Original Article Crow’s Nest St Pete
ASA World Tour looks to ramp things up at Al Lang Stadium.
Pat Casey, 21, is one of the many BMX riders who will compete in the big air triples event at St. Pete Action Sports. The competition will take place on Dec. 4 and 5 at Al Lang Stadium.
Things are about to get rowdy at Al Lang Stadium, but not in the way local soccer fans have grown to expect. Some of the biggest names in skateboarding, BMX and freestyle motocross are set to compete in St. Petersburg on Dec. 4 and 5.
This is the first time the city will host the ASA Action Sports World Tour, where X Games legends like Ryan Nyquist, Andy Macdonald, Pierre-Luc Gagnon and Paul-Luc Ronchetti will face off.
According to ASA, skateboarders will compete on the “biggest half-pipe in the world,” BMX riders will face off in a big air triples series, and motocross pros will showcase their best freestyle tricks in double elimination battles.
ASA describes big air triples as the only series of its kind, as it combines dirt and box jumping with half-pipe and other BMX disciplines.
The result? A self-proclaimed “unique head-to-head competition,” that takes place on a 200-foot-long by 28-foot-high ramp with three massive jumps.
In the freestyle motocross competition, riders will set out to thrill spectators with high-flying flips and tricks. Riders will compete in the first FMX contest that Florida has hosted in ten years.
The skateboarding competition will take place on the half-pipe used in the X Games. Skate veterans like Andy Macdonald and Pierre-Luc Gagnon will battle against young up-and-comers like Jimmy Wilkins, Elliot Sloan and Mitchie Brusco.
“It all comes down to who has the day, but we’ll be running some interesting new competition formats,” said Andy Macdonald, 23-time X Games medalist.
The nine-time World Cup Skateboarding Series champion expressed his excitement toward the possible inclusion of a head-to-head element in the half-pipe competition.
“It would require a lot of strategy on our part, and will result in far more runs than a traditional format contest. It will also be a lot easier for the crowd to understand,” Macdonald said.
Typically, skate competitions are scored on a point-based system that involves multiple skaters. The athletes compete against one another, with success depending on the personal score of each skater’s run. However, the man-on-man approach aims to simplify the process. Limiting the competitions to two-man brackets will help eliminate the ambiguity that often surrounds large-scale skate events.
“St. Pete Action Sports will give fans the most authentic and entertaining Action Sports experience available,” said Rick Bratman, CEO of ASA Entertainment. “The field of athletes will rival the X Games, and the pros are looking forward to delivering mind-boggling tricks for the fans throughout the Bay Area.”
Information:
If You Go:
One-day general admission costs $30, but those looking to get closer to the action can purchase VIP access for $75.
Platinum access, a step further, includes special seating, early entry and a private athlete meet-and-greet. Two-day admission is $50, with VIP tickets costing $140 and platinum tickets costing $235.
Students will receive a $10 discount on general admission with a valid school ID.