Bermudian professional flyboarder Callon Burns will be in action this weekend in the second annual North American Flyboard Championships in Benton, Louisiana.

Burns is ranked eighth in the world of the fast-rising sport, which has already received recognition by the International Olympic Committee, and has had three world championships to date.

He will be trying to defend his third-place finish in last year’s event when he takes to the skies above Cypress Lake against 49 other professional riders.

“As a competitor, a podium finish is the only idea in mind,” Burns said. “I’d expect the run to the top spots to be far stiffer this year with the sport having grown incredibly fast in such a short space of time.

“The moves and combinations have become a lot more advanced, as well as there being more talent involved now.

“It goes without saying that representing Bermuda at an international level is the best feeling especially considering there is nobody else on this level doing so. It’s a privilege, it’s new and I get to be the guy doing it.

“I stand out for sure, I’m an island boy and I like to use that to my advantage.”

Flyboarding, which involves standing on a board propelled into the air by jets of water, is quickly growing as a form of recreation, entertainment, and a competitive professional sport.

Flyboarders compete by performing gravity-defying flips, twists, and tricks, which are scored by judges. The North American Championships are presently taking place, with the final day of competition tomorrow.

“One of things that’s helped me stand out in the sport is my style. I’ll attribute that quality to being Bermudian,” added Burns, who finished eleventh in this year’s Flyboard World Championships in Dubai.

“I think as islanders we have our own personality, being secluded to just ourselves on that 21 square-mile stretch.

“We don’t have anybody else but our next-door neighbours to feed off or mimic. With that said, I’m known to be active on the board as well as maintaining a very fluid rhythmic style, almost dancelike, whereas you’ll find a lot of pro riders to be more static.”

Burn’s signature style includes moves such as the “sidewinder”, a variation on a double backflip that he is credited with being the only professional rider to execute to date.

Burns started flyboarding with the Bermuda-based Coconut Rockets. He relocated to Texas in October to pursue his professional flyboarding career, accruing several sponsorship deals and having his skills featured in commercials, promotional videos, and shows.