X Games contenders Jono Schwan and Rachel Reinhard worried about safety of homes in Colorado Springs
Professional skateboarders Jono Schwan and Rachel Reinhard will have a tough time concentrating on making a solid impact in X Games LA as they find wildfires threatening their houses and communities back in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The fire is estimated to have claimed 346 homes this week, becoming the most destructive calamity in the state’s history. According to the latest reports, only 10 percent of the fire has been contained yet.
The devastating fire will definitely be on Schwan’s and Reinhard’s mind as they get ready to face the world’s best skaters on what is unarguably the biggest stage of action sports.
"My family's home is right in the path of the fire and our area is next in line to be evacuated," says Schwan.
The 15-year-old skater had made his appearance in X Games Skate Vert Amateur event in 2009 and 2010, earning a ninth-place finish on his debut while walking away with the bronze in his sophomore year.
After receiving an invite to Skateboard Big Air event for this year, Schwan is one of the seven fresh faces that have been training in Los Angeles since the last few days in order to prepare themselves to take on the MegaRamp.
“Tuesday's practice was only the sixth time I've ever ridden on the MegaRamp, and I know it's going to take everything I've got to ride it safely,” Schwan conceded. “I got the call to see if I'd be interested in competing in Skateboard Big Air and just decided
to go for it. I flew out to Woodward and got as many days in as I could, and here I am.”
Reinhard, another Colorado-based rider, is trying to distract herself from the rampaging wildfires back home in order to remain focused on X Games. She revealed that the fire as miles away from her community before she left for Los Angeles, but is still
really concerned about her family and community.
Making her X Games debut in 2008, the 22-year-old Reinhard barely missed out on the podium in Women’s Skate Street event. After a hiatus of two years due to injury, she returned to the mega-event in 2011 to find herself finish in seventh position. She acknowledged
the fact that the competition had gotten tougher over the last few years and therefore she needed to come up with something really special to have a shot at the podium.
The latest edition of X Games has already kicked-off in L.A. and will continue for four days before wrapping up on Sunday, July 1.
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