapt to different water environments. If the waves are big, you learn how to approach them, how to ride them and how to take your turns. It’s something that develops naturally with time and experience.
Can it be dangerous if you’re not properly prepared?
If you’re not ready, you’re going to come off. You have to learn how to handle the waves because every set of conditions is different. If you don’t hit a wave correctly, the jet ski can overturn, so you always need to stay in control and know exactly what you’re doing. The best way to learn is through practice and spending as much time on the water as possible.
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To view this content, you must consent to cookies of the following type:
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A lot of young people forget to enjoy what they’re doing when they start pursuing a sport or a passion seriously. But if you want to become truly good at something, you have to remember to enjoy it as well. Having fun is a big part of the process.
When you’re not racing, when you’re simply here in North Jutland, what does a perfect day look like for you?
I get up at 6:30 in the morning and start the day with a 90-minute bike ride. After that, I prepare my meal boxes for the week to make sure I’m eating the right food. Then it’s off to the workshop, where we might be testing new parts or jet skis. A lot of my time revolves around training. That would probably be my perfect day.
You’re part of the Lindbergh Racing team. What matters most to you when it comes to clothing and style away from the water?
For me, it’s important to wear something that feels comfortable and reflects who I am. Those two things have to go hand in hand.
Lindbergh Racing has supported me through equipment and clothing for both me and my brothers, with whom I share my passion for jet skiing. Together, we’ve travelled all over the world competing and pursuing the sport we love.
I’m a big fan of Lindbergh’s clothing because it’s practical, stylish and easy to move in. We’re constantly on the move, preparing equipment and spending time in and out of the water, so comfort is essential. The clothing needs to be breathable and flexible enough to move with you in all kinds of situations.
At just 22 years old, you’ve already achieved what many would consider the ultimate goal – becoming a World Champion in your sport. How do you view that achievement, and what is left to chase?
I want to keep winning. Anyone can win once, but I think the real achievement is continuing to win. My goal is to do it again, year after year.
The only title I haven’t won this year is the European Championship, so I’d really like to add that to the list.
If someone reading this has just started taking their sport more seriously, what advice would you give them?
Don’t take it too seriously. Don’t rush the process.
A lot of young people forget to enjoy what they’re doing when they start pursuing a sport seriously. But if you want to become truly good at something, you have to remember to enjoy it as well.
You can’t keep pushing at full speed all the time. There has to be something about it that you genuinely enjoy, something that motivates you to get up and do it all again the next day.
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