No, it’s not Tom Cruise

No need to pinch yourself if you think you might have seen Tom Cruise in Christchurch or Invercargill this month. It’s not Tom; it’s his double.

Matt Mingay is a high flyer, nevertheless. One of the 26 year-old Aussie stunt rider’s many claims to fame is that he doubled for Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2. He’s got the scars to prove it.

Matt’s in town with some of Australasia’s finest FMX riders for the Jim Beam Big Air Tour that kick starts in Christchurch on Thursday (Nov. 14). The South Island section of the tour has a second event in Invercargill on Saturday November 23.

These FMX guys fly. With nine riders, Jim Beam says it’s the biggest line-up ever of FMX bikes in one place for a demo show in New Zealand.

Among others, name riders include New Zealand’s best in Nick Franklin who with fellow Kiwi rider Nic Fletcher takes on Luke Urek, Shannon Wells and Leigh Harriman from Australia.

Mix in some great music from Kiwi bands Sommerset – winners of the Jim Beam Video Award – and 8 Foot Sativa and The Stoutfellows and you’ve got a recipe for a foot stompingly huge night of top entertainment.

Jim Beam’s Bruce Priddy says the event is fully licensed with patrons needing proof of age at the gate to get wrist bands that provide ID for liquor purchases.

Mr Priddy says he expects the events to attract good crowds. “We’re doing a pre-event promotion at E-cars in Christchurch where the guys will jump over two cars and there’ll be stunt demos. That should get them going.”

Venues are Addington Rugby League Grounds in Christchurch and Rugby Park Stadium in Invercargill. Mr Priddy says he’s expecting 10,000-plus in Invercargill and only a few less in Christchurch.

“FMX is the most exciting of all extreme sports with major mass market WOW factor. New Zealand is starting to produce top class riders and the likes of Nick Franklin and Nic Fletcher are a strong new breed of innovative and daring Kiwi riders.

“We want to give these guys the opportunity to be showcased in New Zealand as much as possible. It really is an awesome sport to watch.”

Mr Priddy says Jim Beam is committed to the sport having brought the Jim Beam Planet X Tour around the country earlier this year with plans to extend the tour in March. There are also FMX elements at Big Boys Toys in Auckland and the Vodafone Planet X Games in Wellington later this month.

Tickets for the Christchurch and Invercargill events are available at Ticketek or you can book online at http:// http://www.nzbigair.com.

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