January 27, 2004

By: Amy Bush
Website: http://www.1st-in-toys.com

Three Team WARPT Pro Riders Qualify for the 2003 Gravity Games

Southern California-based WARPT Industries announces that three Team WARPT riders have qualified for and will compete in the 2003 Gravity Games, the world's premiere action sports, music, and lifestyle festival, whose NBC broadcasts are the highest-rated action sports programming in television history. Riding for Team WARPT at the fifth-annual event, taking place at Voinivich Park in Cleveland, Ohio's North Coast Harbor, are Nate Adams and Jimmie McGuire in the freestyle motocross (FMX) category, and Reuel Erickson competing in BMX.

Founded in a Southern California garage during the infancy of freestyle by world champion BMX racer and current WARPT President Ryan Johnson -- along with his cousin, Mike Metzger, the godfather of FMX -- the company literally defined the sport and has never strayed from its vanguard. The undisputed core brand of FMX and BMX since day one, their cutting-edge professional gear -- designed by top riders and racers themselves -- continues to set the standard for the freestyle industry. The three supremely talented athletes competing for Team WARPT at Gravity Games 5 more than honor this outstanding legacy.

In the game since he was eight years old, 19-year-old Arizona-based FMX star Nate Adams is back representing WARPT Industries. Adams is regarded as one of FMX's most talented riders on the planet. Nate backs up that statement on his bike, most recently hauling in two silver medals at this summer's X Games in Los Angeles. Adams stomped the first-ever backflip/heel clicker to no-hander landing. Look to odds on favorite Nate Adams to win gold at this week's Gravity Games in Cleveland, Ohio.

Oklahoma native and FMX trailblazer Jimmie McGuire has also been riding freestyle for 11 years, and in '02 scored first place on two successive days at IFMA's massive Dallas, Texas, event. Overall, the 23-year-old -- a.k.a. Super Fly--ranks ninth worldwide in IFMA points and 10th in Vans Triple Crown points. Just after riding a demo for more than 20,000 people at the Harvest Crusade -- with a ramp-to-ramp at 70 feet setup--Jimmie recently hung with WARPT at the Magic Show in Vegas, where the company premiered its brand-new consumer apparel line, the Core Collection. With Leap of Faith among his favorites, expect McGuire to ace an array of sick tricks riding for Team WARPT at the Gravity Games.

On the BMX side, Reuel Erickson brings 13 years of riding experience -- nine of them pro -- to the table. One of the world's top BMX athletes, he was the first ever to try the double backflip -- at the '97 X Games -- and is credited as the first to pull one on dirt, long before the stunt made waves at the 2001 X Games. A favorite with the fans and media, 24-year-old Las Vegas-based Erickson first appeared at the Gravity Games in 2001. For the '03 event, he was the first to qualify -- in the first round!--at the Venice Beach trials in August. A hugely popular draw at demos and exhibitions for the NFL, Nascar, and more, Erickson continues his astounding legacy with a 57-foot backflip just two weeks ago that's the current world record, and a recent 55-foot decade that's record-setting as well. Reuel's on a roll, so who knows what the Gravity Games will bring.

Finally, BMX star Joey Whitesnake Marks has been selected as a wildcard for the Gravity Games. A rider for nine years now, Marks entered his first-ever dirt competition in 1998, made the top 10, and was immediately signed up by Vans. Ever since, Joey has lived and ridden with the best in the circuit. Personally mentored by BMX great Cory Nastazio, he now lives nearby Nasty and Stephen Murray's hometown track in SoCal, where he tirelessly works on pulling ever bigger and better tricks. Kudos to Marks for recent glory -- he made the 2003 X Games finals, finishing eighth in dirt jumping!

In addition to its major presence with Team WARPT, WARPT Industries is the official apparel sponsor for the 2003 Gravity Games. The company will both showcase WARPT's latest professional gear and introduce some of their consumer apparel to the public for the first time. Last year, the Gravity Games -- jointly owned by PRIMEDIA, the leading targeted media company, Octagon, the global sports marketing arm of The Interpublic Group, and NBC Sports -- drew more than 160,00 spectators. NBC's telecasts reached more than 12 million households, making it the most-watched action sports programming in history. The Games will present 200 of the world's top professional action sports athletes competing in five main categories, including bike and freestyle motocross.

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About The Author:

Amy Bush is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-toys.com.  Find all the toys you wish you had as a kid. Fun and educational toys found here.