Action sports tour roars into Salt Lake

Part circus, part exhibition, part sporting event.

The AST Dew Tour rolls into Salt Lake City today for the Toyota Challenge — the fourth stop on the action sport series calendar. It brings superstars in the industry like Ryan Sheckler, Bob Burnquist, Jamie Bestwick and even a couple Olympic medalists.

The event, which may be viewed by some as more circus than sport, is competitive nonetheless and has a massive audience. With a live NBC television time slot and interactive expo surrounding the competitions, Dew Tour organizers expect close to 65,000 people to watch the events live during the four-day visit.

Weather could change that with several events being held outdoors, but Salt Lake City has earned a spot as a favorite destination for the Dew Tour because of the crowds.

"I think we all love coming to Salt Lake," BMX Dirt star Luke Parslow said. "I got here a couple of days early for a change and I'm having a blast just riding around and checking things out."

Parslow and many of the athletes competing against each other embrace the "alternative" image of the sports. They often have lots of tattoos, body piercings and a devil-may-care attitude. But when it comes time to compete, the attitude changes to a much more serious tone.

After all, many of the moves and tricks they perform can result in life-altering — if not life-ending — consequences if the slightest thing goes wrong.

"This is serious business," Parslow, a 23-year-old native of Australia, said. "One of my best mates is paralyzed now. He has a wife and family. When I go out there, sometimes that's all I can think about. It's not easy to do this, and once you get a little older, you really start thinking about what you're doing and putting a little more style in without all the same risks."

That mate, Stephen Murray, may never walk again after suffering spinal injuries during a Dew Tour stop a year ago.

Accidents as catastrophic as Murray's are fairly rare but do happen on occasion. And while each athlete is chasing points and wants to win, they consider each other family.

This weekend's competition is the fourth stop on the five-city tour. It represents a chance for athletes to climb the overall standings, and the competition — while sometimes looking casual and relaxed — is fierce.