When FMX phenom Vicki Golden took home the MVC for best rookie on the Nitro Circus 2017 North America tour, it was just the latest in a long list of accolades the 25-year-old has accrued over the years. She’s a veteran racer with three X Games gold medals and a host of other wins and big finishes from her days in motocross, arenacross, and supercross. And though it’s only been a year since she started focusing exclusively on FMX, she’s no stranger to hitting ramps. In 2013 she was the first woman to compete in the X Games Best Whip event, where she earned a bronze medal. That appearance also made her the first woman to compete in any of the X Games FMX competitions. Now Vicki is focusing the discipline she developed in racing to progress in FMX, and the results speak for themselves. In less than 12 months she went from full-on racer to a coveted spot throwing down among the best FMXers in the world.

I caught up with Vicki in Medford, Oregon, just before the final show of the North America tour. Vicki is new at Nitro, so only fans who came out to our North America shows this summer have got to witness her riding in our shows. But those who did wouldn’t have known that she’s the rookie on tour. Vicki’s trick list after only one year is impressive and growing. She immediately took to the specific difficulties of riding FMX with Nitro. In addition to a wide range of tricks, riders on the FMX side have to have excellent bike control and spot-on timing to perform synchro tricks and all-ins — other riders’ safety is in your hands when you’re all up the air at the same time. The control and precision is natural to Vicki, having spent so much time racing.

Vicki grew up in San Diego and is now based in Temecula, California, a moto hot-bed with a dense selection of places to ride. She got into racing at a young age, she says, because her whole family raced moto. She did well, as mentioned. But the grueling training and travel schedule started to take its toll. She explains what a typical week would look like for her: “Monday: ride and train. Tuesday: ride and train. Wednesday: fly out to whatever race it was. Thursday: wake up at 4 a.m., do press. Friday: wake up at 4 a.m., do press. Try and race on Saturday with whatever energy I had left. And then fly home on Sunday.” Then wake up Monday and start all over again. She did that for months on end during racing season and then spent the off-season sick and trying to recover. “I realized I can’t keep doing that; I can’t keep tearing my body down,” she says. “It was time to transfer over to freestyle.”

She’d already had a taste of FMX — she credits Matt Buyten with introducing her to ramps. “He was like, ‘Hey, come hit some ramps,'” she recalls. “So I met pretty much everyone in So-Cal through Buyten.” At that time, she was still racing, but she found hitting ramps to be a great way to have fun on her bike again. “I realized that maybe down the road I could make something of it,” she says. And indeed she has. When she finally made the decision to leave supercross and go all-in on freestyle, she told herself, “It’s time to get serious and learn tricks and try and make an actual job of it.” And don’t get her wrong: FMX is also very, very hard work, she says. But it comes without the physical strain of the grueling schedule. “They’re both all about repetition,” she says. “But I would say freestyle is more mental — not that racing isn’t mental. I would just say racing is more physical and freestyle is more mental.”

And now, a year into focusing on FMX full-time, she’s already achieved one of her goals. “I didn’t really expect to be here in a year,” she says. She wanted to be a part of Nitro Circus, but she thought that would take at least two years. “I thought that was a pretty realistic goal, and didn’t expect this to happen this quickly.” She credits her quick progression to that work ethic she developed on the racing circuit, plus a little motivation from friend and fellow Nitro rider Javier Villegas. Javier, who also lives in the Temecula area, is known as one of the most dedicated FMXers out there, putting in hours and hours of work every single day, no matter what. Vicki shared that dedication. When Javier suggested they practice on the Nitro World Games qualifier setup in Southern California, Vicki was all in.

Cutting her teeth on the NWG ramps had some bonuses beyond just time on a world-class setup. “That opened up a lot more doors than I expected,” she says. “Just being around the whole Nitro Crew obviously benefitted me quite a bit.” That and the self-motivation that got her to where she was in racing combined to propel her into an elite status faster than many who have been working at it for longer. “I’ve taken my race mentality and brought it into freestyle,” she says. And she and Javier made a good practice team. Their shared drive to progress kept them both focused, Vicki says. If one of them wasn’t feeling it, they went and rode anyway, because they didn’t want to let each other down.

All that training paid off very quickly. Vicki was asked to join the Nitro Circus North America tour, with her first show being San Diego, one of the biggest shows of the tour. Next she rode Annapolis, which was Travis Pastrana’s first-ever hometown show, a date that had been circled on everyone’s calendar for a long time. She didn’t let the pressure get to her and immediately cemented her place in the show. “The first one I obviously wanted to come out and set the bar high for myself,” she says. Her favorite part of the show so far is the best whip segment. She has good memories of throwing whips from the days when she was racing and could just go out and hit dirt jumps for fun between training sessions. Now, interestingly, she hits the track to decompress. “It’s funny that things have flopped, and now anytime I’m kind of over ramps I get to go to the track and just have fun on that instead. And I don’t have to put in laps, I don’t have to worry about lap times. It’s an odd feeling.”

Up-and-coming riders could learn a lot from Vicki’s meteoric rise. But her choice advice is probably the easiest to follow in theory: “Make sure you keep it fun,” she says. “If you don’t have that, what’s the point of being on your dirtbike? Because there are things that are a hell of a lot safer that you can get paid a hell of a lot more money for, so just remember why you started.” Remember the name Vicki Golden. With what she’s already accomplished in her first year of FMX and her dedication to progression, there’s no doubt we’ll be seeing a lot more from her in the future.

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Concealed deep in the catacombs of Portland, Oregon, lies a magical utopia of enchantment and sensation. Where years worth of bravery and positive ambiances go to rest among cobwebs and controlled temperatures. For the few that know of this place, it is a black hole into the abyss of an appetite. For some, it is a place of to lose yourself for hours. For others, it’s a scrap yard.

While driving between shows in the Pacific Northwest, James Foster and I stopped at one of the best BMX shops in the area, Goods BMX. The owner, Shad, displays a bashguard BMX collection that rivals the best out there. He told us about a vault full of old BMX bikes, and the only way to see it is to be lucky. There is no phone number, no hours, and it isn’t open to the public. Shad pulled a few strings, and James and I received the magical golden ticket.

When we arrived at the two-story establishment, we were whisked into a dining parlor that housed racks of the rarest vintage BMX bicycle frames in existence. I quickly snapped a few pictures with the owner, Gary, and we retreated to dreamland.

My childhood exists in that basement. Memories roared back of countless hours spent in class devouring magazine articles and advertisements concealed between the pages of school books. I could name every bike that was on the deck of the first indoor skatepark I went to in 1993. All of them are present within the pictures. The bent forks connected to tarnished high-tensile steel scream of good times and fears overcome in backyards and parking lots all over the world.

It’s wild to see a one-off custom-built frame for a legendary rider next to a washing machine, but it’s 1,000 percent better than losing it to a scrap yard. I wish I could tell you how to get a meeting. Instead, I can only offer you the next best thing: Check out BMXmuseum.com, as the owner of the collection runs the site and is trying to amass the largest library of BMX bicycles in the world. And then check out some of my photos right here:

Healthy rivalry is a cornerstone of action sports progression, and as with any tight-knit group, the Nitro Crew’s competitiveness extends beyond the ramps. That’s why when our friends at Whistle Sports asked if we’d like to get involved in their series Bad Joke Telling, the boys jumped in face-first. The way it works couldn’t be simpler. The guys are given pre-written jokes, and the first to laugh loses. Warning: The jokes are legitimately bad, which is half the fun. It’s one-on-one, so there’s no overall winner, but we have an opinion on that. We’re partial to the competitors who attempted to use their performance of the jokes to take home the win. Check out Jed Mildon in Episode 2 and Josh Sheehan in Episode 3. Nitro Ringleader Travis Pastrana also shows some of that flair right out the gate in Episode 1, making a case for being cast in Disney’s next animated musical.

But the overall win has to go to Jaie Toohey, who in Episode 1 uses the tactic of coming up with better responses than the actual punchlines to throw Ethen Roberts off his game. The “If I’m Going to Lose, We’re Both Going to Lose” Award goes to Todd Meyn, who in Episode 2 spits all over Jed while trying not to laugh. And in Episode 3, Matt Whyatt makes Andy Buckworth laugh before he can even get through his first joke. Check out all that, plus more hilariousness from Bilko, Beau Bamburg, Ryan Williams, Chris Haffey, James Foster, Harry Bink, Streetbike Tommy, Brandon Schmidt, Adam Jones, and Gregg Duffy in the three episodes below:

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Some people never get the recognition they deserve. Nikola Tesla, Vincent Van Gogh, Edgar Allan Poe, and scores of others went to the grave before achieving their celebrity. It weighs on me when I see real talent where others don’t. Case in point: For the past two years while performing at Nitro Circus shows all over the world, I have had to listen to the pre-recorded announcer call Streetbike Tommy “The only cast member without any talent.” So today I am going to prove to you that Tommy doesn’t deserve that intro, and yes, I am comparing him to Tesla, Van Gogh, and Poe. No regrets.

#1 Tommy is a champion rally racer.

I don’t mean a race where the rules are made-up and everything is goofy. Tommy entered a real-deal, actual rally and came in first place. Drivers are considered athletes, so that makes Tommy …

Not only did I finish my rally, I came in 1st in class!!!!! Huge thanks to my amazing co driver @cladalass @tagrallysport and my amazing crew @o.d.d.racing!!! Huge thanks to @rallyamericaseries for the opportunity. Thanks to @jimbeaver15 and #BillFogg for getting me into this event. Thanks to @travispastrana without you none of this would have ever been possible and also thanks for crashing out, you are without a doubt a way better driver. #livelikeroner @sthttp #stpr @maxxistires @nitrocircus #nitrocircus @industrialawesome #industrialawesome @methodracewheels #rallycartommy #bigwin #73

A post shared by Tommy Passemante (@street_bike_tommy) on Jun 5, 2016 at 8:37am PDT

#2 Tommy is a title-holding Big Buck Hunter champion.

You might think this is silly, but when you consider how many roughneck, hard-drinking individuals are playing Buck Hunter on any given evening, it is an incredible feat to be a champion. There is also a $20,000 purse each year, so maybe you should get working on your digital shooting.

#3 Tommy and his team won a skeet-shooting championship.

There are rumors that every other person on his team may have been a ringer, but you can’t win a medal in networking. Tommy would podium every time if you could. Also, it’s cool to see digital shooting transfer to analog shooting.

Winning team!!! 1st Annual Celebrity Clays Shoot presented by Lee Brice and friends for 9/11 @foldsofhonor 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼 #bringinghomethehardware @trmoncriefjr @specialopsxcursions @leebrice @timmontana @trevorpardue1 #nitrocircus @nitrocircus @blackriflecoffee #blackriflecoffee @traegergrills #traegergrills @federalpremium #federalpremium #recordrack #nashvillegunclub #nashville

A post shared by Tommy Passemante (@street_bike_tommy) on Sep 11, 2017 at 1:21pm PDT

#4 Tommy is brave.

The skills needed to be a Guinea pig are off the charts. He was the first to attempt to jump a streetbike into a foam pit. He was the first to drive the Barbie car down a mega ramp. That didn’t work out well. He thrives on World’s Firsts and should be appreciated for that.

#5 Tommy is a hell of an entertainer.

From dancing to hosting to his social media exploits, Tommy is a really good time. He gives his fans heaps of love, and it is an honor to have him on a microphone with me night after night. So, to you my friend, I am on your side. We need to get that intro changed!

Just finished the VIP's here in #manchester thank you to the crowed for helping me sing Happy Birthday to this guy @instacrum!!! Happy Birthday Brother!!! @nitrocircus #nitrocircus @industrialawesome #industrialawesome @acmebar

A post shared by Tommy Passemante (@street_bike_tommy) on Feb 2, 2016 at 10:52am PST

The Nitro Shop has the shirt you’re looking for! Find all our new styles, including the exclusive TP199 collection from Travis Pastrana.

The penultimate weekend of shows for the 2017 North America tour was, in a word, amazing, as we rolled into the Pacific Northwest to the open arms of fans who clearly just get it. Our first stop of the weekend was Bend, a city in Central Oregon that’s known for its outdoor-sports offerings, its local craft beer, and probably other things too. Bend rivals Utah in terms of having the perfect climate and terrain for basically every action sport an adrenaline seeker could want. It recently wooed Nitro veteran Dusty Wygle away from California, and it will woo you too if you give it a chance.

Travis Pastrana got the fans and the Crew fired up, and the show was awesome, despite some sketchy field conditions that had the ramps sitting uneven on the ground. As always, the Crew pushed through and sent it for pumped-up fans, who never would have guessed the riders were dealing with that significant variable. And there were highlights! Erik Roner’s son Oskar Roner jumped his dirtbike off a small wooden ramp during the athlete intros, earning him a huge cheer as well as the MVC at the end of the night. Oskar is only 7, but he’s a Roner, enough said. Annika Roner, his mom, had to get him to stop hitting the jump during practice because he was having so much fun. Erik is sorely missed, and the tribute to him at the beginning of the show was especially poignant in Bend. It’s awesome to see his family out at Nitro shows and continuing to spread the word to Live Like Roner.

It was an inspirational start to a great night. The FMX side was on point, with Travis leading the charge. Local MTB rider Carson Storch threw down with the Giganta boys, and Dusty went big for his new hometown crowd. A standout moment was BMX legend James Foster absolutely nailing his triple backflip. Foster had taken some time off from triples in Nitro shows, but he’s been back at it for several stops and has clearly hit his stride. Check it out:

One, two, three! @jamesfosterbmx with the goods last night in Bend. Seattle tonight! #NitroCircus

A post shared by Nitro Circus (@nitrocircus) on Sep 16, 2017 at 11:57am PDT

Just before the show started in Bend, word came down that the tour bus that was supposed to take us to Seattle at 7 a.m. the next morning was not going to do that. Senior Athlete Manager Ricky Melnik, who runs the show behind the scenes as well as during the performances, worked his magic and got us hooked up with a couple vans to get the athletes and this Nitro Writer to Seattle in time for the Saturday-night show. (The backstage crew who sets up and breaks down the ramps was scheduled to leave immediately after tearing down in Bend. These guys are the hardest workers with a tough tour schedule, and the riders’ lives literally depend on what they do. We’re going to have a feature on them very soon to get deeper into their story.) With Chris Haffey driving one van and Cam Sinclair driving the other, one has to assume we made much better time en route to Seattle than we would have with Joe Schmo from The Pretty Good Tour Bus Company at the wheel.

We rolled out of Bend around 8 a.m., making our way through the high desert, past scrubby mesas, and up into the pine forests as we climbed toward Mt. Hood and the Oregon-Washington border. This seemed like a good place to practice describing scenery. Let me know how I did with hashtag #scrubbymesas. We made great time and pulled up to the venue at around 2:30 p.m. — well before practice was set to start. And what a venue. Workers broke ground on Safeco Field just over 20 years ago, and this is a stadium that has stood the test of time. The design of the retractable roof creates an almost steampunk vibe, and the grass is so pristine you almost don’t want to walk on it. Or you want to roll around in it, depending on what type of person you are. Since the day the first baseball game was played there, FMX legend and Pacific Northwest native Beau Bamburg had been dreaming of setting foot on the Mariners’ home field. At that time he never could have guessed it would actually happen, or that he would also become the first person to ever jump a dirtbike there:

I still can't believe they let all us idiots in this place. Been dreaming of walking on this field for 20 years. Finally made it. Not exactly the way I pictured it back then but still stoked to be the first guy to jump a dirt bike at Safeco field. @mariners I'm still available if you guys need a DH⚾️. #NitroCircus @techonedesigns @motostuff_com @evssports @protaperusa @bell_powersports @ogio_powersports @fcsuspension @deftfamily @xbrandgoggles @worksconnection @az_fmx_works @alpinestars @ridedunlop @rekluse_motorsports @evansacres966 @mariners

A post shared by Beau Bamburg (@beaubam612) on Sep 16, 2017 at 6:02pm PDT

Not to take anything away from the scrappy venues we get to perform in on these regional tours — we’re pumped to throw down anywhere — but there’s something about walking into a giant, legit stadium that gets the blood pumping and the adrenaline going even before the first practice jumps. The energy in a venue like that is electric by default, and it was obvious from the moment we set our dusty gear down in the plushly appointed visiting team locker room that this show was going to be a show for the history books.

We’ll just cut right to the chase. Everyone absolutely killed it. The combination of the venue, the energy of the crowd, and the end of the tour in sight spurred the guys on. FMX was on point, contraptions were gnarly as usual, and the BMX Big Air segment was the best of the tour. Brandon Schmidt and Ryan Williams combined for four World Firsts on the night. Schmidty’s was a beautiful BMX double backflip X-up to X-up back:

@brandonschmidt92 with the World's First Double Backflip X-Up to Oppo X-Up! 🔥 #NitroCircus #BMX

A post shared by Nitro Circus (@nitrocircus) on Sep 25, 2017 at 4:45pm PDT

R-Willy brought the heat with three WFs: one on BMX and two on scooter. On BMX he stuck a 720 frontflip no-hander. And on scoot he landed a cashroll windshield wiper and a cashroll bri flip. He documented all three of his new tricks plus all the other awesomeness that went down in his latest vlog:

Overall, the shows leading up to the finish of this tour have been beyond epic. The North America tour is in the books (we’ll have more highlights from the last two shows coming soon), and we’re looking ahead to several shows overseas to close out the year. In the meantime, here’s a bunch of shots to hold you over:

The Nitro Shop is open for business! Find all our new T-shirt styles, including the exclusive TP199 collection from Travis Pastrana.

The relationships built through action sports are special. From time to time, I’m going to introduce you to some very exceptional friends of mine. These are people that have participated in the lifestyle in a unique way, and hopefully you find inspiration in them. These are all people who feel the way I do about action sports: Doing what we do as a means of creative expression is essential. Besides being a vigorous form of exercise, action sports helps clear the mental hurdles of life. Some use it to get away from everything, while others see it as a good way to get everyone together. Life is what you make it, and the way you use your respective device for fun or therapy is up to you.

The first person I want to introduce is Shawn Connors. I met Shawn doing BMX and FMX shows in Canada, and his energy is exceptional. Besides stretching tricks beyond what his over-6-foot frame should allow, his mind always stuck out to me as unique. He lives life incredibly easy and simple while always finding himself in the most complicated of places. I have driven with him into the heart of Mexico while the transmission in his van kept popping out. I watched him build an entire motocross landing out of matchsticks and thin plywood in Turkey and then jump the ramps himself the same day. I painted him blue and called him an Avatar for an entire 24 hours on his birthday. But what is truly amazing about Shawn is how he is handling life after professional freestyle. He has used his vision to create some incredible art pieces, and I’d like to share some of them with you.

How did you get into motocross shows?

I started motocross racing in Vermont at the local races and made it into the expert class and did quite well. Through Arenacross, I qualified for the Vegas race and placed pretty well. Then my buddy Adam Cusino built a metal freestyle ramp, and he invited me to come jump it with him. It soon got to the point where I was missing really important races and would stay home and ride freestyle. Long story short, I met someone who asked me if I did tricks and I said yes. He said, “If you build a metal landing I’ll hire you to do a monster truck show.” I did the show, he didn’t pay me. But I got a phone number for someone else and was booked in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. Then it snowballed from there and I kept getting calls from USFMX and it all started.

That’s an appropriate way to start your career, getting screwed by a promoter.

It got me ready for the future.

What are your career highlights, riding-wise?

I jumped my grandmother’s house for the CMT show All Jacked Up. I won a bunch of IFMA events. But my biggest achievement was winning without flipping. To my knowledge, I am one of the last, if not the last person to do a sterilizer in competition from metal ramp to portable landing and on the brushed concrete. I was beating guys doing flips doing sterilizer on that type of setup. That was my biggest accomplishment in IFMAs.

What is it like traveling the world, including developing countries, to build ramps?

Now I’ve learned the system. After Taiwan, I now ship all of my materials and tools with me. No matter what! My first wooden landing I built, we were there for two weeks and I didn’t get an extension cord for eight days. It was me and my friend Adam, and we were stuck over there and it was hard. I mean really hard. I threatened to leave, and the next day we had the tools. The landing was jumped four times a day for a month straight, and it held up.

How many wooden landings in strange places have you built?

I built one in Taiwan, one in Dubai, and two in Turkey. Gobble Gobble.

Are you still working on monster trucks?

No, I have been asked to be back for a while, but the travel is too much. I wasn’t working on monster trucks — I was working on the quads and side-by-sides. It was a great opportunity, and I loved it, but Shawn Connors Designs has picked up and I need to be selfish and focus on me and the family.

Let’s talk about Shawn Connors Designs. What is this company all about? How did you come to furniture?

When I moved back from doing shows in China, I had an injury. I could not pursue freestyle at the time, so I got a job at a local dirtbike shop. I worked a decade just riding dirtbikes, so it was time to join the workforce again, and I got a job working on motorcycles. I started accumulating all of these parts, and I enjoyed wondering what I could make these parts into. So I said fuck it and decided I wanted to make myself a table. I was inspired by something I saw one of my friends make online, and I decided I’m going to make something. So I made my first table. It was a round side table that goes by your couch. I was pumped on it, had no intentions of selling it or making a business. I was just proud of it. I put it on social media, and it exploded. I could post 100 pics of a dead body or a flip on a dirtbike and nothing got a response like that picture. So I took the table to my local dirtbike shop and I showed it to them, and the owner ended up buying it. I thought, “This is cool.” Next, I built a fire pit out of old motorcycle parts. It went viral and was shared all over the internet. Someone stole it, sent it to Racer X, and they posted it and gave credit to some guy named Outlaw. So whoever Outlaw is can suck eggs. That’s my fire pit!

Are you selling or making lots of pieces now?

Everything is a stepping stone. Everything is happening really fast. I feel like I’m really lucky to have started at this level I’m at now, and I can only go up from here. I’m really excited to see what the future holds. The response I’m getting is crazy. I built an office desk for a Ford dealership, and that turned into more sales of the office desk. It is one of the biggest and most popular pieces. I just built a new model called the “High Roller” that is accompanied with one of the office desks, and it was sold to an art gallery in Las Vegas. It is inside an art gallery at the Venetian Hotel, in the Grand Canal shops. My mind is blown.

Has welding ramps on the side of the road in Mexico helped you in this endeavor? Now you’re selling things at art galleries in Vegas!

I don’t believe it. When I go there and see them and am in the Venetian, I’ll believe it. Until then it’s all just emails and phone calls. It’s wild.

I saw a few pieces where you incorporated wood. Is this something you will continue?

I worked with wood for a while. Right now, the only wood I’m working with is whiskey barrels, making them into tables. Oddly, my shop is small, and wood makes lots of dust, so I don’t like it. I want to focus mainly on the metal for now. And later when I have a big shop I’ll dedicate an area for wood.

How did freestyle help in all of this?

The roots of motocross helped with exposure, because I had a small 1,500-person following. But all of this came from years of watching my family’s construction company build whatever they needed from whatever they had. My family moves houses for a living, and if they need something, you can’t go to the house-moving store. You have to build it. And from watching my family create is where I got this inspiration. My imagination is crazy. I see visions and I make them happen.

Check out Shawn Connors Designs to see more of Shawn’s work. And come back next week for more from Micah!

Erik Aguilar is a 14-year-old BMX rider who perfectly represents what we love about BMX and action sports in general. For so many of us, this is way more than a hobby. It’s what we think about all day, it drives us literally and figuratively, it gives us something to aspire to, and in some cases it’s a savior. We ride because we love to ride, but we also ride because we have to. The drive is all-consuming. YouTube channel Uninterrupted brings us Tailwhip, a look at how BMX has shaped Erik’s life in ways we can all relate to. It’s a great story, and we can’t wait to follow Erik as he progresses in the sport. Check it out:

The Nitro Shop is open for business! Find all our new T-shirt styles, including the exclusive TP199 collection from Travis Pastrana.

Gonna keep this intro short, as we are loitering in a coffee shop ahead of tonight’s show in Bend, Oregon. It’s been awesome to get to drop in on the tour for a few stops this summer, and the next two weekends are going to be huge. We’re in Seattle tomorrow, Tri-Cities, Washington, next Friday, and Medford, Oregon, to close out the tour on Sunday the 24th. Tickets are flying, so get them while they last if you’re in the Pacific Northwest and want to see us live! Stay tuned for stories from the road, and in the meantime, check out everything awesome from the last week or so:

***WildWeek is brought to you by the Nitro Circus online store, where you can find all the latest Nitro Circus gear, including TP199, the exclusive line from Travis Pastrana.***

>>>IF YOU ONLY WATCH ONE VIDEO<<<

Doin' it for my moms! Go watch the live feed of #bohbmx on @ridebmx NOWWWWW! ITS ABOUT TO BE LITTTTT!!! 🎥: @fyanrudger 📡@odysseybmx @volumebikes @danscompinstagram @thediscostew @thediscostew @thediscostew

A post shared by Broc Raiford (@brocafloka) on Sep 10, 2017 at 7:36am PDT

>>>THE NEWSY BITS<<<

Watch every second of the Battle of Hastings. It’s almost irritating how many amazing BMX competitions are happening these days. Awesome, but irritating because we don’t have enough time to watch every one. OK, just one more … BINGE IT

Rihanna brings FMX to NY Fashion Week. We’re going to go out on a limb and guess that Fashion Week has never been high on you priority list. But there’s a first time for everything. ROCK IT

If you watch only one R-Willy vlog. Dateline: Midland, Texas. An improbably place for one of the most eventful Nitro Circus live shows in recent memory. See what went down. WATCH IT

Bilko should make more videos. There’s a reason he’s known as the personality of Nitro. The best thing we can do to get him to make more of these is to watch them. Too easy. ENCOURAGE IT

Tony Hawk, art lover. Earlier we saw FMX paired with fashion, so skateboarding and art coming together seems like a logical addition as well. This new skatepark/art gallery in Detroit is Tony Hawk’s latest awesome project. ADMIRE IT

>>>THE RIGHT TURN<<<

When @jedmildon volunteered for the tandem backflip, we're sure this is not the outcome he was expecting. #NitroCircusLive

A post shared by Nitro Circus (@nitrocircus) on Sep 14, 2017 at 12:06pm PDT

>>>ONE FOR THE ROAD<<<

***

A sneak peek at next week: Closing out the 2017 North American tour.

Check out the previous WildWeek right here. And get all your fresh Nitro gear at our online store right here.

Question: How can you tell when something huge is going to happen at a specific Nitro Circus Live show? Answer: The show has started. We’re not too modest to admit that the very nature of our show means that every night something major and exciting happens. But then there are those shows where it seems like every single segment goes perfectly and features something new and different, where you have to start counting the firsts on your toes because you’re out of fingers. The best, most recent example of this was last week in Midland, Texas. Ryan Williams attempted two World Firsts and landed one of them. James Foster laid down his first-ever quad whip (and a perfect triple backflip as well), earning him the MVC. Brandon Schmidt had a perfect show, including sticking a triple on his rollerboard, one of the toughest tricks in the show. And in a Nitro Circus first, according to the Crew, West Texas got to experience a perfect contraptions segment — meaning all the sketchiest stuff we do went off perfectly (anchored by Schmidty’s triple on the rollerboard). Granted, a perfect contraptions segment may be slightly less fun for the audience, since wipeouts are entertaining, but the boys were stoked to check this one off the list. Luckily, as ever, R-Willy was filming the whole time and documented the magic. Check it out:

The Nitro Shop has the shirt you’re looking for! Find all our new styles, including the exclusive TP199 collection from Travis Pastrana.

U.S. FMX legend Travis Pastrana and U.S. soccer legend Clint Dempsey traded jerseys ahead of a home game for Dempsey’s club team this weekend in Seattle, where Nitro Circus is set to perform in a few days. Veteran striker Dempsey plays for the Seattle Sounders as well as the U.S. men’s national team, and he is currently tied as the top scorer of all time for the U.S. men, an accolade he’s all but certain to hold on his own before his career is over. Travis is in town ahead of the last two weekends of the North America tour, with stops in Bend, Oregon, on Friday and Seattle on Saturday. If you’re in the Pacific Northwest, you’re going to want to grab tickets while they last!

Great time at the @soundersfc game last night. Getting the word out today for the @bend0regon show and the @seattle.city @nitrocircus shows this coming weekend. Hope to see you guys there!

A post shared by travispastrana (@travispastrana) on Sep 11, 2017 at 9:04am PDT

And if you’re headed to a Nitro Circus show (or even if you’re not), you should definitely own a Nitro Circus shirt! The Nitro Shop has what you’re looking for! Find all our new styles, including the exclusive TP199 collection from Travis Pastrana.

We just Googled it and found zero results for “dad body backflip,” which is a shame for several reasons, not the least of which is that it highlights the fact that we haven’t come up with an original pun since TV shows were only available on the actual TV. Which reminds us: Did you know that Facebook is making shows now? And did you also know that one of those shows is a Nitro Circus original series called Mic’d Up (simple premise: stick a mic on the boys during Nitro shows and let the funny fly)? And did you know you can go watch it right now? Did you also know that if you like the Mic’d Up Facebook page you will be fed new episodes of the show every week? So you should go do that, and we’ll stop asking questions. OK, one more question: What would a dad body backflip even be? Exciting times.

***WildWeek is brought to you by the Nitro Circus online store, where you can find all the latest Nitro Circus gear, including TP199, the exclusive line from Travis Pastrana.

>>>IF YOU ONLY WATCH ONE VIDEO<<<

>>>THE NEWSY BITS<<<

Travis Pastrana’s Nitro Circus Annapolis show gets a D.C. feature. It’s in a magazine called The Washingtonian, which sounds way too high-brow to be focusing on us. Either that or we’ve finally made it. TP199 for president? PERUSE  IT

R-Willy documents World Firsts and near-disasters. AKA just another work day at Nitro. Come for the debut tricks, stay for the contraption horror show. We have a feeling Ethen Roberts and Dusty Wygle are going to wake up in a cold sweat a few times over what we’re hoping becomes known as penny-farthing-gate.  WATCH IT

Woodward Way South. The future-freestyle-star incubator set up shop at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya near Play del Carmen, Mexico. It will almost certainly be in the Top 5 raddest action sports camps the Yucatan Peninsula has ever seen. Maybe even Top 3. BOOK IT

Is “sports” the wrong noun for action sports? In his weekly column, Nitro MC Micah Kranz explains why he’s not loving the phrase “action sports,” particularly when it applies to BMX. If that doesn’t get you riled, he also takes a swipe at baseball. Ooooooooh, let’s get him! TO THE COMMENTS!

It’s a little early to think about snowboard season. Unless you looooove making those fresh tracks on a cold winter morning. Several reliable outlets are already predicting a banger winter for many parts of the Northern Hemisphere, and TransWorld Snowboarding wasn’t ashamed this week to release a handy guide for getting your stance just so. They might be biased, but we’re all about it. SHRED IT

>>>THE RIGHT TURN<<<

Can I skateboard?🤔 You be the judge😅 Find the full video on my YouTube!🎥@spencerforesman #skateboarding #firstever #rail #grind #attempt #woodwardcamp #WhatElseShouldITry?

A post shared by Ryan Williams (@rwillyofficial) on Sep 4, 2017 at 3:58am PDT

>>>ONE FOR THE ROAD<<<

***

A sneak peek at next week: Next week? We don’t even know what we’re having for lunch today …

Check out the previous WildWeek right here. And get all your fresh Nitro gear at our online store right here.

[Editor’s note: Nitro MC Micah Kranz writes a weekly column for the Nitro Circus blog. The opinions he expresses are his own, not that of Nitro Circus or other Nitro Circus employees, even if the rest of us Nitro Writers usually agree with him.] 

What’s in a name? Shakespeare penned, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” With those words, the character Juliet is saying that the essence of a thing is not affected by its title. However, the human mind has an irresistible need to categorize things. The term “action sports” is a perfect example of this, a way to file a group of things nicely beside other socially acceptable activities. But to me, that phrase doesn’t feel accurate (with apologies to Juliet and Bill S.).

What’s the origin for “action sports” as a collective term for what we do? In 1995, ESPN created the Extreme Games by lumping several already-active contest series into one made-for-TV spectacle that featured sky surfing next to freestyle bungee jumping and, later, modified snow shovel racing next to speed ice climbing. “Extreme sports” is what they called it, and passionate insiders grudgingly hopped on board despite not buying into the broad categorization. Perhaps the biggest slap in the face was seeing the same term — “extreme” — used to describe tacos. Almost immediately, ESPN changed it to “action sports,” and the name of the competition to X Games, and gravitated toward more mainstream events, though you can still get a medal for playing video games.

During this naming spree, the term “BMX” became the blanket narrative for tricks on 20-inch-wheeled bicycles. Before this, BMX was considered bicycle racing on dirt tracks, and freestyle BMX described trick riding. “BMX” is short for “bicycle motocross,” which suggests it’s referring to racing. Again, the powers in place at the time decided this, and now we’re stuck explaining to people that BMX doesn’t mean racing. Combine all that under the umbrella “action sports,” and what we have is many layers of words that don’t do a great job of describing the thing they’re meant to describe.

The conversation about categorizing athletic endeavors is much larger than action sports — it reaches to sport in general. Take baseball. For over a hundred years there has been controversy about whether baseball should even be considered a sport. Some (a small but vocal group) qualify it as a skills game, because there is roughly 17 minutes of action during a three-hour timeframe. Some have referred to it as “the filibuster of the athletic world.” I read an essay that said, “Cheerleading is more of a sport than baseball, because you can’t chew tobacco and form a human pyramid at the same time.” I’ll let you form your own opinion on that one.

A sport by definition has to have some sort of competition associated with it. Most sports feature team versus team with a set of strict rules. The second use of the term “sport” refers to someone who behaves in a positive way to being harassed or teased. Some of us can’t even hear the word “sport” without some dark undertone of hazing and agitation. Sure, there are competitions in our world, but those exhibitions are the exception, not the rule. The vast majority of riding is not done in competition or even in preparation for competition. It’s done for the love of being on a bike. The only “other team” at the skatepark is the one inside your head. Meaning, the only person you are against is yourself. Therefore, the only opponent is fear. And conquering that anxiety becomes the obsession.

To me, what we collectively call action sports are closer aligned to artistic expression than to any actual sport. And I’m not alone. In Europe there have been art installations in some of the most historic museums where they build mini ramps and have flatland BMX displays. It’s nearly impossible to definitively declare a “winner” in a creative endeavor. The problem with trying to judge a creative work is that the evaluator cannot be truly subjective. There are tons of outside influences that could cause a judge to score one rider over another. And let’s not forget one of the best parts about action sports: There are no rules. Maybe BMX defies categorization. Or maybe BMX is whatever you feel like you want it to be.

Bottom line: Trust the art, not the artist or the art salesman. When you see or experience something, you should judge it by your feelings or mindset and not by what the owner of it has to say. Maybe you feel BMX truly should be categorized as a sport. To that, I say maybe the biggest issue I have with the phrase “action sport” is that it doesn’t capture how gnarly BMX actually is. I can’t compare Jed Mildon’s quadruple backflip to someone catching a fly ball, scoring a touchdown, or shooting a ball through a hoop. Maybe we can just go back to the term “freestyle BMX.” And in the end, it probably doesn’t matter much as long as we don’t get grouped with barefoot water ski jumping.

We’re stampeding toward the finale of our 2017 North America tour, bringing a bit of extra Wild to the Wild West. There are only five shows left, so if you live on the West Coast, you may want to hit this link and lock down some tickets. Here’s an example of why you should do that: In Grand Junction, Colorado, last week it got real with Ryan Williams landing two huge scooter World Firsts: a cashroll double whip to rewind and a 720 frontflip turndown, back to back during the show. And he got started even earlier in the day with a personal first: the World First “R-Willy tries a high dive.” You’ve got to see it to believe it (which you can, below).

Despite all that, Josh Roberts walked away with the MVC in Grand Junction. How’s that? In a show where R-Willy landed two never-been-done-before tricks, it takes some serious sketch to earn the MVC. Josh delivered in contraptions. He almost rode off the stair side of Giganta on the always-sketchy penny farthing and somehow kept his composure enough to correct, send it, and stick the landing. Then he went for a double backflip on the roller skis, lost a ski mid-flip, but was committed enough to try to get there. He landed on his visor, which is just a sliiiight under-rotation. Luckily, R-Willy was there to document all of this, so check it out:

The Nitro Shop has the shirt you’re looking for! Find all our new styles, including the exclusive TP199 collection from Travis Pastrana.

Nitro Circus and Facebook are pumped to bring you Mic’d Up, a new original series debuting as part of Facebook’s move into original programming. Mic’d Up takes you inside the helmet of your favorite Nitro Circus athletes during our live shows. This is one of the most fun shows we’ve done, especially for those of us who have always wondered what world-class athletes are thinking while they’re attempting those huge tricks. Mic’d Up is exactly what it sounds like: We stick a microphone on our riders and then let them do their thing. Athletes featured in Season 1 include Travis Pastrana, Ryan Williams, Dusty Wygle, Ethen Roberts, and many more. New episodes drop every Friday, so click here to check it out, and like the Mic’d Up Facebook page to be notified when new episodes are released! See below for episode descriptions.

Mic’d Up Episode 1
Go inside the helmet with live audio from BMX/scooter superstar Ryan Williams and FMX legend Levi Sherwood as they’re Mic’d Up while performing the nuttiest tricks in action sports.

Mic’d Up Episode 2
The legendary Travis Pastrana is Mic’d Up for his first-ever hometown show, along with the always unpredictable Trevor Piranha.

Mic’d Up Episode 3
Ethen Roberts rides the stuff other stunt performers won’t touch. Get to know what goes through his mind as he’s Mic’d Up during a show in Japan.

Mic’d Up Episode 4
It’s all moto on this episode of Mic’d Up, as we get inside the helmets of Beau Bamburg, Taka Higashino, and Adam Jones as they perform the biggest tricks in FMX.

Mic’d Up Episode 5
Hear what goes through the minds of freestyle superstars Dusty Wygle, Jed Mildon, and Todd Meyn as they’re Mic’d Up while riding the 40-foot-tall Giganta ramp on BMX, MTB, and several contraptions that weren’t meant to jump!

Check it out right now, and then come back every Friday for more!

Touring small-city America has its perks. From the glorious foods to the prideful ownership of the “World’s Largest Something,” there is engagement around every corner. I survive by gathering old friends and meeting new locals at skateparks and spots. Seeing Colorado Springs on the schedule, I instantly knew it was going to be a sensation. We had to cancel the show last year due to snow, and the internet roared over it.

The instant we landed, Colorado Springs Legend Duncan Gore was on hand and swept Jed Mildon and me to a historical tour of the city. Duncan is BMX. He has watched action sports live and die through thousands of sponsorship dollars. For over 30 years he could be found learning flatland maneuvers or blasting ramps to the moon. I grew up with a picture of Duncan on my wall, and when I met him the first time we straightaway filmed clips, the decisive sign of friendship.

We ended by a window tint shop that had a light on. I peered in and was surprised to see AFA BMX champion James McGraw filming in an incredibly small garage. Action sports is in the veins of Colorado. I was stoked!

The conversation instantly turned to the venue. Duncan started telling me how the lands were enchanted and started bringing up how in 1998 there was a King of Vert contest at the exact location of our Nitro Circus Live show. The King of Vert, or KOV, series was put on by Ron Wilkerson, who was throwing wild contests at any venue that would let him. Often, he would set up ramps in an abandoned lot with no permits and call it “Meet in the Street.” It’s hard for me to fathom that any venue knew what was exactly happening, and that made it even more fun. James added in several stories about how the level of riding at that time was incredibly intimidating. He talked about Leo Chen pulling a decade air on vert and Kurt Schmidt blowing minds doing backwards hang 5s on the deck. It was this kind of do-it-yourself contest that kept action sports alive in the early ’90s, and it rules to do a show on the same ground.

The moment we returned home, I began searching vigilantly online for anything about the contest. I found some archives and a video and thought it would be rad to share them with you. Enjoy!

BMX insider Micah Kranz is one of the Nitro Circus Live MCs, currently on tour with the show. To watch him work, hit this link to see where we’re headed next, and make sure you check back every week for more fine words from him.

A couple weeks ago Travis Pastrana and Jolene Van Vugt joined Jim Beaver for Best in the Desert, a 500-mile race through the brutal terrain between Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada. Each team member took a turn at the wheel and battled harsh conditions over the course of a couple days. Their vehicle of choice was a Polaris RZR — the format of this race allows for entrants in trucks, dirtbikes, and UTVs, making for an epic event with something for everyone. Luckily, a camera crew was along for the ride with Jim, Jolene, and Travis. We won’t spoil it, but let’s just say the team has their share of obstacles during the race. Check it out:

The Nitro Shop is open! Find all our new T-shirt styles, including the exclusive TP199 collection from Travis Pastrana.

We’re headed into the homestretch of our 2017 North America tour, with 11 shows remaining in six states, and I’ll be traveling with the show for a couple weekends to bring you highlights. Last week, we rolled into Rochester, New York, for a massive show at Frontier Field, where we were joined by YouTube legend Roman Atwood. Roman was awesome — he even took a trip down Giganta on a trike, which you’ve gotta see. Overall, the boys were pumped and ready to rock despite a strong headwind that made conditions difficult. Here are some highlights:

Had a killer weekend on the East Coast! Check out the highlights from our show in Rochester, NY. #NitroCircus #NitroCircusLive

A post shared by Nitro Circus (@nitrocircus) on Aug 21, 2017 at 5:07pm PDT

After the Friday-night show, we had a day off in Rochester. A few of the guys took a drive out to Niagara Falls, while some of the Giganta riders explored the city and had a street session. Rochester has a ton of interesting features to ride near its business district along the river, and the local BMX scene is full of laid-back riders who came out to hang with the guys. Ryan Williams brought his scooter, and as always the local scooter kids also showed up to ride with one of their heroes.

2 Street Clips in Rochester, NY before I left!🛴#nitrocircus #street #scooter #tricks #flair #RWillyTurnedStreet

A post shared by Ryan Williams (@rwillyofficial) on Aug 20, 2017 at 4:08am PDT

Sunday we were set to head for Erie, Pennsylvania, at 10 a.m., but as we gathered in the hotel lobby, word spread that the tour bus was having mechanical issues and we’d be delayed an hour or more. Some of us reclaimed our room keys and headed back up to chill or answer emails, while others decided to run to a grocery store to stock up on food for the road (the health-conscious have to plan ahead or face the mostly bad interstate fare). Speaking of healthy, BMX star Todd Meyn used the delay to squeeze in a workout at the hotel gym. I need a bit of his self-discipline. The surprise delay, while not ideal, is just part of life on the road, and with a long day ahead of us, some took it as a welcome change of plans.

The bus arrived, we hit the road, and a few short hours later we rolled in to the Lake Erie Speedway, which had beautiful facilities for us to get ready and an awesome three-eighths of a mile banked oval racetrack, which Stage Manager Jeremy Kelber explained is ideal for the setup crew, since concrete is much easier to build the ramps on than grass is. The only issue here was the short banked track meant that they had to build everything on a slant, which made for an interesting show. But what a show it was! Erie fans are awesome, and they went nuts for Nitro that night. There were tons of awesome moments, but here are three standouts from the Giganta side:

James Foster, fresh off his X Games gold medal, stuck a beautiful triple backflip (and it’s been more than a year since he’s attempted one on this setup):

Matt Whyatt laid down a flawless Whyatt Riot — a backflip tailwhip to late 360 — which helped earn him the night’s MVC. Erie was Matt’s last show of this tour, so the MVC was also in honor of him killing it all summer in North America on his bike and contraptions.

Then Jed Mildon went head first into the Zorb, and it was nuts:

Streetbike Tommy was on hand to help Catfish and Micah with MC duties, and of course the crowd loved every minute of it. Tommy always has a good time at shows, but it’s pretty clear his favorite part is when he gets to use the T-shirt cannon:

The moto boys also had an epic night, particularly considering the tilted ground they were riding on. The sun dipped below the horizon halfway through the show, enveloping the venue in that comforting dusk that feels like you’re just out riding on a summer night with your crew. Our show is loud and rowdy, but in the end that’s what it’s all about. Check out these photo highlights from the rest of the night:

After the show, we hit the road for Cleveland, a journey that took twice as long as it should have but was also twice as fun as I expected. We arrived at the hotel sometime between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., but who’s counting? During this tour, we scatter during the week and meet back up for the next shows, so most of us were flying out of Cleveland the next morning. Some of the guys who had early flights looked at the clock and decided it made more sense to just stay up, but that’s a story for another day, told by one of those brave souls. The rest of crashed hard after an epic weekend, looking forward to doing it all again in a few short days.

The Nitro Shop is open for business! Find all our new T-shirt styles, including the exclusive TP199 collection from Travis Pastrana.

YouTube legend Roman Atwood joined us in Rochester, New York, over the weekend, and what was bound to be fun ended up being something even more special. Roman was on hand for a top-secret project that you’ll hear more about soon, but while he was there he met up with Nitro veteran Ryan “R-Willy” Williams and got an inside look at a Nitro Circus live show. Roman admitted to being a fan, and when R-Willy nudged him to try something truly memorable in Rochester, Roman jumped at the chance. Literally. Sorry, had to. It doesn’t happen often, but when non-professionals are given the chance to hit the big ramp, it’s widely believed that the trike is the best vehicle for them to try it on, for a variety of reasons that mostly boil down to the fact that it’s the least likely to actually kill you. That said, everyone still wipes out, because “easiest” is not the same as “easy.” But there’s a first time for everything, especially at Nitro Circus, and Roman’s Giganta ride was a perfect example. The first video embedded here is R-Willy’s vlog from the day. The second video is R-Willy’s vlog Part 2, which begins with Roman’s jump (for those who can’t wait to see it). The third video is Roman’s vlog from the day, a great look at what it’s like behind the scenes at Nitro from an outsider’s perspective. Pop the popcorn now, because it’s all worth watching.

The Nitro Shop is open for business! Find all our new T-shirt styles, including the exclusive TP199 collection from Travis Pastrana.

Aussie BMX magician Brandon Loupos took home the top prize at Festival International des Sports Extremes over the weekend, with two enormous runs in a competition that mirrors the format of the new BMX Freestyle Park event at the 2020 Olympics. The FISE competition also affects the world rankings, meaning his win in Budapest sets Loupos up for an Olympics run. Check out his runs right here:

Daniel Dhers took second, and Irek Rizaev was third. Loupos’ win moves him into second place in the UCI World Cup standings. Keep an eye out for the competition to heat up as 2020 gets closer.

Stoked to take the win at @fiseworld Budapest! The wind was crazy but I'm glad no one got hurt! Congrats to all my friends making top 5. You all smashed it! Thank you Budapest for a great time! See you guys in Canada 🚲💥💪🏼 📸 – @vitalbmx

A post shared by Brandon Loupos🇦🇺 (@brandonlouposyo) on Aug 21, 2017 at 2:34am PDT

The Nitro Shop is open for business! Find all our new T-shirt styles, including the exclusive TP199 collection from Travis Pastrana.

Those of you who follow Nitro Circus on Facebook and/or Instagram and/or Snapchat — or if you follow any of the Nitro Crew — will have been deluged with nutty photos and videos coming from Travis Pastrana’s house this week, with references to the Polaris Invitational at Pastranaland and Action Figures 2 prominent in the captions. One thing is clear: Travis knows how to push progression, obviously, but few people really appreciate what that looks like behind the scenes.

This week, to kick off what’s sure to be an epic adventure making the sequel to a truly special action sports film, Travis invited athletes to spend a few days at his house competing in the first annual Polaris Invitational at Pastranaland, a park and big air (oh, and trampoline!) contest where the only rule is you have to absolutely send it to even come close to a prize. Ride whatever, do whatever, just make jaws drop. What Travis has set up is a genius way to encourage the best action sports athletes in the world to go huge and be creative, and they checked those boxes hard. A special shoutout to Polaris, Wienerschnitzel, and Andersen Hitches for making all this possible! Action Figures 2 is going to be off the rails, and we’re only into the first few days of filming. No major spoilers, but we’ll post a few of the riders’ pics and videos here to give you a taste, and stay tuned for more details. Keep an eye on social media for sneak peeks at the awesomeness! Also, catch up with the first Action Figures on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Xbox, Vimeo on Demand, or Vudu.

First day out at PastranaLand for the Polaris Invitational filming for action figures 2. Nothing but craziness and it's only just begun.

A post shared by Todd Meyn (@toddmeyn) on Jul 24, 2017 at 3:26pm PDT

Sending it at #pastranaland in board shorts to hot for pads. It's going to be a fun week filming here @travispastrana house. 🤘🏻📽 #nitrocircus #pastranaland @nitrocircus @pod_active @ethika @deftfamily @elev8hp_ @evlsports @fireball_au @47 @bellbikehelmets

A post shared by Jaie Toohey (@jaietoohey) on Jul 24, 2017 at 12:12pm PDT

Today was insane! I did this 18ft caveman @travispastrana skate park the adrenaline was next level keep and eye out for #actionfiguresthemovie 2 for the full clip @polarisrzr @wienerschnitzel @andersenhitches @nitrocircus #bmx#skatepark#nitrocircus#pastranaland#scary#but#fun

A post shared by Matt Whyatt (@mattwhyatt) on Jul 25, 2017 at 12:09pm PDT

Soooo apparently we are jumping these jumps tomorrow 🤔😛😛 #PastranaLand

A post shared by Harry Bink (@harrybink) on Jul 25, 2017 at 6:31pm PDT

It's getting crazier by the day here at @travispastrana house, here's some stuff I tried yesterday off the 75ft front flip ramp.

A post shared by P A T B O W D E N // (@patbowden_) on Jul 22, 2017 at 12:55pm PDT

Fmx guys warmin up for tomorrow's competition at the @polarisrzr Invitational. Non-motorized big air bag contest will go live on @nitrocircus facebook page in a half hour. @wienerschnitzel @wildmikespizza

A post shared by travispastrana (@travispastrana) on Jul 25, 2017 at 12:10pm PDT

And one last sneak peek. Here’s Travis hucking it in the big air competition on a mountain bike:

It was a night that Travis Pastrana, the Nitro Crew, and the city of Annapolis will never forget. After more than a decade of touring the world, Travis got to bring Nitro Circus Live to his hometown for the first time ever. It was not without its challenges in the lead-up as well as on show day. Wet weather caused a delayed start and an extended intermission, but the Crew came to show Annapolis what they’re all about, and they absolutely did. Despite the sometimes heavy rain, the crowd (which by early estimates is one of the largest we’ve ever had in North America) was hyped and stayed through it all. Gregg Duffy, Streetbike Tommy, Jolene Van Vugt, Special Greg Powell, and Jim DeChamp, who are also Maryland locals, were all there and stoked about the hometown show. The rest of the Nitro Crew also showed up in force to throw down for Annapolis.

So awesome to be here in Annapolis for today's show. A lot of hard work went into making this show possible and you best believe it's gonna get crazy! #nitrocircus #gonnagetwiled

A post shared by Kurtis Downs (@kurtisdowns) on Jul 23, 2017 at 7:43am PDT

There were so many huge moments to go through that we can’t begin to explain them all. But a couple that deserve special mention: In honor of the occasion, Travis landed a double backflip for the first time in years, sending the crowd and the Crew into a frenzy. Aaron “Wheelz” Fotheringham absolutely nailed a wheelchair frontflip. Duffy landed a huge frontflip nac. And in the final FMX train of the night, two riders went for frontflips: Harry Bink and Steve Mini. Steve had a massive crash on that one, which he’s going to feel tomorrow, but no permanent harm done.

Watched @travispastrana do a double flip today… Still got it pal. @nitrocircus #nitrocircus

A post shared by James Foster (@jamesfosterbmx) on Jul 23, 2017 at 6:57pm PDT

That just happened😳😳😳 #nitrocircus

A post shared by Beau Bamburg (@beaubam612) on Jul 23, 2017 at 4:31pm PDT

And here are 10 photos that capture the soggy glory of Nitro’s first-ever Annapolis show:

Last weekend, Travis Pastrana won the Climb to the Clouds in convincing fashion, shattering rival David Higgins’ record in the process. Now Subaru has released on-board video of his entire record-breaking run, including some in-car and outside POV footage that will have you gripping your armrest even though you already know how it ends. Check it out:

MORE TRAVIS PASTRANA RALLY NEWS:

TRAVIS PASTRANA OBLITERATES MOUNT WASHINGTON HILLCLIMB RECORD
TRAVIS PASTRANA TAKES SECOND AT STPR
TRAVIS PASTRANA TAKES SECOND AT INAUGURAL RALLYE PERCE-NEIGE
TRAVIS PASTRANA FINISHES SECOND AT TALL PINES RALLY

X Games Minneapolis is set to go off this week, and a bunch of Nitro riders and Nitro World Games competitors in FMX, BMX, and skate are poised to make podium runs. The FMX field in particular is loaded with riders you can see at most Nitro shows, and a handful of Nitro BMX riders are also in Minneapolis looking for gold. Those riders include James Foster, Andy Buckworth, and Kurtis Downs, a Nitro veteran making his X Games debut. Kurtis has worked super hard, and with a second-place finish at the 2016 Nitro World Games under his belt, he’ll look to add some more hardware to his collection this weekend. Buckworth and Foster will compete in BMX Dirt, with the finals on Sunday, and Foster and Downs will compete in Big Air, with the finals on Friday. Colton Satterfield and Zack Warden will also be throwing down in the BMX Big Air event.

Made it here to @xgames Minneapolis🤘🏼 📷 @gavgodfrey #xgames #sohyped

A post shared by Kurtis Downs (@kurtisdowns) on Jul 10, 2017 at 1:34pm PDT

First practice in the books for #xgames #minneapolis #2017 #wienerfam #wienerschnitzel #monsterenergy

A post shared by Andy Buckworth (@andybuckworth) on Jul 11, 2017 at 11:38am PDT

On the FMX side, we’ve got riders in every event, and Nitro athletes are dominating the field in terms of numbers for Moto X Best Trick and Moto X Freestyle. Josh Sheehan, Adam Jones, Harry Bink, Jarryd McNeil, Beau Bamburg, Jackson Strong, Nate Adams, Taka Higashino, and Clinton Moore are among the riders competing, some in multiple events. Levi Sherwood, fresh off wins at Nitro World Games and X Fighters Madrid, will compete in Best Trick and Freestyle. The Freestyle finals are Friday and the Best Trick finals are Saturday. McNeil will compete in Step Up and Best Whip, where he’s always a favorite to make the podium. Both of those events will have finals on Saturday.

Straight from #XFighters to @xgames this week! Thanks for the awesome shot @_imora! #FMX #Madrid #Minneapolis #MonsterEnergy @monsterenergy @alpinestars @dragonalliance @honda_mc @michelinmotorcycle @renthal_moto @fmf73

A post shared by Josh Sheehan (@sheenyfmx) on Jul 10, 2017 at 1:56pm PDT

Noteworthy athletes who made a splash at Nitro World Games and are always serious contenders at X Games and any competition they enter: Elliot Sloan and Andy Macdonald, podium finishers at NWG, will both compete in Skate Vert, with finals on Thursday, and Sloan will also vie for the gold in Skateboard Big Air, with finals on Saturday. Colton Walker, Nick Bruce, Logan Martin, Daniel Sandoval, and Brian Fox are also in on the BMX side. For a complete list of X Games Minneapolis invited athletes, click here, and for a complete schedule of events, click here.

MORE COMPETITION NEWS:

Videos and Results From the 2017 Nitro World Games
Sherwood, Sheeny, Taka on Podium at X Fighters Madrid
Nitro FMX Dominates at X Games Austin
Josh Sheehan Dedicates X Games Wins to Fallen Brother

The finals are set for the 2017 Nitro World Games, with more than 40 of the world’s best action sports athletes in FMX, BMX, skate, and scooter advancing to the main event in Salt Lake City. Click here for all the details on who’s competing in the finals. Watch on NBC at 8 ET / 7 CT / 8 PT. Watch live online at NitroWorldGames.Live. And if you want some more of the backstories, get caught up on the stories below.

The arrival of the talent. We spent the entire week at Rice-Eccles Stadium watching the Nitro World Games come together. When athletes began arriving for registration, they had their competition photos taken sand run into their first dilemma of the week: devil horns or thumbs up? READ IT

First practice runs done, dusted. The riders faced a day of blazing hot weather as they dialed in their tricks. We were stoked to finally see what they’ve have been cooking up. READ IT

The weather cooled as the competition heated up. It may have been the day before the day before the semis, but the riders put in a full day of practice. As we put away the airbag landers, one thing became clear: The riders were holding nothing back this year. READ IT

TP takes us on a backstage tour. And it’s the platinum tour. Travis shows us the ramps (huge), the athlete lounge (air conditioned), an editing bay (impressive but complicated), and craft services (fill ‘er up). WATCH IT

Todd Richards loves the hurtbikes. Nitro World Games host and Olympic snowboarder comes to watch skate, stays to watch FMX. MORE

And click here for athletes profiles and more!

Hailed as one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, the Great Barrier Reef boasts incredible colors and an amazing variety of animals. The second Nitro Circus boarded the tour ship, we nearly sparked a mutiny. Sure, the snorkeling and diving was amazing, but who knew we’d see a BMX first on this side trip. Co-MC and Nitro regular Catfish has been pushing the #catfishdecademovement, which is an attempt to resurrect a dated flatland trick. He inspires people by performing it all over the world. Check it out:

He busted one out at the Reef, and we assume it was a World’s First at this particular spot. Sailors, pirates, and oceanographers have been baffled and mesmerized by the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef, yet Catfish is surely the first person to pay homage by sending a trick there.

Enjoy the video and know there were microscopic jellyfish burning our faces throughout the video shoot. Cheers!

Want to see more from the Crew on tour?

INSIDE THE NITRO CIRCUS LIVE SHOW WITH MC MICAH KRANZ
A BUNCH OF ANIMALS: THE NITRO CREW VISITS AUSTRALIA ZOO
NITRO BMX STARS LENT A HAND AFTER DEVASTATING AUSTRALIA FLOOD

From the Editor: We’re very lucky to welcome to the Nitro Writers a man who really needs no introduction: Live show MC Micah Kranz! Micah is on the road with the Crew all over the world, so we asked him to drop in and write some posts for us whenever he feels inspired. Keep an eye out for more from him in the future!

Overall, the 2017 Regional Rampage Tour of Australia has produced tens of thousands of thrilled spectators, making it one of the most successful action sports tours in terms of happy audiences, but also in terms of the fun the Crew has had. And as good as every show has been this year, the banger show so far was the Sunshine Coast stop on May 6. This date has some very strange history. It falls during the week where, two years earlier, Jed Mildon pulled the first-ever BMX quadruple backflip. It’s seven years to the day that FMX legend Cam Sinclair landed his first double backflip after his horrific accident. And four years prior on the same tour stop, Ryan Williams, who claims Sunshine Coast as his hometown venue, took a harsh crash during practice and was taken to the hospital. Legend has it he came back just in time for the final train and climbed back on top of Giganta. Alas, out of precaution, the managers insisted he take the night off, so he had to miss performing in a show for his hometown crowd, a moment he has been thinking about ever since.

This tour, though, R-Willy was in fine form, and what he did in front of the enormous and amazing Sunshine Coast crowd will be talked about for years. Calling it his “redemption show,” he did what he does best: thrive under pressure. He pulled a frontflip on the mini scooter for the first time, then triple tailwhip cashrolled its regular-sized counterpart. He then went on to pull the World’s First 720 frontflip barspin on a BMX bike. He pulled the forward bike flip and attempted a World’s First frontflip inward to no-hander but couldn’t quite get his hands off. Still, it was a mind-blowing night for an incredible athlete and his thousands of fans.

It’s to the point where every single show these days is a vaudevillian display of maneuvers never before attempted. As the riders prepare in the dressing room, rumors of new tricks and World’s Firsts are always part of the discussion, and because these are athletes capable of impossible feats, it’s more than just big talk. As the announcer of the greatest live event on the planet, I have a unique view and stories I would like to share from the road with the realest Nitro Circus fans out there.

The first thing you need to know: The tour is REAL. From riding kayaks down Giganta to backflipping a horse and everything in between, the smoke and mirrors have been reserved for other, marginal entertainment. Nothing represents this spirit better than FMX legend Bruce Cook. He is a show-stopper, but just like with everything we do, nothing is guaranteed in any given show. In Rockhampton, all of the elements were against him. The wind was blowing across the ramp, the sun was directly in his eyes, and when he took off the lip he shot sideways, causing him to be thrown toward the edge of the ramp as he landed. Luckily, mechanic Billy Van Vugt had the wherewithal to grab the motorcycle bar and keep Bruce from falling off the 15-foot lander. Bruce has since stuck every flip attempt on tour, and Billy landed himself the MVC for that quick save.

While each rider brings a unique flavor of madness to the recipe, the power that yanks us all together is the adoration of action sports. We take every opportunity to visit as many skateparks, trails, and local spots as possible. It’s one of the most amazing experiences to show up to a small Australia town and find some incredible structure to ride. If you’re a local in one of these towns, the chance that R-Willy, Todd Meyn, and Andy Buckworth will show up at your neighborhood park to ride at some point is near 100 percent. Sessions are going down sometimes more than once a day, and these guys are always trying to find lines never ridden before. These sessions are always intense but loose and awesome to watch. It’d be like Michael Jordan showing up and shooting hoops at your local court. That’s not going to happen. But if Nitro is in town, chances are good we are at your spot.

At some point the group landed in Gosford, New South Wales, the hometown of the late BMX legend Dane Searls. Dane’s legacy of leaping the largest dirt jumps still breaths in the valleys of what might as well have been a rainforest. Jed has spent plenty of time in the area and offered to take a few of the Crew to see one of the hidden gems in Dane’s arsenal. After trekking down a path that didn’t seem wide enough for a wheelbarrow and hurdling huge boulders, we discovered the largest hand-built dirt jump in the world. We marveled and said positive words in Dane’s memory as we stood next to enormous dirt accumulations that were only ever jumped one time. Built by hand, these mammoth structures have been visited by limited people.

The Crew likes to visit local schools and put on educational performances as often as they can. This includes a unique demonstration of some tricks, a bicycle safety section, and the always-entertaining Q&A. My fellow announcer, Zach “Catfish” Yankush, has taken the fun a step further. Every time someone asks him for his autograph, he asks that person to sign his bicycle. It’s already looking very cool, so if you see him at your school, make sure you ask him for a texter. Maybe bring up the emcee battles he has been winning all over as well. What a character.

There are too many astonishing performance highlights to name them all, but here are a few. Cam Sinclair stuck a four-person backflip in the rain. Matt Whyatt, aka the Wyatt Riot has been doing his namesake stunt as well as a frontflip whip catch whip. Andrew “Mini” Ahumada is also executing the frontflip windshield wiper regularly. Then there are the stunts with tons of coverage, such as Harry Bink’s first double backflip, Jaie Toohey’s triple flip dominance, and of course everything R-Willy does. See it all right here:

MORE 2017 AUSTRALIA TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Tons of Highlights From the Central Coast Show (Image Intense)
The Nitro Crew Is Stoked to Be Back Down Under
Highlights From the 2017 Australia Tour Opener
Toohey and Buckworth Put on a Show for Fans in Griffith