DMC New York Welcomes Sean Clarkson with a Jet Ski Tour of the Hudson

A jet ski tour gave DMC’s New York team a distinctly urban way to welcome new teammate Sean Clarkson: an hour on the Hudson River, with views of Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. For Clarkson, who had never driven a jet ski, the outing also meant learning firsthand how fast the machines can feel on choppy water.

The event took place in late September, as DMC offices were making use of summer weather for team activities. Other groups had gone hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park or floated down the Yakima River. New York’s setting called for a different kind of outdoor outing, so the team headed to New York City Jet Ski.

A new view of the city

The group made its way from Port Authority to Hoboken, where the tour began. From there, the riders passed Midtown and continued toward the Financial District, following the river past the city skyline. The route put the team on the water alongside landmarks that many visitors see from shore or from larger boats.

For Clarkson, the speed was the most immediate surprise. “This was my first time driving a jet ski. I didn’t realize how fast they can really go—60 mph is frighteningly fast when you’re on the choppy Hudson!” he said.

The tour also took the group between the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Clarkson said relatively few boats pass through that stretch, so the team spent time there while the guide took photos and performed tricks. The combination of open water, nearby landmarks and a moving city backdrop made the ride a different way to experience New York Harbor.

Riding through a busy urban waterway offers a change in perspective: the skyline becomes part of the route rather than a view in the distance. For a team outing, that shared setting also gives people something immediate to react to together, from the changing scenery to the feel of the water. Clarkson’s first ride made the learning curve part of the experience.

Getting to know teammates beyond work

The Hudson outing was organized as a Welcome Party, an opportunity for new DMC employees to spend time with their teammates outside their usual project work. These gatherings are supported by DMC’s activity fund, which helps teams arrange experiences together. The format can be as simple as trying an unfamiliar activity or spending time outdoors; the point is to create room for conversations that might not arise during a typical workday.

That informal setting gave Clarkson a chance to discover an unexpected side of a colleague. “Jon Carson was going pretty quickly when we were out there. I didn’t realize he was into boating, and I never would have known if we hadn’t had this event! He even jumped in the water,” Clarkson said.

A welcome built around trying something new

For Clarkson, the outing combined three things that made it a memorable introduction: a first attempt at jet skiing, a close look at familiar landmarks from the water, and time to learn more about the people on his team. The group activity gave a new colleague an easy way to join in, even without prior experience on a jet ski.

He said he’d like to explore another off-the-beaten-path activity in New York next time. The team’s next outing has yet to be chosen, but the Hudson tour set a clear precedent: in a city where outdoor recreation can mean a river ride as readily as a trail, a shared experience can make both the place and the people more familiar.

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