By Mark Powell Special to the Times Apparently, milk does these
bodies good. The extreme sports-themed Got Milk? Gravity Tour
entertained patrons this weekend at the Gilroy Garlic Festival with
some of the world’s best skateboarders, BMX riders and in-line
skaters.
By Mark Powell
Special to the Times
Apparently, milk does these bodies good.
The extreme sports-themed Got Milk? Gravity Tour entertained patrons this weekend at the Gilroy Garlic Festival with some of the world’s best skateboarders, BMX riders and in-line skaters.The tour has traveled throughout California over the past decade and is sponsored by 2,000 families from the California Milk Advisory Board who want to spread information on the benefits of drinking milk, tour manager Jimmy Coleman said.
“This is basically a big action sports tour that stays right here in California,” said Coleman, who is also the tour’s public address announcer and self-proclaimed “adult baby sitter.” “In 10 years we’ve had all the big names in skateboarding, BMX, and in-line skating. We’ve got all the bases covered.”
The tour makes its way to fairs, high schools and festivals throughout California, including the Stockton Asparagus Festival and the Los Angeles County fair.
Riders wowed spectators with soaring maneuvers and ground-based tricks on a 30-foot-wide half-pipe that was draped in banners bearing the “Got Milk?” slogan.
“I thought it was awesome, thought it was incredible,” Gilroy resident Danny Kinoshita said. “I thought these guys were amazing athletes.”
BMX flatland rider Gabe Weed kicked-off the 20-minute show with 360-degree turns on the bottom of the ramp on his bike, his feet never touching the pedals in the process.
Tasmanian-born in-line skater Shane Yost, nicknamed the “Tasmanian Devil” on the competitive circuit, attempted one of the sport’s most difficult tricks, a double-flat spin, but was unable to make a clean landing.
The crowd erupted in applause regardless.
“That trick is all in the takeoff. If you don’t do a takeoff right it’s not going to work,” said Yost, who first came to America to skate in 1998 and spends nearly nine months per year on the road doing shows and competitions.
Fellow in-line skater Marc Englehart, who sported Joe Namath-esque white skates for the event, said that competitive in-line skating may be on its way out.
“Things are dying down in our sport, which kind of sucks,” said Englehart, who is ranked No. 3 in the world. “We just try to do shows whenever we can. Every sport has its ups and downs and hopefully we’re ready for an upswing.”
Englehart added that there is the reality that he might have to find another job someday but “didn’t want to even think about that right now.”
Morgan Hill resident Misty Doubrava, however, said that the in-line skating was her favorite segment of the show and would be surprised if the sport disappeared.
“That was the best part. I loved the skating,” Doubrava said. “I’ve never actually been to (a show) before but it was awesome and was free.”
Also present at the show was BMX vertical rider Jay Eggleston, who was invited to participate in this year’s X-Games in Los Angeles on August 2-5.
It will be Eggleston’s ninth X-Games appearance, he said.
“I like doing these festivals, they’re fun,” Eggleston said about the Garlic Festival. “It’s a good way to get some extra money, and it kind of keeps us from having to get regular jobs. I can’t complain.”
Several of the tour’s participants said they were very impressed with the Garlic Festival.
“Garlic is one of my favorite ingredients to cook with at home,” Yost said. “I’m putting it in everything. It’s good to go around and see the different recipes people are doing. It gives me some good ideas.”
BMX rider Weed said the festival was one event he had been looking forward to during the tour.
“Every one of our shows is jam-packed,” said Weed, who was born in Walnut Creek but now resides in Reno. “This is one of my favorite festivals. Some state fairs don’t get as good as this. Plus, I love garlic. I’m going to bring some back to wife.”
Weed added that being an action-sports athlete can keep someone from aging too quickly.
“You’re so involved with young kids and they look up to you so it kind of keeps you from growing old,” said the 33-year-old Eggleston. “It’s not like slapping on a suit and tie and going to work every day.”
