Flyboarder Burns aims for podium in Toronto

Callon Burns will take to the air in Toronto from Friday as Bermuda competes in the first-ever North American Flyboard Championship.

Burns and his sponsors,  Coconut Rockets, are looking to not only finish on the podium in the three-day event but also take steps towards bringing future championship events to Bermuda.

“This sport is going to be huge,” Coconut Rockets owner Michael Swan told the Bermuda Sun. 

“It’s brand new on the ground floor and if we can bring the world or North American Championships here, hopefully Bermuda and the Coconut Rockets can own that space.

“As that sport grows and we continue to own that space, from a tourism perspective it shapes Bermuda as being a place that’s cutting edge as far
as water sports are concerned, which could be massive.”

Although only started in December of 2011, flyboarding has already been recognized by the Olympic governing body and has already had two world championships.

In the sport, a rider stands on a board that shoots jets of water downwards, allowing the rider to fly through the air. In competitions, riders are judged on their tricks based on certain criteria.

“It’s fun times being in the pioneering stage because it’s not quite solidified itself yet, but when you do solidify it as a sport and everyone knows what it is, people that were there when it started are going to be the main guys,” Burns said. 

“That gives us a lot of weight in this sport. It’s fun to be around it. And if Bermuda takes it along with it, we become sort of a known destination for it.

“It’s new, fresh, edgy, and exciting, and when you think about it, the North American Championships alone for the first competition are attracting around 750,000 people. 

“It’s going to have a lot of coverage. It’s got a massive pull and this is going to be giving it a lot of visibility.”

Burns will join 32 other flyboarders from around the world as he shows off his signature moves in the waters of Lake Ontario.

Swan, who will be making the trip along with Burns, was optimistic about his chances: “You’ve got all these guys from around the world and one guy from Bermuda. And the Bermudian guy has a chance of getting a podium because he’s just that good. 

“If he does podium, that’s massive for him, the Rockets, and for Bermuda as well.”