BMXer Napolitan excited about 2013

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Napolitan

Although BMX athlete Anthony Napolitan of Austintown performs remarkable feats and stunts on a bicycle, space parachutist Felix Baumgartner is out of this world.

Without a doubt, Baumgartner’s supersonic freefall from 128,100 feet in October produced incredulous reactions and world-wide acclaim.

Napolitan, however, is better closer to the ground and, he too, has had millions of views of his videos.

They’re also alike in one other respect: both have Red Bull as a sponsor.

Recently, the 2004 Austintown Fitch High graduate gave a glimpse of his 2012 highlights and a preview of 2013’s schedule.

SDLqMy year was great and full of positive changes,” Napolitan said via e-mail recently. “I started off with a web video featuring fellow RedBull rider Drew Bezanson. The video reached over 1,000,000 views.

“Shortly after, I packed my bags in Pa. [Camp Woodward] and headed across country to my new residence of Costa Mesa, [Calif.]. Before reaching California I made a stop in Austin, [Texas] to live the months of Jan-April.”

During those months, he traveled to New Zealand for an event called Red Bull Roast It, where he took a top-five finish.

“A couple months after that I traveled to Germany to defend my world title against the best riders in the world,” said Napolitan, who finished fifth in Germany.”

He said 2013 is looking very promising with the X Games expansion.

“I’ll be in L.A. and traveling to countries around the world [Germany, Brazil and Spain] for MegaRamp contests, and one of those also bringing back BMX Dirt.”

He continued, “Also in 2013, I will be bringing back my BMX dirt event.”

Napolitan created Red Bull Dreamline in 2011, a private facility near the Coffee Mill Ski Resort in Wabasha, Minn.

It’s by invite only, available to 16 of the world’s best BMX dirt riders who compete to claim the title in a first-of-its-kind contest.

A description of Dreamline reads: “The unrestricted trails-style course sends riders to the moon, competing in a rider-judged jam format. Red Bull Dreamline is a contest built by bike riders for bike riders.”

“It was a major success within the BMX world,” he said. “This coming year it will be featured on NBC’s Red Bull Signature Series, a live television series including events such as Red Bull X Fighter, Red Bull Crashed Ice, Red Bull Rampage and Red Bull Super Natural.”

If Napolitan hadn’t taken off in the action-sports realm, there’s no telling what he’d be doing.

“My guess is that I would’ve continued school and would’ve changed my major five times by now,” Napolitan said in retrospect. “BMX offers me so much more insight compared to what school could’ve ever had. I’m in the world experiencing things that normal people don’t ever get the chance to. I will say that BMX has, for sure, set me up for my future endeavors within the industry.”

To get a sampling of the Dreamline action, visit: http://m.redbull.com/op/rbcom2/en/mcat/video/1243093233777. John Bassetti is a sports writer at The Vindicator. Email him at bassetti@vindy.com.