| Show Subway presents Freedom Blast in Ben Anderson Globe Weekly News The X-Games X and other risk high-risk sports always charge up traditional spectators and sports fans Extreme competitions and stunts are becoming becoming becoming becom becom- ing more mainstream and the hearts of those physically involved are not the only ones beating fast On July 2 spectators will be able to vicariously experience an assortment assortment assortment assort assort- ment of raising hair-raising stunts and talent talent talent tal tal- tal- tal ent performances at Subways Subway's Freedom Blast Salt Lakes Lake's Independence Day celebration at atRice atRice atRice Rice Eccles Stadium Brown Entertainment and the Flying Fools a high diving team affiliated with the World High Diving Federation will perform a 30 20 minute portion of Freedom Blasts Blast's program The segment will consist of Olympic and acrobatic style diving comedy diving fire diving and foot 80 plunges Talk about fireworks John Whittaker Freedom Blast producer said Where else are you going to see an ignited diver flame through the air only to be extinguished in feet 10 of water defying Death-defying feats have always kept people on the edge of their seats But in his 25 years of experience ence Whittaker said he has noticed a change in the spectators of today's live entertainment People love the daring They want to experience the same sort of thrills as the per per- formers They want that same adrenalin rush Most shows you can look lookaround lookaround lookaround around and see people clenching their teeth along with the performers perform perform- ers Whittaker said It is as though they are jumping flipping or flying with whoever is doing what To complement the high dive Creative Sports an entertainment and promotions company will showcase action sports and stunt riders Although in a tamer form or Bicycle Motor Cross has been around for years Whittaker said Now it has morphed into an extreme sport an apt name for some of the gravity-defying gravity stunts has just become the most recent Olympic event which will h be introduced for the first time in Beijing 2008 Whittaker said Freedom Blast however will save Utah residences the year three-year wait Between the influences of Hollywood and major theme parks stunt teams have evolved into much more than simple bicycle riding riding riding rid rid- ing demonstrations Each show is written to be highly entertaining with broad oriented family-oriented appeal and combines the thrilling aspects of professional stunt riding with contemporary music theatrical theatrical theatrical cal comedy and audience tion Last year John and Sheri Whittaker approached John Bethers a core member of The Stunt Team Stars All-Stars and asked him if he could put something together similar to what he did for them ten years ago when at that time they produced Provos Provo's Stadium of Fire Since then Bethers has been building what can only be called in his words The Super Its the largest and most creative ramp Ive I've ever built he said It combines all the different elements of riding vert street and park all in one ramp When its it's finally finished finished finished fin fin- it will be over 12 feet tall and more than feet in length A ramp of this size will not only allow the team to have more room but it will also allow for more action going on right from the start Bethers said Were going to have so many riders flipping and spinning at the same time you'll get dizzy just watching it he said Freedom Blast 2005 is set to make some great memories for me and everyone everyone everyone every every- one else in attendance for this years year's Independence Day tion On top of it all Pyro Spectacular a California based fireworks display company will provide more than 40 minutes worth of explosive visuals or more patriotically termed bombs bursting in air Pyro Spectacular produced the fireworks for the recent Super Bowl as well as the 2002 and 2004 Olympics in Salt Lake and Athens This is one area that we didn't want to skimp Whittaker said Regardless of how energetic the audience is traditional fireworks strike a sentimental cord in every every- one For most of the people who attend fireworks will be the most meaningful portion and realistically ly speaking the yardstick in determining determining determining deter deter- mining the entire shows show's success Talent performances will include Headliner Kelly Clarkson the original original original inal American Idol star and more than 1000 local dance and cheer teams from cities throughout Utah Clarkson and her second RCA Records Label release named No Breakaway have been 1 on all Top 40 radio outlets Breakaway follows her first certified certified album Thankful which is a fied fled platinum double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America That No 1 l album included ed her single A Moment Like This which set the record for the biggest leap to the top in the history of the Hot Freedom Blast is pleased to host Kelly the 2004 Grammy nominee for Best Female Pop Vocal for a great Independence Day celebration celebration celebration tion said producer co-producer Sheri Whittaker This will be a show that thousands of people will always remember |
