Canada’s Hottest Beach Festival is known for bringing some of the biggest names in electronic dance music, hip hop and live music to Kelowna, but it’s the eight sports, played in five zones, with over 150 pro athletes competing for some of the country’s highest prize pools that really sets Monster Energy Center of Gravity apart from any other festival in Western Canada.
The perfect weekend getaway for music lovers and adrenaline junkies alike, MECOG takes place July 25 – 27, 2014 in Kelowna’s beautiful City Park on the pristine shores of Okanagan Lake.
The Sports Zones run all weekend, starting at 9 am until 8 pm.
Dirt Zone
Truly a fan favorite, the Dirt Zone is a mix of adrenaline and technique featuring both FMX (freestyle motocross) and FMB (freestyle mountain bike) on side-by-side courses. Hosted by mountain biking icon Steve Romaniuk, the FMB course gets bigger and better each year. The FMX course provides heart-pumping action brought to you by a team of Canada’s best show jumpers put together by Reagan Sieg. Can cans, Supermans, and Backflips? No problem – these boys know how to keep a crowd on the edge of their seats.
Athletes to watch for:
FMX: Kris Foster – Kamloops, BC (Monster Energy-sponsored athlete, 4th in 2014 X Games Moto X Speed and Style)
FMB: Garrett Robertson – Kelowna, BC (Gold at 2014 GoPro Mountain Games
Water Zone
The Water Zone’s System 2.0 overhead cable by Sesitec will tow some of the top names in wakeboarding and wakeskating back and forth across a massive pool on Hot Sands Beach. The course will feature two rails and a kicker, giving riders the chance to hype up the audience with flips, spins and rail slides. On a hot summer day in the Okanagan, the Water Zone is the best place to cool down as spectators are guaranteed to get wet if they lock down a front-row spot.
Athletes to watch for:
Wakeboarding: Kevin Henshaw – Clermont, Florida (Monster Energy sponsored rider, introduced the 2.0 System to COG)
Wakeskating: Tanner Champion – Nanaimo, BC (2-time winner, Canada National Wakeskate Title)
Urban Zone
The Urban Zone lives up to its name bringing the feel of street riding to the middle of Kelowna’s City Park. The Bakery Boardshop and local BMX pro Joey Krank will team up again to build a park tailored for skateboarding and BMX featuring rails, quarter pipes, boxes and a 30’ half pipe. Focused on promoting and developing local talent, it will play host to some of the Okanagan’s best skaters and BMX riders. These boys lay it all on the line throwing down their best tricks for the crowds.
Athletes to watch for:
BMX: Joey Krank – Kelowna, BC (Local pro, Urban Zone Coordinator – video)
Skateboarding: Kevin Ramsay — Penticton, BC (2013 COG Skate Champ, 2014 Element “Make It Count” Series Champ )
Beach Volleyball
Center of Gravity began as a Beach Volleyball contest, so they always spike this one hard. Featuring one of the country’s highest prize pools ($11,500), some of North-America’s top pro men’s and women’s doubles will duke it out on Hot Sands Beach for the top spot. The finals will also be televised live on Shaw TV on Sunday, July 27. For those who want in on the action, Rec Grass Volleyball tournaments are open to the public each day in Mixed 3’s, 4’s and Reverse Doubles. This is a great way to see the event and be part of the action! Participants must register in advance at www.centerofgravity.ca.
Athletes to watch for:
Mike Platinga & Cam Wheelan – Langley, BC & Barrie, ON (2013 National Beach Volleyball Champs)
Hoop Zone
Got game? The Hoop Zone athletes do! The stakes are high for this 4 vs. 4 open-format, full-court tournament, with some of Western Canada’s top basketball players vying for the $5,000 prize pool and bragging rights for the rest of the year. Always a fan favourite is the Slam Dunk Contest with the most impressive dunk taking home $500.
Three-Day Sport & Music Passes are $239.95. 3-Day Sport Passes (day access only, no evening concerts) start at only $49.95 and Single Day Sport Passes start at only $19.95.
Tickets available online at www.centerofgravity.ca/tickets
