BMX daredevil Horsham bound
An Australian BMX rider who gained attention on the international action sports radar by landing a double front flip will be among performers at a Nitro Circus Live show at Horsham City Oval this Easter.
Andy Buckworth came up through competition ranks in 2008 and landed the double front flip in February 2010, becoming only the second BMX rider to complete the move.
Later that year, he joined the first Nitro Circus Live tour in Australia armed with unique moves such as hand-plant backflips and multiple downside tail-whip variations.
Buckworth has since continued to impress with technical skill and precision and enjoys ‘letting loose’ with big flairs and front flips whenever he can, describing a ride on Nitro’s Giganta Ramp as ‘the best feeling ever’.
Buckworth will be among performers at the Horsham event on April 16 as part of Nitro Circus Live’s Regional Rampage Tour.
Buckworth has scored multiple world firsts, including landing the first no-handed double frontflip. He also is both an X Games and Dew Tour medallist.
He said a lack of quality ramps in Australia provided him and fellow Australian riders with motivation to push the limits of the extreme sport.
“And because we’ve traveled so far, we’re not just going to take it for granted and forget where we came from, our progression just gets elevated,” he said.
Buckworth returned from serious injury in 2012.
While riding for a video shoot, he slipped and came down awkwardly on the lander. When he tried to get up his leg buckled and he knew immediately he had broken the limb. In fact, he fractured both his tibia and fibula in three places.
Buckworth’s doctor said he would not be able to walk for six weeks or ride for at least 15 weeks. His participation in a Nitro Circus Australian tour was in jeopardy.
But after embarking on a gruelling rehabilitation and exercise regime and just four weeks out of the hospital, Buckworth was back on his feet.
Twelve weeks later he rejoined Nitro Circus Live, sealing his epic comeback by stomping first a double front flip then a double front no-hander in front of 8000 screaming fans.
“This is my dream,” Buckworth said at the time. “If I had any words to say it would definitely be, ‘If you set your mind to it you can do anything. If there is a will there’s a way’.”