SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 14, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — World class action sports athletes are preparing for the first Nitro World Games this weekend in Salt Lake City, where sports and entertainment brand Nitro Circus first started.
The Games will take place Saturday afternoon at Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah, and will showcase seven different events, according to a statement from Nitro Circus.
The Nitro World Games is a three-hour event, airing live in the U.S. on NBC during prime time.
Created by extreme sports expert Travis Pastrana with Nitro Circus CEO and creative director Michael Porra, the Nitro World Games features top athletes from across the globe in action sports’ most exciting and popular disciplines, including freestyle motocross (FMX), BMX, skate, inline, scooter and more.
“Nitro Circus was created right here in Salt Lake City and it remains our spiritual home. It also hosted the tremendously successful XIX Olympic Winter Games in 2002. I can’t think of a better location for the Nitro World Games,” Porra, in a statement.
The World Games will feature a massive production, with more than 15 ramps — including Nitro Cirus’ trademark 50-foot Giganta Ramp and the biggest set up in the history of FMX Big Air — filling the stadium floor, plus pyrotechnics, art replay screens and more.
Veterans and up-and-comers will battle for the for the eight slots to compete for the trophies on July 16.
Among the FMX riders who made it through in open qualifying are Javier Villegas, Christian Meyer and Jarryd McNeil. Steve Mini made the grade as a wildcard. On the BMX side, Andy Buckworth punched his ticket for both events, as did Brian Fox and Brandon Loupos.
Other qualifiers, in Best Tricks, are Gavin Godfrey and Brandon Schmidt, who are both all-around action sports athletes who don’t primarily focus on BMX.
Nitro Circus, named No. 22 on Forbes magazine’s 2015 list of America’s Most Promising Companies, began in 2003 when Jeremy Rawle, Gregg Godfrey and Travis Pastrana produced DVDs from a Utah garage. It has led to a TV series, which has aired in over 60 countries.
In 2012, “Nitro Circus: The Movie,” featuring cast members from the television series, was released in cinemas worldwide. In 2015, Nitro Circus announced a partnership with NBC Sports Ventures.
The TV show was transformed by current CEO, Michael Porra, into a live event in 2010, with the creation of touring show Nitro Circus Live. Since its inaugural Australian trek six years ago, the show has traveled in countries including the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, China, Japan, the Middle East and South Africa.
Gates open at 3:30 p.m., and tickets are $19 through $79. Click here for more information on tickets.
