Skyriders! Will Soar To Big Heights At Montauk Playhouse

When he starting bouncing on trampolines more than four decades ago as a 4-year-old, Ken Kovach wasn’t dreaming of setting, and then eventually breaking, a Guinness World Record.

But that is exactly what he did.

In 1999, he revolved a hula hoop around his body 101 times in one minute while somersaulting on a trampoline. And just four months ago, he topped his record with 130 revolutions.

On Thursday, August 4, Mr. Kovach will be bringing his act and troupe, The Skyriders!, to the Montauk Playhouse for an evening of stunts and acrobatics. He predicted that his group’s stunts will leave crowds breathless.

“We’ve taken the air out of a 20,000 [person] crowd because during the grand finale, everyone inhales at the same time,” he said.

For the group’s first-ever performance in the Hamptons, Mr. Kovach and his business partner, Bonnie Wright, will be bringing one trampoline and a handful of performers in tow. And they’re not just any performers, explained Ms. Wright, who is also the president of marketing. The talent, which ranges from ages 12 to 47, including Mr. Kovach himself, are Olympic-class trampolinists and professional freestyle skiers, snowboarders and divers who sometimes work in their gear, she said.

“High-energy is definitely a word that comes to mind,” Ms. Wright said. “The skis and snowboards are really impressive. Our show is tried and true. We have 18 years of doing this, it’s all we’ve ever done.”

With Ms. Wright on the mic and Mr. Kovach on trampoline, as well as behind the scenes choreographing, the pair has crafted a well-oiled show that keeps the crowds coming back.

“You take a mix of everything and kind of strain the thing down to what you find people like over the years,” Mr. Kovach said. “It’s not always the toughest trick, and it’s not always the highest. Although, we do go 25 feet in the air now.”

The group annually performs at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island and was featured in the 2011 release of “Arthur,” starring Russell Brand, Ms. Wright reported. The group regularly performs during NBA halftime shows for teams such as the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.

Mr. Kovach said that just because he is the oldest member of the troupe, he definitely doesn’t shy away from the more rigorous stunts. Until he later sees some of his moments captured photographically.

“I’m the ham in the show,” he said. “When I see pictures of myself jumping that high, it freaks me out because it doesn’t seem like that I’m that far up there. I guess it’s like a race car driver going 240 miles per hour. He’s like, ‘What’s on the radio?’ It’s just an acquired, natural thing to do. And for me, too. If you’re any lower, it doesn’t feel right.”

The show has evolved over the years, Ms. Wright noted, and will continue to, knocking down age barriers along the way.

“You’ve got people of all ages standing, transfixed, for that 13 to 15 minutes,” she said. “We never lose it. It never breaks. The energy just keeps going. There will be no one disappointed, we can promise you that.”

As part of its “FamilyFest 2011” series, the Montauk Playhouse Community Center Foundation will host The Skyriders! on Thursday, August 4, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15. For more information, call 668-1124 or visit montaukplayhouse.org.