Greg Powell pulls a 'Special Flip' on Nitro Circus Live Tour
MTV’s Nitro Circus cast member Greg Powell, more commonly known as 'Special Greg', landed the world’s first BMX backflip body-varial during the Nitro Circus Live Australian Tour on March
19 in Gosford.
The new trick, which is being dubbed as a 'special flip', involved Powell completely dismounting the bike in the air, doing a backflip, and then getting back on it. To make it more intense,
the trick was performed over a 32-foot gap. It would have been an ugly sight if he had failed to land it cleanly.
Flips are not uncommon in the sport of BMX. However, the stunt recently pulled off by the 27-year-old Powell took the flip to an entirely new level. Reportedly he had been practicing the
trick for quite some time now, finally pulling it off successfully a few days back.
Powell is the cousin of motorsports competitor and stunt performer, Travis Pastrana. Pastrana, the man behind the Nitro Circus and member of the cast himself, has been making an impact
in the world of action sports ever since his first X Games gold medal 13 years ago. Both Pastrana and Powell have been riding BMX for several years, though they are not widely known for their skills in the particular sport.
Pastrana is keen to see his cousin enter the BMX Big Air at the X Games. He recently installed a BMX course at the Nitro Circus compound in Maryland, USA. The course was designed by BMX
rider and ramp builder Nate Wessel.
Wessel said, “Travis wants Special Greg to get into BMX Big Air at the X Games, and he bet me $100 that he’s going to have a medal in two years from the X Games.”
After the recent 'special flip', Wessel would be surely feeling a little less confident about the bet.
The Maryland-born Powell made a few guest appearances on the first season of Nitro Circus before becoming a primary cast member for season two. His energy and fearless attitude is very
similar to that of Pastrana. According to the official website of Nitro Circus, Powell is just all around awesome at everything and gives his 100 percent in whatever he does, regardless of the odds.
Powell said on this personal website, “At this point all of our Nitro Circus friends and fam should for all intents and purposes be mature adults by now. This just isn't the case. We are
still pushing, still dreaming, still striving to accomplish things that far exceed our ability levels.”
Nitro Circus Live shows in Australia and New Zealand featured some of the most sensational BMX tricks, such as the no-handed double frontflip and an attempt at a superman double frontflip.
The 'super flip' was still the highlight of the tour without any doubt. It remains to be seen whether Pastrana attempts the trick during X Games. The amount of risk in attempting such a stunt is too great to be ignored, but if there is anyone capable of the
feat other than Powell, its Pastrana – the man with the honour of performing the world’s only double-back flip on a motorcycle in 2006.
In my opinion, Powell possesses the traits of a future champion, as his fearless approach and exceptional BMX skills make his future very promising.
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