Blazing by the Beach
SCHOOL'S IN AT THE
DISNEY CHANNEL/ESPN JUNIOR X GAMES II presented by TOYOTA
3 December 2000 PHUKET: Even though it's school holidays for some, class was most definitely in this morning on the half pipes, climbing walls and park courses of the X Games event site on Patong Beach, Phuket in Thailand. And for more than 130 kids from all over Asia Pacific it was the lesson of a lifetime.
Joining them in Phuket for the Disney Channel/ESPN Junior X Games II presented by TOYOTA were some of the world's best extreme athletes, including skateboarders Sasha Steinhorst and Chris Lambert, bicycle stunt rider Kevin Robinson, aggressive in-line skaters Achim Kujawaski and John Julio as well as sport climber Jim Waugh.
The hottest date on Asia's extreme sports calendar lived up to its reputation, with a maximum recorded temperature of 34°C (93°F). But the steam rising off the tarmac didn't seem to bother the athletes - or the pros. For three hours the flips, kicks and grinds kept coming thick and fast. Watching six-year-old Singaporean Mohd. Farris bin Abdul Rahman line up on the 4 m (13") vert half pipe alongside guys twice his age and double his height was a lesson in courage.
The kids seem to be getting younger with each successive year of competition. In addition to Farris, seven-year-old climber Robert Elder from Thailand and Chinese Taipei skateboarder Ho Jen Chieh (6) are taking on the challenging competition set ups and wowing spectators and pros alike.
"There are some little stars out there," said professional skateboarder Richard Kirby. "I'm particularly impressed by their vert runs. Unlike the US, Asia doesn't have many half pipe facilities for kids to practice on so for some of these athletes, today is their first time on a ramp of this size."
The competition gets underway later this afternoon with semi-finals in aggressive in-line skating, bicycle stunt, skateboarding and sport climbing. And armed with all the tips they picked up at the clinics, expect some incredible action from Phuket.
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