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Monday September 15th, 2003

Gravity Games 2003 is a hit in Cleveland

Last week, extreme athletes from all over the world competed in Cleveland, OH for Gravity Games gold medals and Gibson guitars. Over the course of the five day event, 160,000 fans crammed into the lakefront area around the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to witness the sports action and experience "Festival Village," where sponsors had exhibits and gave out freebies.

"Best Trick" competitions were held in the sports of Inline Street, Skateboard Street, Skateboard Vert and Wakeboard. The athlete who performed the best trick in each contest won a custom designed Les Paul from Gibson USA and $8,000 cash.

Gibson USA and Epiphone sponsored an interactive booth where 11 people and a time could test drive some of the world's greatest electric guitars. Adults and kids alike were thrilled to jam on guitars in the shadow of the Rock Hall.

Below is an exclusive photo gallery from the event:

The ticket line in front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was busy all week.

The Gibson USA/Epiphone booth was on the shores of Lake Erie in the shadow of the Rock Hall.

Extreme athlete Biker Sherlock brought NBC to the booth and borrowed a custom Sobe Epiphone Les Paul to tape his introductions to the alternative bands that performed throughout the weekend.

Inline Street Best Trick Winner Richie Velasquez goes head over heels
on his way to winning a Gibson Guitar.

Freestyle Motocross had fans packed into the grandstands all week long.

Chris Haslam claims his guitar after pulling a  frontside boardslide to kickflip out. At right, he is grabbing some air doing a 360 varial flip over the center hip.

Above, Bob Burnquist tops a six-foot extension of the vert ramp. At right, Mathias Ringstrom collects the guitar for his kickflip melon grab 540.

Wakeboard Best Trick winner Tino Santori show off his new guitar.

Some skateboarders jam in the Gibson booth.

Southern Califorina band "The Rolling Blackouts" playing their Epiphone Sheraton II
and Gibson SG Special on Sunday.

An excited fan wins his very own Epiphone Pierced SG.