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SALT LAKE CITY — If anyone doubted last year’s commitment by the action sports-themed Nitro World Game to the state of Utah, lead icon Travis Pastrana has a message.
They’re back.
The Nitro World Games return to Rice-Eccles Stadium for a second year June 24, and Pastrana promised that the bar has been raised Wednesday at a press conference officially kicking off the summer event in Salt Lake City.
“This is truly the state of sport, and for everyone that questioned last year why we chose Rice-Eccles Stadium, the show was amazing,” said Pastrana, 33, who won five X Games gold medals and has become an icon in freestyle motocross. “This crowd is amazing, and they liked to get involved. The ramps this year are even bigger, the tricks more amazing, and we have a world feel this year.”
The games will crown world champions in FMX, BMX, skateboarding and scooters Saturday, with new big-air formats, a new course and an updated ramp that features no technology to propel athletes further than before.
“Take everything that you know,” BMX legend TJ Lavin said, “and throw it right out the window, because this is a whole new sport.”
Tickets for the games are available at NitroWorldGames.com beginning at $19 each.
“Utah is the state of sport, and it’s not just a slogan or a tagline; for Utahns, it is a lifestyle,” said Gov. Gary Herbert, who joined Pastrana at the kickoff announcement. “We’re outdoor enthusiasts, and it’s a healthy lifestyle. This is a good fit for Utah to host the 2017 Nitro World Games.”
