Extreme athletes, musicians to perform at Galleria Mall today

By Andy Samuelson

Saturday, April 18, 2009 | 7 a.m.

Dennis McCoy’s legendary BMX tricks and longevity in a fledgling sport that he helped mold in the early 1980s earned him the nickname the “grandfather of BMX.”

Well the moniker seemed to stick, and so too did McCoy.

The gray hair jokes were lobbed his way nearly 25 years ago at the first X-Games in Rhode Island and Vermont.

The 42-year-old Kansas City, Mo. native hasn’t slowed since and said he doesn’t plan on it anytime soon, either.

“Hang it up? Why? That’s never been my mindset,” said McCoy. “It’s so enjoyable to me, maybe more now than ever. I do realize that I can’t do it forever.”

Today McCoy will be amongst a handful of extreme athletes — skaters, BMX riders, and motocross stars — putting on a demonstration at the Galleria Mall in Henderson.

The free, all-ages event, which starts at noon and goes until 6 p.m., is the first stop on this year’s Journeys Backyard Barbeque Tour, which mixes extreme sports and music in cities like Orlando, Atlanta, Baltimore and Chicago over the next two months.

“These shows are just a bunch of fun,” said McCoy an avid poker player, who admits he’s missed the feeling of playing on Las Vegas felts for “a little while.”

“The great thing about this situation is you don’t have to worry about the competition phase and can really just put on a show for young people who may have never seen our sports live before.”

Vans is the official sponsor for the Las Vegas tour stop and athletes such eight-time X-Games gold medalist skater Bucky Lasek and legendary skater Steve Caballero will be showing off their signature maneuvers.

Joining Lasek and McCoy are Christian Hosoi, Neal Hendrix, Rob Lorifice, Omar Hassan, Alex Perelson, Josh Borden, Francisco Zurita, Shane Trittler, Derek Garland, Ryan Hagy, and Wes Agee.

The athletes extreme moves will be mirrored be an all-day music session, including headline band, Saosin. The California five some have yet to drop their debut album (its coming in September), but have already been selling out shows like the Vans Warped Tour and singing alongside acts like My Chemical Romance.

Local bands Away We Go, This Romantic Tragedy, and Fearless Fearless will also be rocking all day.

“Well the best part about it, is the event is free. And right now with the state of the economy, you can’t beat having a whole day of fun without paying a dime,” said Brian Gass, the tour’s organizer.

Gass said the fourth-installment of the Journeys tour would include more of everything — autographs sessions, free give-aways (including limited edition T-shirts) and, of course, bigger stunts.

“The Metal Mulisha Team has some big things planned,” Gass said of the extreme motocross riders.

If none of the activities listed above is arm-twisting enough, McCoy said just come out and “enjoy the sunshine.”

“I hear it’s supposed to be a real nice day, remember not everyone is lucky as you, Las Vegas residents,” the Midwesterner said poking fun about the recent cold spells that have hit the KC area.

“No, it’s really gonna be a great show, and a great time.”