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Nick Bowman Features Editor | 770-718-3426 | getout@gainesvilletimes.com
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gainesvilletimes.com
Thursday, June 27, 2019
Photo courtesy of Todd Brewer
Kris Furr tangles with a bull at a Bullfighters Only event in 2018. The group is holding an event this weekend at the Chicopee Woods
Agricultural Center.
Gainesville to host largest-ever
bullfighting event on East Coast
BY NICK BOWMAN
nbowman@gainesvilletimes.com
First thing’s first: The bulls aren’t
killed.
Bullfighters Only is setting up shop
for some man-versus-beast entertain
ment beginning Friday, June 28, at the
Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center in
Gainesville. General admission is $20,
and it’s the first event of its kind at the
Chicopee center.
But while it carries the “bullfight
ers” moniker, think less about matadors
wielding swords and more WWE-meets-
UFC-meets-rodeo clown doing his best to
get as close to the bull as possible — and
put on a good show at the same time —
while not getting gored, trampled, tossed
or otherwise maimed.
“You can’t compare it to any rodeo or
any kind of Western event that you’ve
ever seen. It’s the rawest form of enter
tainment. It’s man-versus-beast,” said
organizer Luke Kauffman, “and I can’t
stress enough it’s often the guy that’s
always in harm’s way.
“People don’t want to see anyone get
hurt bad, but they want to see someone be
dangerously close to mortal peril — and
you see that every fight.”
The event grew out of the rodeo cir-
Starting this week, Lake Lanier Fly-
board will be holding weekly Flyboard
shows and lessons every Friday from now
to the end of August.
From 6 to 8 p.m., attendees aged 13 and
older will be able to see professional fly-
boarders — the stuff of viral videos for the
past few years — perform tricks and stunts
at the Margaritaville resort, as well as get
the opportunity to try the sport out for
themselves. Lake Lanier Flyboard owner
Alexander Maravegias describes the sen
sation of being on a Flyboard as akin to
being a superhero.
“I’ve loved flyboarding and the feeling
that it gives me since day one,” Maraveg
ias said. “Every time I strap on the board I
get the sense of adrenaline. It’s just such an
amazing feeling. It’s a feeling you cannot
describe too well other than feeling like
Iron Man.
“You just feel like you’re Tony Stark fly
ing in the air.”
Lake Lanier Flyboard will offer lessons
ranging from 15 minutes to an hour for all
skill levels. While the sport can appear
dangerous, with people flying up to doz
ens of feet into the air on water-propelled
boards, Maravegias says the lessons will
be in a controlled environment to help pre
vent injuries and keep everyone involved
safe.
“It’s actually a lot less dangerous than
you would think,” Maravegias said.
“Everybody thinks it’s dangerous just
because it looks so crazy, but pretty much
90% of the people who come out are first
timers, they’re all beginners. The first
thing is the depths of the water, which
we have plenty of depth in where we fly,
but of course they have helmets and life
jackets so they stay afloat. It’s basically the
instructor on the jetski who’s giving them
the throttle, is in control of how much
water pressure is coming out from the
board.”
According to Maravegias, communica
tion between instructors and trainees is
key to best facilitate a safe training envi-
cuit about 40 years ago, Kauffman said
on Wednesday, and has developed into a
showman-led spectator sport attracting
conventional rodeo fans as well as NAS
CAR and motocross crowds.
There’s an acrobatic element to the
sport as well, with athletes doing back-
flips over the bulls and leaping away
from charging horns. Athletes are scored
based on their style, how close they can
get to the animal and on the ferocity of
the bull they’re facing. A more experi
enced, angrier animal will be worth more
points for a fighter.
“There are some bulls that trot out
there and do their deal, but there are
some bulls that are screaming rockets
that come out there and, once they get
a hold of the guys, just wreck them out,”
Kauffman said.
In the two days of competition at Chi
copee, $40,000 in prize money will be
given out, including a $15,000 payout for
the top competitor.
“For 60 seconds of work, it’s not too
bad,” he said. “We call it one man, one
bull, one minute.”
A total 25 men will compete in the
Bullfighters Only Southern Classic, begin
ning with a bracket of 15 competitors
on Friday. Five of those will advance to
Saturday’s competition against the top-10
ronment, from a trainer understanding
when a rider appears to be losing control
and reacting accordingly or a boarder
knowing how best to get a handle on their
board.
“So say, for example, a guy’s getting up
and he’s kind of turning and he looks like
he’s gonna fall, our guy will slowly release
the throttle so it kind of eases his fall a little
bit. He won’t let them get too close to the
jetski, because that’s pretty much the only
thing to be concerned about. We don’t let
them get anywhere near the docks or land
or anything like that, so it’s easy to just let
Flyboard Show and lessons
bullfighters in the country.
In the past, the group has held events
at the Atlanta Motor Speedway near Bra-
selton and the Infinite Energy Center in
Duluth.
“This being the biggest event we’ve
done on the East Coast, we’ve got tick
ets sold from Tennessee, from Florida,
Ohio,” Kauffman said.
The competitors are even more var
ied, coming to Gainesville from Canada,
Mexico, California, Oklahoma, Texas,
Georgia, Florida and North Carolina.
“They’re from all over the place, so
they have their fans and such,” he said.
Gainesville’s event is the largest bull
fighting event organized east of the
Mississippi.
Bullfighters Only
Southern Classic
What: A rodeo-style sport featuring
men wrangling with bulls
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday,
June 28-29
Where: Chicopee Woods Agricultural
Center, 1855 Calvary Church Road,
Gainesville
Cost: $20
Contact: www. bu I If ig hterson ly. com/
events/bfo-gainesville/
go of the throttle and say ‘hey, come back
this way.’”
The shows themselves are free to Mar
garitaville patrons, only requiring admis
sion into the park, which varies depending
on the person’s height, age or group size.
For more information, check out Mar-
garitaville’s price breakdown. Prices for
lessons range from $49 for a 15 minute ses
sion to $129 for an hour:
■ 15 minutes: $49
■ 30 minutes: $69
■ 45 minutes: $99
■ One Hour: $129
July events
in Hall Co.
BY KENNETH HUCKS
khucks@gainesvilletimes.com
July is full of Independence Day events, but
there’s a lot going on in North Georgia beyond
celebrating the land of the free. Here are just a
few of the events in the works for the month of
July worth checking out.
Northwinds Symphonic Band -
Patriotic Pops Concert
When: 8-10 p.m. Tuesday, July 2
Where: The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center,
331 Spring St. SW, Gainesville
Cost: $19 for general public, $15 for veterans,
immediate family, seniors and students
More info: theartscouncil.net
The Northwinds Symphonic Band is giving a
patriotic performance at the Smithgall Arts Cen
ter in the first week of the month to celebrate
the history of the United States. The group is pri
marily composed of local musicians, and they’ll
be playing a set of songs dedicated to American
patriotism in front of a backdrop of images of key
figures in the country’s history, such as troops,
Martin Luther King Jr. and George Washington.
Food will be available at the Arts Center, but
attendees are also encouraged to bring their own
food, lawn chairs and picnic supplies.
Pokemon Summer Camp
When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Thursday, July
8-11
Where: Meeple Madness | Tabletop Games and
Hobbies, 7400 Spout Springs Road, Flowery
Branch
Cost: $125 for all four days
More info: www.meeplemadness.com
If you’re looking for a bit of fun for the kids
in July, Meeple Madness in Flowery Branch is
holding a Pokemon Summer Camp to teach kids
from Kindergarten to Eighth Grade the tips and
tricks of the trading card game.
Throughout the four-day program, kids will be
given a complimentary deck of cards and other
Pokemon accessories, learn more about how to
play the game, culminating in a sanctioned tour
nament on the final day.
Everyone who completes the summer camp
will be eligible to play in Meeple Madness’ future
Pokemon League Challenges, which take place
every Monday at the shop.
Beach Bash
When: 5-10 p.m. Saturday, July 13
Where: Lake Lanier Olympic Park, 3105 Clarks
Bridge Road Gainesville
Cost: Free
More info: www.gainesville.org
The city of Gainesville is hosting its fifth-
annual Beach Bash this year at a new location:
Lake Lanier Olympic Park will be the place for
a flood of water-related activities for kids and
adults, complete with food truck and beer/wine
vendors.
Even if you’re not keen on getting wet, there
will also be a free performance by ‘80s tribute
band Electric Avenue at 7 p.m.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive night out
with tons of food and entertainment both in and
out of the water, carve out some time for Beach
Bash on Saturday, July 13.
Murder Mystery Cruise
When: 5-8 p.m. Saturday, July 27
Where: Windsong Sailing Academy, 6900
Holiday Road, Buford, Dock 6
Cost: $75 per person or $95 per couple
More info: www.windsongsail.com/2/waterFun.
aspx
Windsong Saily Academy is hosting a monthly
cruise as part of its Great Escape Cruise series,
and for the month of July the theme is a murder
mystery. The entire scenario is a role-playing
adventure as the group attempts to solve a fic
tional murder crafted for the cruise.
The cruise will provide bottled waters, but
anyone who comes to help solve the mystery will
need to bring their own brown bag meals.
Moon Landing’s 50th
Anniversary Celebration
When: 2-3 p.m. Saturday, July 20
Where: Hall County Library System, Spout
Springs Branch, 6488 Spout Springs Road,
Flowery Branch
Cost: Free
More info: srp.hallcountylibrary.org/Events/
Detail/9
It’s been almost 50 years since the Moon Land
ing in 1969, and the Hall County Library is host
ing an event to commemorate the momentous
point in American and world history.
The free celebration will feature speakers,
reading materials and footage of humanity’s first
steps on the Moon, as well as food with a bit of a
space theme available to those attending.
While you’re there, you can enter to win tick
ets to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Hunts
ville, Alabama, and other prizes.
The celebration will be held in South Hall and
is open to all ages.
Tap It Brew Fest ‘19
When: 3-9 p.m. Saturday, July 27
Where: Tap It Growlers, 1850 Thompson Bridge
Road, Gainesville
Cost: $15
More info: www.facebook.com/
events/659152227859265/
Tap It’s Brew Fest is becoming a hoppy, malty,
yeasty tradition up on Thompson Bridge. The
growler shop is hosting its fourth festival, and
this year it includes samplings from more than
10 breweries and live music on the lawn beside
the shop.
Organizers are asking attendees to carpool,
given the limitations of the lot.
What: Trained Flyboard specialists will teach people of all skill levels how to ride a
Flyboard
When: 6-8 p.m. Fridays, June 28 to Aug. 30
Where: 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford
Cost: $49-$129
Contact: https://www.facebook.com/LakeLanierFlyboard/
Lake Lanier Flyboard offers lessons
and shows from now until August
BY KENNETH HUCKS
khucks@gainesvilletimes.com
Times file photo
Kristen Amerein gives Alexander Maravegias, Amerein’s son-in-law, a boost as he
demonstrates how to use a Flyboard on Lake Lanier on Friday, May 22, 2015. A hose
attached to a personal watercraft forces pressurized water through jet nozzles on the
board allowing riders to execute tricks.