‘Mr. Adventure’ jetskis from Saipan to Guam and back

Vladislav “Mr. Adventure” Melnik set a record of sorts when he rode a jetski from Saipan to Guam and back last Sept 27, which incidentally was also his birthday.

The 54-year-old, who is a private survival coach in the volcano expedition company he founded in 2010, said he covered the distance of 268 nautical miles between the Smiling Cove Marina on Saipan and the Hagatna Marina in Guam and back solo in about 18 hours.

Melnik said he’s always been guided by one of his favorite poets Lord Alfred Tennyson so the passage “to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield” in “Ulysses” is the principle he lives by everyday.

Asked what was the most daunting challenge he experienced during the 18-hour jetski ride aboard his Sea Doo GTX300 limited 2022 (with special off-shore upgrades), Melnik pointed to the elements.

“Wind and rain and some damn big waves, reefs, and rocks. Anyway, spending time in the open ocean is what I live for. It’s where I go to connect with creation and to recharge my soul. I had to stand up on a jetski to my final destination. It was certainly tough. The nonstop dance with the sea builds character. The kind you only find on mountaintops, deserts, battlefields, and across oceans,” he said.

Melnik said along the way he saw fantastic vistas and marine life that he will forever cherish.

“When dolphins came and navigated with me I felt an incredible connection with something bigger than you could understand,” he said.

As for setting a jetski record between the U.S. territories that consumed 28 gallons of fuel (he had to bring 15 extra gallons since Rota didn’t have any Supreme gas), he said. “I’m pretty sure nobody has done this before. So, yes, I was thrilled to set a new record in CNMI history. I dedicate this feat to the people of the Mariana Islands and world peace. Make love, not war.”

Melnik also extended his kudos to his support group that left earlier and was waiting for him in Guam.

“I’d like to express my gratitude to my support team, the crew of the “REMETAW,” the company Xtreme Powersports (Guam), and a special shout out to the U.S. Coast Guard/Guam and the CNMI Department of Public Safety Boating Safety.

The next item in his adventurous bucket list is to ride a jetski to Farallon de Pajaros next March and eventually publish a book dedicated to the beauty and uniqueness of the Mariana Islands.

Melnik has been engaged in extreme sports and adventures for more than 23 years now. As a child, he grew up in an environment surrounded by mountains and treated jungles and forests as his playground. His social media accounts contain photos and videos of different adventures around the CNMI, which delights followers that live vicariously through his explorations.