I am new to arduino, but I am building a jet powered surf board, but I need to control the esc wirelessly, but I can use any standard remote control systems because they have to many channels and the transmitters are big and not waterproof. I have read where you can control and esc with an arduino, but does anyone know how to control the arduino with a small one channel waterproof remote control.
Not sure about what sort of "remote control" you are referring to. Maybe provide a link?
Either way, you can easily control any ESC with an Arduino using the Servo.h library. I do it all the time with my Arduino based RC airplanes.
P.S. By "jet powered", I assume you really meant "EDF powered", right?
By remote control I mean anything I can use to control the speed of the motor wirelessly. And by jet powered I mean like a jet ski not an EDF
Groisch:
By remote control I mean anything I can use to control the speed of the motor wirelessly. And by jet powered I mean like a jet ski not an EDF
Not EDF, is it an electric powered water jet?
What do you want the motor to do with one channel?
Is the remote a button or joystick/variable control?
Tom.. 
Groisch:
By remote control I mean anything I can use to control the speed of the motor wirelessly. And by jet powered I mean like a jet ski not an EDF
Then what the heck are you trying to do? Why do you need ESC? Is the Arduino on the transmitter side or the receiver side? What wireless communication setup are you using? What other equipment are you using with the Arduino? How are you controlling the inputs? How are you ensuring that all of this is waterproof? Where is the link to or description of the exact motor you're using on the surf board? How do you expect to power the surf board motor? etc, etc, etc...