Although most of us will never experience the thrill of executing a backflip on a jet ski first hand, this really cool multi-angle footage from Pro Freestyle rider Gary Burtka is probably the closest you can get. The short clip shows his awesome warm up performance for the first moto at the 2014 International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) World Championships Pro Freestyle Event.
The video shows Burtka performing some extremely hardcore freestyle riding; highlights include him attempting three back flips in a row (ending in a pretty clear shot of what it is like to fully submerge a ski), and a pair of one-hander and no-hander back flips for good measure. Sharing a field with the likes of Lee Stone, Daniel Martin and Jason Stoyer, Burtka had to step up his game.
As any good freestyle rider worth his salt should know, working the crowd is just as important as executing each trick. And throughout the video, he whips up the fans by waving to them. They return the favor by yelling for more! It is easy to tell that he is smiling the entire time – his smile is conveyed through his eyes and his body language. The fans are elated at the crazy stuff he’s pulling off.
With the advanced technology that today’s freestyle competitors are equipped with, backflips are almost passe. Now, riders must perform flawless transitions between tricks, increase their amplitude (the ridiculous air these guys are getting) and stick every 360 or scarecrow – all while keeping your cool, too! Burka seems really laid back and on top of the world in this short clip.
