As the only American judge in this year’s X Dubai Flyboard World Cup competition in the United Arab Emirates, Jason Burns of Independence Township and his son Jacob are getting ready to jet to the other side of the world.
“The location is beautiful,” Jason said. “It’s the city from the future. They have the tallest building in the world. It’s unreal.”
Flyboarders strap water jets to their feet to lift themselves out of the water and perform flips, dives, and other stunts.
“It’s the coolest, hottest extreme sport around,” said Jason, who has been a professional jet skier and extreme sportsman for more than 20 years. “The talent is amazing. The progression of the sport is something to behold.”
The newest flyboards are more lightweight and flexible, he said.
“They spin a lot faster,” he said. “The tricks are amazing.?
He was selected based on his work developing rules for the sport and judging flyboard events in the United States.
Jacob, who spent the summer on the flyboard competition circuit around the country, is coming along for the ride and hopes to meet the crown prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also an extreme sportsman.
“That would be cool,” Jacob said.
They’ll leave on Dec. 1 for the competition on Dec. 3-6.
“We’re looking forward to having a great time, and the best competition to date,” Jason said. “It will be the fourth world championship, and hopefully the biggest.”
Jacob, a ninth grade student in Clarkston Junior High, won’t be sent with homework, but his teachers told him to take lots of pictures.
“And bring a good story,” he said.