Wet and wild Waterball contests honed firefighters’ hose and nozzle skills

It’s been described as a kind of tug-of–war, but waterball requires a more complex set of skills. Instead of relying on brute strength, firefighters must use teamwork and precision to maneuver the ball to the other side’s court. They must battle to control an unwieldy hose under 90 pounds of pressure and accurately aim the stream to control a 15-pound ball suspended in the air by a cable. The mist created from the battling water streams can be so dense, the hose handler can barely see and must rely on directions from the backup firefighter.