GLOBAL ACTION SPORTS:

Travis Pastrana.

America’s Travis Pastrana today completed one of the most death-defying FMX stunts ever performed, when he back flipped his motorbike over a hovering 43 foot helicopter in front of one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The insane stunt that saw Pastrana flip his dirt bike where he was three feet from the blade on take-off, to look down mid flight at the helicopter blades spinning at 385 revolutions per minute only metres below him, officially launched tickets going on sale for the worldwide premier of the all new touring sensation, Nitro Circus Live, which will visit Australian capital cities in May and June 2010.

“Wow that felt really cool. There was a lot of turbulence on take-off and it was pretty nuts looking down at the blades. I only met the pilot this morning so my life was really in his hands and I borrowed the bike so had to trust in the mechanic because if the bike failed it would have been a disaster! said Pastrana.”

Winner of 14 X Games medals, Pastrana is the face of action sports worldwide and has performed many crazy stunts around the world including jumping out of a plane with no parachute and jumping off his motorbike into the Grand Canyon as well as being the first person in the world to perform a double back flip on a motorbike.

“There is nothing better than going to new places to do crazy things and I’m stoked to have done this in Australia.”

“I wanted to give Australians a small taste of what they can expect from the Nitro Circus crew when we are all here next year for the world’s first Nitro Circus Live tour. I know Australians love their action sports and are great crowds so they are going to love what we have planned. I couldn’t think of a more fitting place for our first shows before we take it to the rest of the world.”

Pastrana is the lead man in the hit Nitro Circus MTV television series, which has been a ratings smash hit around the globe. The show follows Pastrana and his thrill seeking friends performing outrageous and death-defying stunts and on a range of wild contraptions.

Nitro Circus Live will be the live performance adaptation of the hit series and will include the world’s greatest freestyle stars performing the biggest FMX tricks in the world as well as mind-blowing stunts and the entire Nitro Circus crew entertaining the crowd with their wild antics.

Australian based company, Global Action Sports, will be the managing partners of the new venture, and will be responsible for the creation, promotion and funding of the touring company worldwide.

GAS are the worldwide promoters of the hugely successful Crusty Demons live shows, along with the Monster Energy Super X, the Australasian Supercross Championship, which they own in partnership with world Supercross champion Chad Reed.

Managing Director of GAS said “It is our ambition to create the “Cirque Du Soleil” of action sports, which tours the world all year round. We believe Nitro Circus Live will transcend cultural boundaries, and like ‘Cirque’, it will be simply spectacular.

“The Nitro Circus brand is on its way to becoming a global youth powerhouse and the energy and creativity coming from these guys is phenomenal. I am so excited Australian fans will be the first to witness a show that is going to be a worldwide phenomenon.”

Nitro Circus Live will be performed on a never before seen, purpose built, multi-million dollar stage and set, which is currently under construction in a US compound so the stars can rehearse the show.

Other members in the group include Jolene Van Vujt who is the only girl fearless enough to keep up with the crazy guys, Andy Bell who constantly competes with Pastrana and Pastrana’s long time friend, Jim De Champ.

Nitro Circus Live will hit Australian shores in May and June next year with the first ever show to be held in Brisbane at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on May 7 2010 followed by the Acer Arena in Sydney May 14, the Burswood Dome in Perth May 22, the Adelaide Entertainment Centre May 28 and the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne June 5.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through www.nitrocircuslive.com.