The “Battle on the Rock” lived up to its billing as spectators were treated to some jaw-dropping manoeuvres and intense rivalry among a formidable field that included Bermuda’s Callon Burns.

American Jake Orel won the two-day event, pulling out all the stops to edge out fellow finalist Sean Ray, regarded as the most powerful rider in the field. Third place went to Hunter Verlander.

Orel, who has not competed much this year because of work commitments at SeaWorld San Diego and at shows like the Red Bull Air Race, was at the peak of his powers in Hamilton harbour where his flow and ability to string together combinations landed the Austin, Texas resident a maiden championship title.

The open freestyle event was the first hydroflight championships held in Bermuda and featured 26 athletes who were judged on technical, intensity, variety and flow and overall performance by the panel of adjudicators, led by head judge Jason Gauthier.

The competition started on Friday with qualifying battles and concluded the next day with the battle rounds with spectators wowed by massive universals, thread-the-needles out of every trick imaginable and crowd-pleasing spinner dives from the top of the hose.

Despite being eliminated in the round of 16, local competitor Burns had an absolute blast showcasing his talents in front of the home crowd.

“It was a pretty good experience,” he said. “It was a first time being in front of the home crowd and so for me that was exciting; getting a really good reception and letting them see what it’s like up close and personal. It’s different seeing it on video but when you’re actually sitting under somebody up 40 feet doing crazy stuff it is fun.

“For me, it’s liberating. When you jack yourself up 30-40 feet it ain’t nothing close to you. It’s just jet, boots and propulsion under you and breeze. You can’t hear anybody, it’s just adrenalin.

“I feel like you have to have fun to be good because if you don’t then you are in your head. I also think it’s energy, that’s how I look at it. People can feel and see energy and if they see you having a good time then chances are you are pulling the crowd into your run and that’s where you get points.”

Burns burst onto the hydro- flight scene in 2013 with a remarkable third place showing on his debut at the North American Championships in Toronto and a year later was 11th out of 60 entries at the 2014 World Cup in Dubai.

Hydroflight sports are a category of sport in which water jet propulsion is used to create sustained flight where lift and movement are controlled by a person riding on a propulsion device.

There are many different types of hydroflight products that are used for flying. The three most common types are the Jetboards, Jetpacks and Jetbikes, but there are others such as the Hoverboard and Freedom Flyer.