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Why you should be excited about the Nitro World Games debut in the UK
Big news for action sports fans in the UK! Travis Pastrana is bringing the Nitro World Games to Wales in 2020. Get the details and find out what he and Levi Sherwood had to say about it.
If you're unfamiliar with the Nitro World Games, they were created by FMX legend Travis Pastrana with Nitro Circus to push the limit of what's possible in action sports competitions.
The NWG is a proper celebration of the best of action sports, and with over 100 elite athletes taking part, you can expect to see some of the top names in each discipline.
Nitro World Games Announcement 2020
© The Mono Grande
The disciplines included are:
- Freestyle MX
- BMX Best Trick
- BMX Triple Hit (land three tricks in quick succession)
- Skate Vert
- Scooter Best Trick
The NWG will be debuting in the UK for the first time on May 23-24, 2020, in Cardiff's Principality Stadium, Wales.
The Nitro World Games is that one event that you come to and expect the unexpected
Levi Sherwood performs best FMX trick
© Nitro World Games
The inspiration for the games came from hanging out with fellow sportsmen. "The Nitro World Games came about because we were doing Nitro Circus together and travelling the world," explained Travis Pastrana. "In my backyard, Jed Mildon landed a quadruple backflip on a BMX and Josh Sheehan landed a quadruple backflip on a dirt bike. We were doing all these huge tricks, and night after night guys are pushing themselves.
"We built a new landings and take offs that were safer [than the existing ones]. We were working with the riders to try to really change and develop [the sport] – especially on the bicycles and scooter side – by allowing these guys to push the limits every single day without hurting themselves as badly. We realised that at all the biggest championship events that already existed we couldn’t do nearly what we were doing in our backyard!"
BMX triple hit comp
© Nitro World Games
Levi Sherwood, former Red Bull X-Fighters champion and two-time Nitro World Games winner, agrees that the competition is unique. "For me, I love the judging. I love the fact that it's innovating us to move forward. It has new ramps and new landings – and it’s going to be safer. It’s kind of like the place to bring the bigger stuff. It’s an awesome platform for that – but honestly, my favourite part is the judging."
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Nitro World Games is coming to Wales in 2020
The biggest action sports competition is leaving the US for the first time and coming to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales in 2020.
So, why the move to the UK? Well, the answer might be unexpected. Travis explains that hosting in Salt Lake City was great because it's a "state of sport", with fans travelling from all over to go motorbiking and mountain biking. However, "the elevation was really tough for the dirt bikes... the power of the motorcycle matters a lot, so we wanted a location that we could put everything into a stadium, we wanted it under a roof, and we wanted it to be under a certain elevation, so the motorcycles will work better.
"We found all that in the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. It's huge and we don’t have to worry about any outside elements. We can fit all these amazing events and all these huge ramps without worrying about hitting the ceiling, which we might in the o2 Arena!"
Ryan Williams performs in Scooter Best Trick
© Nitro World Games
So, why should action sports fans get excited about the Nitro World Games? The answer is simple: "I think the Nitro World Games is that one event that you come and expect the unexpected," says Travis. "You’re [the competitors] going to have to go bigger than you ever dreamed of, and we try to give the guys the technology to not only go higher and further but to be able to crash and get back up."
What are you waiting for? Get tickets for the Nitro World Games in Wales, taking place on May 23-24, 2020.
