The 110th edition of the Inter-State Fair kicked off in Coffeyville on August 14 with a whole bunch of “big air” as freestyle motocross riders pulled various tricks while airborne.
A group of ten freestyle riders, many with résumés from past X-Games and Nitro Games, entertained the crowd with an hour and a half of tricks such as the cliffhanger, one-handed and double grab heart attack, gigantic kiss of death, super can, heel clicker, dead body, and Indian back flip.
They rode their bikes up ramps, jumping forty feet high, landing on a steel platform, spanning seventy-five feet from the first ramp to the landing platform, much to the delight of fans.
For Vanessa Huckaby and Shane Charles, it was the first time they had seen FMX in Coffeyville. Natives of Vinita, they will spend the next five days in Coffeyville, as Huckaby’s children, Ronnie, age twelve, and Lexi, eleven, show goats tomorrow. For Vanessa, it’s the first time she’s been to the Inter-State Fair, although Shane has come in past years. They’re more “rodeo people,” they said, but the FMX is fun. “I like it,” Vanessa said. “It’s very interesting.”
The couple has a young son, Rustin, who is fifteen months old.
Paul and Victoria Austin, Coffeyville residents, brought their sons, ages ten, nine and nearly two years old, to FMX. Paul attends the demo derby each year but it was his first time at FMX, and he enjoyed it. “I like it,” he said, but he’s not going to be buying a bike anytime soon. “I’d never do anything like that.” The action is fast-paced for their boys and keeps them entertained. They’ll ride the carnival rides and take in some fair food while they are at the fair, and they’ll be back on Saturday night for the demo derby.
The riders entertained with three different contests: freestyle, best trick, and best whip contest.
