Circus promises a wild Esky ride


While Eskys are an essential part of Australian culture with most people using them to keep drinks icy cold at barbecues, the crew at Nitro Circus Live has found another use.



Meet Andrew ''Scootz'' Brousard, whose job it is to ride the Esky down the 17m-high Gigant-A Ramp and then fly through the air before crashing back to earth.

But that doesn't stop him from climbing back into the Esky and having another crack.

''Everyone else has [had] one go in the Esky and they're done for two or three shows, or they're broken [and won't do it again],'' Nitro Circus ringmaster and FMX legend Travis Pastrana said.

''He crashes almost every night. Sometimes it works, well twice actually in about 15 shows two for 15 is not great odds I guess.''

That's what this circus is all about pushing the limits of what's possible with whatever you can lay your hands on. Of course there are the usual motorbikes, BMX bikes and skateboards but to make life interesting they also throw in bodyboards with wheels, tricycles or ''big wheels'' as they're called in the States, scooters, skis and even a wheelchair.

Aaron Fotheringham, or ''Wheelz'', is one of the stars of the show and he launches himself off the ramp to do flips in his wheelchair.

Giving the envelope a nudge is what brings Pastrana back, albeit with a limp after a recent crash, and what pulls the crowd as well.

''The wonderful thing about this show is you'll see a lot of crashing, because everybody tries to do one thing they've never done [before], every night,'' he said.

Canberra Raiders stars Terry Campese, who was keen to try out the big ramp, David Shillington and Jarrod Croker, met the stars of the show yesterday and will be back to watch the main event tonight.

While many of us think charging head first at 120kg rugby league players is a bit loopy, there was no doubt in Campese's mind that the Nitro Circus crew is far crazier especially considering some of the injuries they've had.

''It'll be good [to watch the show and it was] even better to come out and meet the guys before,'' Campese said. ''To see what preparations they go into and what they do after the event ... I can't wait really.''

Nitro Circus Live, tonight only at Canberra Stadium. Tickets still available at the door, from $45 for children and $59 for adults. Gates open at 4.30pm. Pre-show starts at 5.30pm.

Source: The Canberra Times