New York City’s Times Square was once the home to peep shows and drug dealers. It has since been revived into a place where everyone is welcome. Recently sections of the street have been transformed into predestination walkways and seating areas and because of these changes, large live events can now take place in the middle of the street. The good people at ASA Entertainment descended on Times Square with some of the best skateboarders and BMX riders in the world on Thursday and they showed us an innovative way to maximize use of the space.

It’s ASA’s Air in the Square event featuring twenty of the world’s best BMX and skateboarding pros competing on the MegaRamp. The free event featured a one-of-a-kind 195-foot long course that took over a full Times Square block and featured a 25’ high roll-in ramp, two 25’ wide jumps, and a course-ending 14’ high quarter pipe. The MegaRamp was created by skateboarder Danny Way. Since its debut in 2004 MegaRamp has transformed both skateboarding and BMX live events.

The BMX riders blew us away. Imagine shooting down a ramp like a bullet, with nothing but a bike to hang on too. The crowd was in awe, as each time one of these guys hit the MegaRamp, it was another opportunity to see some astounding raw talent. Throughout the exhibition we marveled at several astounding tricks like flips, bar-spins, and tail-whips.

It was literally a who’s who when it came to the extreme athletes participating in the Air In The Square event. Such names as Bob Burnquist, Ryan Nyquist, Pierre-Luc Gagnon as well as New York native Elliot Sloan came out to wow the capacity crowd. Times Square may not be a place that city dwellers think to go to for a good time but when an event like “Air In The Square” comes to town, the spectacle is worth attending. Where else in the city is there enough space for a gigantic MegaRamp anyways?

-Alan Smithee