Austin's Got Talent

Austin teen wows America's Got Talent with crazy stunts

Austin teen Damone Rippy auditioned for America's Got Talent.

Damone Rippy - Pro Flyboarder/Facebook

Damone Rippy, affectionately known to his fans as "Aqua Bae," is a 17-year-old professional flyboarder who performs amazing aerial tricks. On Tuesday's episode of America's Got Talent, the Austin teen wowed judges and viewers with gravity-defying stunts.

During the "extreme" auditions portion of the episode, celebrity judges Howie Mandel, Howard Stern, Heidi Klum and Mel B traveled to a lakeside locale to catch Rippy in action.

Rippy performed back flips, spins, dives and some dance moves for the astounded crowd. The flyboard, which Rippy explained as "basically a water jet pack attached to your feet," propels him 45-48 feet in the air, allowing him to pull off gymnast-like stunts.

"That is crazy — that's like Iron Man," Stern declared during the audition. The judges unanimously gave him the green light to continue in the competition. Rippy, a founding member of Austin-based Team Aquafly, will compete for the chance to win the ultimate prize: $1 million and an opportunity to perform at Radio City Music Hall.

Watch Rippy's awesome performance above, and see the full episode on NBC.com.

French Fête

Austin watch party cheers on San Antonio Spurs in Paris game

San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio Spurs/Instagram

The Spurs at their first home game of 2025 on January 4.

The San Antonio Spurs are taking on the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, January 25 — but the game is taking place at the Accor Arena in Paris, France. For fans who can't commit to an international plane ticket, there are two official Texas watch parties. An Austin party creates a gathering place for fans ages 21 and up, while the San Antonio party is open to all ages.

The Spurs are actually playing the Pacers twice at the NBA Paris Games 2025, presented by Tissot, as part of their regular seasons. The first game is Thursday, January 23, but the watch parties are specifically for the Saturday game — that's considered the Spurs' "home" game.

There's also a special NBA Paris Jam on the day between, January 24. Celebrities, influencers, and "NBA Legends" will compete in a unique "interactive basketball game" that lets fans influence how the game plays out. Anyone can tune in by making an account at france.nba.com.

On Saturday, Austin-area fans can gather at Armadillo Den (10106 Menchaca Rd.) to watch together with tunes by DJ DMoney and Paris-themed photo ops; the party starts at 10:30 am for a game tipoff at 11 am.

If fans can't go to France, they might as well bring France to them, so free coffee, macarons, French pastries, and desserts will be on hand. Fans in Spurs gear will get a free drink ticket while supplies last. The event is only open to fans 21 and up, but dogs are invited, too. Free parking will be available in the lot.

Younger fans might want to travel to the San Antonio party at The Rock at La Cantera (1 Spurs Way), starting at 9:30 am. Unlike the Austin event, this one will have a host: TV and radio personality Zay Zay. French pastries and mimosas will be available for purchase, and the first 100 fans of drinking age in Spurs gear will get a free drink ticket.

To watch the game even if you're not going to make the party, tune in on KENS or via the Spurs App presented by Frost.

According to a press release, "By taking part in the Paris Games, the Spurs aim to build meaningful relationships, highlight their culture and invest in initiatives that deliver long-term benefits to the community. This effort reflects the team’s focus on fostering connections and showcasing the unifying power of sports."

parties cocktails free san antonio spurs

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