Courtes of the Scottrade Center
For their second stop on a 15-city tour, the Nuclear Cowboyz will visit the Scottrade Center (1401 Clark) for performances on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 12 at 2 p.m. The freestyle motocross performers will execute more than 1,000 gravity-defying stunts, choreographed with laser effects, extraordinary pyrotechnics, and a booming soundtrack mixed with heavy metal, electronic dubstep and alternative hip-hop.
As if watching these men tear through the dirt on their motorcycles and fly through the air doing backflips isn’t enough, this year, they will be joined by the Shaolin Kung Fu Warriors. The martial artists will display their courage and skills by bending metal rods and balancing on the points of handheld spears. The show will also feature stilt walkers and fire breathers.
Though all members of the cast are skilled, seasoned riders and performers, executing choreographed stunts requires much more precision and concentration than freestyle motocross alone.
“It’s definitely a rowdy, aggressive sport to race motocross, or be doing anything on the bike,” says rider Matt Buyten, back for his fifth year with the Cowboyz. “It’s good when it’s good, and it’s bad when it’s bad. One of our friends crashed this past weekend and he’s still in Lexington with an exploded pelvis…dirt bikes are no joke. You have to respect them.”
Even with the danger associated with the sport, Buyten says it’s still worth it. The 33-year-old has been riding most of his life, and it is clear, with his ten X Games medals, that he’s exactly where he belongs.
“When I’m riding, I’m fine. That’s when I’m the most relaxed. I’m just having fun and doing what I do. The best part of the Nuclear Cowboyz is just riding, traveling and hanging out with my friends. Then on top of that, feeling the joy of watching the audience get stoked, that’s why I do it. We see the little kids all excited to come get autographs after. It’s just cool to see how amped they are. I see people get away from their everyday stressful life and come out, smiling and having fun. And who knows, maybe we inspire someone. We were all inspired when we were kids, to go to the races and get autographs from the pros. So I just know that feeling and what it meant, and did, for me.”
For more information about the event, call 314-622-5435. To purchase tickets, visit scottradecenter.com or nuclearcowboyz.com.
