The top extreme sports athletes will be in town for the Action Sports World Tour at the ipayOne Center Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23 and 24. The competition consists of three events “” skateboarding, freestyle BMX and inline skating “” and is the only international competition of its kind.
There will be a variety of athletes from the United States, as well as international participants from Australia, Brazil, France, Japan, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Some of the local competitors include Carlsbad residents Bob Burnquist and Jake Brown, and Encinitas residents Bucky Lasek, Pierre Luc-Gagnon and Mathias Ringstrom.
Kevin Robinson, a 25-year veteran of BMX riding, has been competing in the tour since BMX was incorporated as an event. Robinson is originally from Providence, R.I., but now resides in State College, Pa.
“I ride the halfpipe and the key is to fly in the air at least 13 feet over the ramp and perform a series of tricks and spins in the air,” Robinson said.
BMX riders need to be creative with their routine to earn points, though stunts can backfire if not properly executed.
“The key is landing smoothly, though. Otherwise you waste time trying to get back height once you land. You do need to take chances and make sure the timing is right and be confident you can pull it off,” he continued.
During the 45 seconds allotted for an entire run, five judges look for execution, level of difficulty and using the entire ramp, which is more than 60 feet wide.
Robinson also won two gold medals for Freestyle BMX during the most recent X-Games, took third place in the 2004 Action Sports Tour in Pomona and is currently ranked third in the Dew Action Sports Tour.
Despite the breakneck schedule, extreme sports athletes do take time off to prepare for the seasons.
“Our off-season goes from November to April. I’m having shoulder and elbow surgery this November and will be recovering from surgery, but in the meantime I’ll be in the gym five to six days of the week lifting weights,” Robinson said.
At the upcoming event, there will be a live concert on Saturday, freestyle motocross exhibitions, a variety of fan exhibits, break-dancing competitions, athlete autograph sessions, video games, graffiti artists, DJ’s, paintball, remote-control cars and other fan-friendly activities.
“The unique thing about the Action Sports Tour is that no one can point the finger at you if you mess up. It is all up to the individual and you can use your own creativity and be self-motivated to succeed,” Robinson said.
Tickets cost $15 and are available at the ipayOne Center box office, TicketMaster outlets and online at www.ActionSportsTour.com.