Our featured rider is Mark "Turtle" Rich, a seven-year veteran of inline skating who currently resides in New York City. This is Turtle's third year with the got milk? Gravity Tour, and he will appear at all of the venues during the 2001 campaign. He is truly the "headlining inliner." With a name like "Turtle," you can expect his story to be interesting too. Well, it is and here it goes…

Turtle grew up in Daytona Beach, Florida and didn't even start inline skating until he was 30 years old. From casual Friday night get togethers with friends to sessions at the Stone Edge Skatepark, Turtle's inline skills and his passion for the sport grew geometrically. In time, Turtle decided to move into a warehouse where he could build a big ramp in order to practice all of the time. Turtle slept under the ramp at night and practiced on his "home" for over a year, quietly perfecting his maneuvers and developing his skills. He had some big goals in mind, and was setting out in pursuit of them.

Turtle soon began showcasing his inline moves which grew to include 360s, 540s and backflips. He performed in demonstrations, helped out with contests, built ramps and continued to pursue his dream on being a full time inline performer. And then, the circus called.

Turtle spent a year performing with Ringling Brothers/Barnum and Bailey Circus with 12 other inline skaters. Turtle sold everything he owned in Florida, joined the tour in Washington, DC and rode the 52-car train from city to city for the next year. He even lived on the train with his fellow inliners, as well as the animals and other circus performers from all over the world. Turtle visited 32 cities in the US, performing in arenas before packed and enthusiastic crowds. This experience only further fueled a drive to perform and travel that has now become a way of life. As Turtle relates, "I like this way of traveling and being on the road. I've been to Mexico, England, Korea, Brazil and over 70 cities in the US on 8 little wheels." After the circus gig was up, Turtle decided to visit his sister in New York City and never left. He has lived there for 3 years, and calls it home, whenever he is there. He enjoys the diversity of the city and states, "I live in the greatest city on Earth, because all the world comes to visit it." He teaches both inline skating and skateboarding (he's a goofy-footer) at Chelsea Piers in NYC. In fact, Turtle has taught father and son lessons, and says, "I want to teach everybody, meaning kids, adults, parents, first timers and stunt masters." The youngest person he has taught to date was 3-1/2 years old, while the oldest was 63. It was the first time for both riders.

As for his role in the got milk? Gravity Tour, Turtle is quick to point out that "it is a job," although not a nine to fiver, yet it does require a lot of hard work. He sees it as a way to interact with top performers and to be part of a show where all types of people work together and demonstrate their sports to crowds of people. Turtle says, "All I see is an open road while performing with the got milk? Gravity Tour." He truly sees himself as a performer first and an athlete second, a point he often tries and relate to young people. "I always ask the kids if they perform, and I want to inspire others to chase their dreams and give them a spark to go." Turtle adds, "I'm a performer and they look at me like I'm a star, but I'm a normal guy who wants to be friends and show them that I'm like them." So, Turtle is out there to meet and greet and perform throughout the summer with the got milk? Gravity Tour. You should really try and see the shows, be sure to look over the schedule, and try and get out and talk to Turtle. His story is true and amazing, and he is a very approachable and regular guy. As far as riding is concerned, Turtle's favorite trick is the 540 on vert, because "it is so smooth and flowing to fly through the air."

As far as milk goes, Turtle is a self-described milk enthusiast who states, "I like milk, I'm an avid milk drinker and use milk all the time." And as an inliner skater and performer with the got milk? Gravity Tour, Turtle adds, "I owe it all to milk."