Wow what can I say about Nitro Circus? Except maybe - wow er-er-er, although technically that is not plain English!
As a Mum in her 40s and going along for the sake of my two sons, aged 9 and 11, I wasn't really expecting to enjoy this evening. To my surprise we had a blast and so did everyone else.
Having booked months before, the night rolled around unexpectedly quickly and more to the point inconsiderately right in the middle of moving house. However, since the tickets were in hand, and the parking had been pre-paid it was all too easy to go out on this chilly Friday night.
We wrapped up nice and warm, but really we needn't have bothered, as it was a one minute dash from car park to Arena and once inside it was toasty warm.
We bought the obligatory (insert "terrible") arena/stadium food for dinner hot chips, a bad hotdog and overpriced drink, but with everyone fed we took our seats.
First thought was OMG, it's the nose-bleed section, and it was pretty high, but truly it meant we could see everything going on and the view was great.
The start was a little slow and painful as we were "warmed up" by being asked to practice our cheering and yelling and clapping for the camera. This was required as footage for the Nitro Circus Live DVD coming out later this year. Unfortunately by the end of this cheer practice I had a noise headache, and we hadn't seen a single tick.
Once the show started though it really got going and from the very beginning it was impressive. It only took a few minutes till my boys were pumping the air with their fists and screaming their approval as the FMX (free-style motocross) riders, BMX (bicycle motocross) riders, skaters, sliders, skiers, rollers and just plain jumpers went about their very clever routines. Did I put the word crazy in there? No? I meant to! They must all be a little bit crazy as the stunts were really impressive and to even think them up, let alone pull them of is very very brave!
For the full details of all the performers
click here.
We learnt the chant "You ride it, You Jump it" pretty early on and so the show goes, you ride a wheelie bin, you jump the wheelie bin. You ride the esky, you jump the esky, you ride the wheelchair you, jump the wheelchair I tell you some of this stuff was unbelievable.
Highlights included double back flips and forward flips on various contraptions. Line them up one after another and you have a train. With the music pumping and the crowd excited it really was a great atmosphere.
The boys flagged late in the second half, by now it was late Friday night (well late for them) and the cheering was toned down a bit as the watched on glazy eyed. It was a shame because the big tricks were at the end, but really some of the earlier combinations and trains were the best.
We tootled off home with two very happy boys who assured us it was the best thing they have ever seen I'm sure that is the case until the next best ever thing happens.
Shows are on this week in Melbourne, then Adelaide then Perth.
