CANADIAN BRUCE COOK BECOMES FIRST PARAPLEGIC TO SUCCESSFULLY BACKFLIP A MOTORBIKE

Historic Achievement Takes Place During Last Night’s Nitro Circus Live Toronto Performance

Cook to Appear at Nitro Circus’ Upcoming Canadian Shows

Toronto, ON (October 15, 2015) – During Nitro Circus Live’s raucous show at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre Wednesday night, Canadian freestyle motocross athlete Bruce Cook brought down the house by landing an extraordinary “world’s first”: the first ever motorcycle backflip by a paraplegic. Cook’s achievement was the undeniable highlight in an action packed show featuring the world’s best extreme athletes.

“To perform with my Nitro Circus friends again and ride on the world’s biggest action sports stage was incredible,” said Cook. “The energy and support from the fans was unbelievable.”

“Bruce Cook is the man. The strength and courage he’s shown is huge,” said Nitro Circus ringleader and action sports icon Travis Pastrana. “In Nitro Circus, we are all about pushing boundaries and overcoming obstacles in order to reach our goals, and Bruce lives that day in and day out.”

“This is now officially the biggest moment in Nitro Circus Live’s history,” said Michael Porra, Nitro Circus CEO and Creative Director. “Bruce Cook is part of the Nitro family and to see him back on the bike doing what he loves is tremendous.”

Cook had visited Travis Pastrana’s “Pastranaland” complex in Maryland, USA months ago to train with the extreme sports legend while he was on a break during Nitro Circus Live’s marathon world tour. Cook’s Toronto jump was his very first attempt at landing on a proper ramp. In order to make this momentous attempt, Cook’s bike was modified to secure and support his legs. Once seated on the bike, Cook could not bail out during the jump if something went wrong.  His commitment was absolute.

Cook’s world’s first is the crowning achievement in a huge comeback over adversity. Just over a year and half ago, Cook was living his dream. Already an acclaimed FMX athlete, the Kelowna, Canada native had been touring the world, performing for thousands of fans at each tour stop. He made his X Games debut in 2012 and was riding with one of his longtime idols, Travis Pastrana. Cook was also going to try to rock the action sports world by attempting the world’s first double frontflip. In an instant however, everything changed.  Cook under rotated on the double frontflip landing and crashed hard, breaking his T-11 vertebrae and damaging his spinal cord resulting in paralysis from the waist down. Cook now faced the biggest challenge of his life.

The highly motivated Cook tackled his injuries with the same focus and resolve that fueled his riding. He remained as driven and passionate about action sports – and about life – as ever. In fact, just ten months after his accident, Cook was back on a dirt bike and popping wheelies on his first ride. Cook continues to motivate and inspire people around the world with his story.  Having come full circle making action sports history in front of his home country, Cook has defied the odds once again and redefined what is possible.

Cook will appear with Nitro Circus Live during the tour’s remaining 2015 Canada shows. A full list of 2015 North American tour dates is below. For tickets and tour info go to nitrocircus.com. Follow Nitro Circus on Twitter: @nitrocircus and Facebook: www.facebook.com/NitroCircus. Athletes subject to change.

Nitro Circus Live Fall 2015 North American Tour

* Featuring Bruce Cook

About Nitro Circus

Recently named by Forbes magazine as one of America’s Most Promising Companies, Nitro Circus continues to position itself as the leading youth action sports & entertainment brand on the planet.  From humble beginnings in 2003 — Jeremy Rawle, Gregg Godfrey and extreme sports superstar Travis Pastrana producing DVDs from a Utah garage — to a smash TV series which has aired in over 60 countries, Nitro Circus has exploded to global popularity. In 2012, Nitro Circus: The Movie, featuring cast members from the hit television series, was released in cinemas worldwide. In 2015, Nitro Circus announced a partnership with NBC Sports Ventures.  The multi-year strategic alliance will feature TV specials and series programming airing nationally in the U.S. on NBC and NBCSN as well as streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra.

The TV show was transformed by current CEO and action sports industry guru Michael Porra into a must-see live event in 2010, creating the global touring phenomenon that is Nitro Circus Live. Since its inaugural Australian trek five years ago, the show has travelled the globe, obliterating box office records and cultivating a legion of diehard fans.  Nitro Circus has now rolled across five continents, blown away over two million fans and sold-out shows in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, the Middle East and South Africa.  With close to 100 shows globally set for 2015 and a packed 2016 touring schedule visiting even more cities still to be announced, Nitro Circus is the world’s most successful action sports touring brand.