COG day two gets adrenaline pumping with extreme sports
Story by: NowMedia Staff
Revving up bright and early on Saturday morning, COG ignited day two with ferocity, intensity and adrenaline from the get-go.
As an event backed by Monster Energy drinks, it comes as no surprise that not only are attendees able to dance their nights away with a stellar stage lineup, but can soak up rays all morning too.
While watching athletes from across Western Canada showcase their athletic abilities in various extreme sports.
Beach Volleyball
With seven courts conquering space on Hot Sands beach, both male and female elite athletes are going head to head all weekend long in round robin competition.
Athletes are not only UBCO Heat alumni, but some participants have also travelled from out of province for a chance to take home a champion title.
From insane rallies and big blocks to wicked kills and nail-biting competition, you can expect entertainment in abundance from the athletes all weekend long as they play two on two.
The round robin will continue until 3 p.m. on Sunday with the Women’s Pro Finals running from 3 p.m. to 4 :30 p.m. and the Men’s Pro Finals from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Rugby Sevens
A new addition to the festival, COG welcomed Rugby into the 2018 event. As part of BC’s Rugby Summer Sevens Series, male and female elite and or upcoming rugby athletes have been tackling it out on field.
The Summer Sevens Series is a touring tournament that welcomes athletes from across British Columbia to compete against some of the best players in the province for a shot to be number one—and Kelowna’s own COG is the first stop.
Slightly different than regular rugby, the game has only seven players on the field per team, with only two seven-minute halves to give their all and dominate their competition, making for one fast paced, adrenaline-fuelled sport.
Just like regular rugby, some teams have interesting ways of pumping up their squad, with dances, songs and warm-up stretches.
BMX and Skateboarding
Returning like an old friend, COG’s Urban Zone is back with some of the Okanagan and beyond’s best trick BMXers and skateboarders.
Kick-flipping things off with a jam session, participants have free reign of their urban domain to practice their hardest tricks in front of attendees for a chance to win some cash prizes. Once they’ve warmed up (not temperature wise) athletes are separated into heats and given the concrete pad to do with what they please.
With boarders grinding rails, utilizing ramps and showing off their fancy footwork with seemingly simple static tricks, you can expect to see some of the best in the scene giving it their all.
Not only that, but the fearless BMXers can be caught going full send off of jumps and ramps, gaining serious air and pulling some gnarly stunts.
Saturday is just the beginning for these riders as qualifying rounds finish up. All the action, practice and all-around bad-assery will come to a head on Sunday for the finals.
Motocross
Perhaps one of the festival’s biggest calling cards, the Monster Energy Motozone draws one of the biggest crowds of the event — with good reason.
Featuring national champions of the sport and Motocross Icons, these athletes invented the word “daredevil.”
Effortlessly soaring 30+ feet in the air across a 75 foot wide gap between two ramps, these adrenaline junkies perform death defying stunts on their metal steads with ease.
From tricks like the “Kiss of Death” to literally, letting go totally of their bikes, attendees will not only oh and ahh with fascination but also cover their eyes out of fear.
Jam and Mayhem sessions are taking place all weekend long at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Honourable Mention — Bikini Contest
Another COG staple has to be the Bikini Contest that takes place on the beach stage (obviously).
Featuring the ladies of Centre of Gravity, the event not only allows attendees to relish at the beauty made here in the Okanagan, but gives participants a hefty boost of confidence.
A great bonus of this friendly competition is not only can you spot men in the audience but the females in the crowd are screaming just as loud #girlpower.
If you want to feast your eyes on all the heart-pumping action of the COG Sporting events, you still can as they carry on until 7 p.m. tonight and are back for more on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Day Passes are still available online!
