Seymour native to represent USA at X-Games in Texas

To compete in Olympics of action sports

Seymour-Oxford native Richie Kearns has been selected to represent the USA at the 2016 X-Games this weekend in Austin, Texas.  

This is the Olympics of action sports.  

Only the best of the best in action sports get selected to compete at the X-Games.  

He was chosen as one of the top 10 freestyle motocross riders in the World in performing "Best Tricks."  

He is the only rider representing the USA competing Saturday night in the "Best Trick" competition in Austin, Texas. 

Richie is up against nine other riders from New Zealand, Japan, France, Australia, and Switzerland.

In 2009, Richie gave up everything. He sold his driveway sealing business, loaded up his van and drove from his Connecticut home to California to purse a freestyle motocross career. 
He didn't even start riding until 18. 

Just two years after getting into dirt bikes, he was landing back flips with ease.  Richie says his background in extreme skiing and BMX helped with the transition into freestyle motocross. By 2010, he was a regular on the Dew Tour, International Freestyle Motocross Association Tour, the Monster Truck circuit,  Monster Energy Freestyle circuit, appearing at NASCAR events and was the first freestyle motocross rider to land a "dead body back flip" and the "Paris Hilton back flip".   

Some of Richie's highlights of his action sports career since his last appearance at the X-Games in 2010 have been: representing the USA and winning the 2013 X-Pilots World Freestyle Motocross Championship, winning the ESPN Award in 2010 for "Best Freestyle Motocross Trick"  he appeared in Country Music band Florida Georgia' Lines music video  "This is How We Roll" with Luke Bryan, touring with the Travis Pastrana's Nitro Circus Action Sports Tour, performing with the "Metal Mulisha Freestyle Tour",  the ATV Big Air Tour, making appearances at Monster Truck Shows, featured several freestyle motocross documentaries when he was selected as one of the top 50 freestyle motocross riders in the world in 2013 and several State Fairs.   

Currently Richie is breaking away from a very busy five month tour across the USA to head to the X-Games. 

His tour this summer includes among other events: riding in demos, making appearances on the Travis Pastrana Nitro Circus Tour, the Universal City Soul Circus Tour, the Monster Energy Freestyle Tour, NASCAR Pit Party Events, several State Fairs, several other freestyle motocross events and competitions.

People can watch Richie make his bid for the gold medal in the  "Best Trick" competition at the 2016 X-Games in Austin, Texas which will be aired on ESPN tomorrow, June 4 at 9 p.m.

This is a press release from Rich Kearns, Director of Security, Seymour Public Schools.