Motocross stunt performer and X Games gold medalist Colby Raha plans to jump over 225 feet at the annual Throw Down Cornhole Festival in Ventura.
The event, which runs Aug. 21- 23, not only includes the largest cornhole tournament in the world, but also a host of other attractions like Raha, live music and and ax throwing.
Last year, mixed martial arts fighting was a new addition to the event. This year, Raha’s performances are a featured attraction, said John Karayan, event founder.
The 31-year-old motocross competitor characterized the jump and his 45-minute performance on Aug. 22 and 23 as similar to modern-day stunt riders Evel Knievel or his son Robbie Knievel.
“It’s a daredevil show,” he said. “It’s really big, dangerous, entertaining and
nobody knows if I’m going to be able to make the jump, including myself, although I’m going to do my best to be safe.”
When is Ventura's Throw Down Cornhole Festival?
The three-day event, which begins Aug. 21 and continues through Aug. 23, is set for the Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd.
The show will include the motorcyclist soaring more than 225 feet over a Spencer Makenzie Fish Co. food trailer, motorcycles from Ventura Harley-Davidson, cornhole courts, trucks and a local guitarist playing a Jimi Hendrix-style national anthem about 50 feet in the air on a scissor lift, Karayan said.
“He’s going to jump over all of that,” said Karayan, who began the event as a block party outside his Spencer Makenzie’s Fish Co. Ventura restaurant before eventually moving to the fairgrounds.
This year’s event will also feature mixed martial arts on Aug. 21, with Chris Mecate vs. Manuel Esposito headlining a Legacy Fighting Alliance-sanctioned card. Live bands are also scheduled to perform on Aug. 22 and Aug. 23.
The event also features ax-throwing, a vintage truck and motorcycle show on Aug. 22, and of course, cornhole tournaments for the public to watch and play in.
“It’s the largest amount of teams playing cornhole in a tournament in the world,” Karayan said.
The tournament changed this year with a split between a professional division of about 130 teams and a throwdown recreational division of 640 teams to give more people a chance to win money, he said.
More than 25,000 people attended last year’s event, Karayan said.
How much does the festival cost?
Tickets are about $28 for a one-day general admission pass and about $55 for a three-day general admission pass. Ages 12 and under are free. MMA tickets are $93 to $118.
For more information, including a schedule, visit thethrowdowncornholetournament.com.
Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: X Games medalist to headline Ventura cornhole fest with monster jump
