A high speed motorized water ski (10) has a hull (16) having a bow (18), a stern (20) and a deck (22) sized for accommodating a standing rider (12). A jet pump (100) is mounted in the stern (18) for discharging a propelling stream of water outwardly from the stern (18) in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis (144) of the hull (16). A motor (108) is mounted within the hull (16) for driving the jet pump (100). The standing rider controls the speed of the motorized water ski (10) by means of an arm pole (26) having one end attached to the hull (16) near the bow (18). A hand grip (132) is attached to the other end of the arm pole (26) for enabling the standing rider to control motor speed and for providing stabilization to the standing rider's stance on the deck (22). The motor (108), jet pump (100) and other components of the motorized water ski (10) are mounted in the hull (16) to define a center of gravity so that when a rider of average weight stands on the deck (22), the composite center of gravity (120) of the motorized water ski (10) and rider (12) is beneath the deck (22) in order to enable the standing rider (12) to turn the motorized water ski (10) solely by a shift in rider stance on the deck (22).