Local riders ready for annual Extreme Thing

Annual sports and musical festival set for Saturday at Desert Breeze

This weekend's Extreme Thing music and extreme sports competition and festival is bringing professional athletes back to their hometown for charity and fun.

Stunt bicyclist Ricardo Laguna lives in the northeast area of Las Vegas, and turned his home into his playground. Skater Kenny Anderson moved from the city eight years ago, but frequently travels back to his southwest-area neighborhood.

Anderson's trip to Extreme Thing has special meaning this year. Aside from autographs and demonstrations at the event, Anderson plans to raise money to help out a friend.

Skating buddy Dave Ayotte was diagnosed last year with a disease that quickly drained his insurance. Anderson decided to coordinate a raffle to help raise funds for his friend's medical bills, with tickets ranging from $1 to about $20. Prizes include skateboard products including autographed items, clothing, shoes, a Fender guitar package, autographed DVDs by director Spike Jonze and a pool table. Prizes will be given before the skate competition awards ceremony the day of the event.

"There's a lot of rad stuff. Every bit is going to help," said Anderson, 28. "At least your money is going to a really good cause. When you're a skater, it means a lot when (memorabilia is) signed."

Anderson grew up skating but never realized he could make a living out of something he loved. He used to skate the steps at Winchester Community Center, and now the center has a skate park.

Skaters today have more places to practice than when he was young. Now, there are as many kids playing soccer that are skateboarding, Anderson said.

"As I've been back, I've seen kids grow and get better. You pass that two to three-year point, and you get addicted," said Anderson, a 1994 Bonanza High School graduate. "It's good to see kids keep going and see the passion and drive they have for it. People are starting to realize this is a positive thing. It's always been like that. It was time consuming. It gave me something to look forward to coming home from school. It gave me a reason to do good in school."

The Extreme Thing event will bring 8,000 event participants, more than 200 competitors on bikes, skateboards and inline skates and 28 national music acts on stage.

Laguna has put together a dirt demonstration during Extreme Thing starring another Las Vegas native, fellow stunt bicyclist T.J. Lavin.

Riding a bike kept Laguna out of trouble from the time he moved to Las Vegas shortly after a visit to the city for his 13th birthday. The family had little money, so they moved into a trailer park, much to the teenager's dismay.

He soon found the desert near his home was a makeshift track for local kids to race their bikes, and he wanted in on the action. His parents bought him a bike and before long, he was racing on a professionally built track near his home.

He soon realized he didn't like the cutthroat nature of the sport and switched to stunt riding. DK Bicycles sponsored Laguna by his senior year at Eldorado High School.

He's broken his wrist and collarbone but never wanted to quit.

"A lot of times (my friends) got hurt and said `Screw this.' I stuck with it, even though there were times I was down," said Laguna, 21. "Now, it's a way I make a living. If we hadn't moved in there, I wouldn't have ever ridden a bike."

Laguna's parents bought an apartment complex, and made their son a deal: live in a two-bedroom apartment for a year, and they would buy a house. The house they chose sits on an acre of property with plenty of room for a "playground." Laguna uses shovels, large equipment and imagination to turn the backyard into a park ready for stunts, riding and lots of practice.

The family moved in three years ago, but the backyard is in a constant state of flux.

"That was the whole purpose of the house," Laguna said. "It takes a lot of shovel time. For me, building jumps, it's like drawing pictures. Seeing the shapes, it's an art for me. I love it."

Having a backyard to practice in sounds good to many skateboard and stunt bike enthusiasts, but for Laguna, it's all work.

"The sport is getting gnarly. I have to take it more seriously," Laguna said. "If I do good, I'll make it to the X-Games. Last year, I barely missed it. This is the year."

Extreme Thing will take place Saturday at Desert Breeze Park, 8275 W. Spring Mountain Road, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. For more information, visit the event Web site at www.extremething.com.


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