I was at a thing yesterday and some guys were jumping bikes over ramps and doing tricks. I ride motorbikes but not like these truly bonkers chaps who were jumping a distance of seventy five feet between ramps and reaching heights of forty five feet at their highest point. Powering a motorcycle towards a one metre wide ramp and flying that far and that high then landing on a five metre wide landing ramp is impressive...oh, and they were doing backflips and other such tricks in the air in between. Yeah, cool.
They're professionals, one was in the original Crusty Demons crew, a fully-bonkers bunch of chaps who did some fucken crazy shit on motorbikes, and the other was a young lad of twenty two. They put on a great show and drew a massive crowd of spectators.
After one of their shows I got to speak with the older of the two and it was great to hear about the fellow's journey from riding dirt bikes on his family farm as a kid, making his own ramps and doing jumps and tricks, to performing on the world stage...he's actually in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first guy to back-flip a Harley Davidson...his name is Kain Saul. Anyway, as you might imagine he's suffered some pretty serious injuries along the way and there he was going bonkers on his bike over an over. That's dedication, drive, persistence, grit and many other things besides. (Might be stupidity...but I prefer to call it passion).
We all face challenges in life some, seemingly, insurmountable, and it's really easy to give up...one just has to stop, but in stopping one removes any chance of success, the opportunity to learn through trial and error, failure itself, and to reach forward for things that, while incredibly difficult, often return such positive and amazing results, even if that result is self respect, confidence, satisfaction and a better understanding of oneself. It's usually the difficult things that bring the greatest rewards....but one has to stick it out, persist, work hard.
The chap flying through the air in the photo above didn't quit when things got tough and has reaped the rewards of that effort - paid a price for it too. The rest of us, well, we often don't need to put our wellbeing or lives on the line to gain those things, they can often be gained just by applying a little more effort, digging a little deeper and persisting when things get a little difficult. Sometimes stepping forward isn't enough and jumping forward is a better option.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
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One of my nephews has a metal rod in his left femur because he was doing this ! The accident that did that when he was in his late teens was not the only one he's had and he still says he is most at peace when he is out riding. His Dad rode with HIS Dad and so my nephew and his Dad rode too. Passing it on I suppose.
It all seems crazy to me, with the risks. Good thing everyone doesn't see it like I do, or there would be no one for me to watch ! Lots of things have a little risk, but some obviously more than others.
There is no accounting for what you find you love deeply.
There's inherant risk and danger in freestyle Motocross and when it goes wrong it goes really wrong as your nephew found out. Humans have a way of forging ahead nonetheless usually calculating the risk, but sometimes not, and that's what's progressed us to where we are I guess.
Those people who choose to do this sport love it, it's to their core and one has to applaud that passion I think; even when they gat badly injured they come back for more.
Forging ahead .... if you survive too !
(When he was much younger and an early bike. :) )
It starts small and then, they go big. It's all that effort in between that makes them good At it and able to do those things reasonably safely, or as safely as possible.
I think there's a ton that goes into doing
shitstuff like this stunt and doing it for a living. You mentioned a lot of them and I would include stupidity, recklessness, I-don't-give-a-fuck-ness and more. Don't get me wrong, I really admire the level of professionalism these guys/girls trained for and reached but I can't help and wonder about the motive. Starting out with it on a farm means it certainly wasn't money. The term adrenalin junky comes to mind and I guess I'm just to old (and level-headed) to get that. That's okay and that does not keep me from admiring these stunt people. Indeed stunt doubles are also people I admire for their craft, they're probably underpaid though.Where was I going with this? I have no idea, Just thought I'd comment my immediate thoughts. Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday!
I guess some people have the need to push the boundaries of their own limits (physical and emotional) and like to see how far they can take it. It's only others like them that could understand why.
What they do is bonkers, but I've done things that are just as dangerous...not because I have a death wish but because they needed doing or because I wanted to work towards something and attain a goal...the dangerous aspect just focuses one more...there's more at stake like one's life. Maybe this won't make sense to others but to me it's like the ultimate motivation. If you want to get a better insight read Bear Grylls biography. It's about his youth, selection into the British SAS, hitting the ground after jumping out of a plane with a faulty parachute, being told he'd never walk again and then his climb to the top of Everest...and everything else he's done. It goes a long way towards explaining why people do things like this...*it's just who they are.
Anyway, seriously, it's a great read, easy to read and quite an inspiration also.
I've no idea where this comment is going but, like yours, that doesn't matter. A good Sunday is being had and I got a message from one of my favourite people on the blockchain (you) so it's all good.
Awww - how nice of you to say
I still don't read a lot these days, when I do it is usually a fantasy novel. I don't think I've read an autobiography ever. But I checked out Bear Grylls online a bit and his Wikipedia page almost reads like a book - wow! All those - achievements, things he did, records he broke (and bones) etc. Crazy, crazy. He sure is a driven man, I liked that a lot of it is for good reasons, to raise money for good causes.
How did I miss this??? When the revs are up, I'm all eyes and ears lol. That is definitely not shit photography right there, in fact, it is outstanding....Woohoo big air. I love watching it, but being older I don't ride. My son and brother have built a motocross track in the back yard. I have video but have no idea how to attach it lol.
A still shot of one jump will have to do.
This my a shot taken by my brother.
That's a serious jump and I reckon they'd get some air off it! A Motocross track in the back yard? Yep, I reckon that'd be ok to have indeed!
It is a great reflection, because often the step is not enough, but one must take that leap, sometimes, as they call it, a leap of faith, without which nothing comes.
There are always obstacles on the way, you learn and overcome them. Without action nothing happens at all.
Without effort there is no reward, that's life, whoever expects everything to come from heaven... it won't happen!
Obstacles make us work harder and working harder helps us achieve more...seems like a good thing to me. 😊
That's right! I hope you had a lovely Saturday!
Hi Galen, I really enjoyed reading this post.
What I liked most is the spirit of adventure that I see in the publication: freedom, creativity and being willing to get up after every fall.
Have a great weekend.
Life should be an adventure of our own creation and a little bit by change and happenstance I think...keeps it interesting.
That is exactly the tone that I perceived in the publication, and that I liked so much.
And I fully participate in this idea of life.
It is almost like you are spying on me. I was just reflecting in a similar vein today. Recently I have been making progress with my health issues. However, progress is not fast enough, nor have I made complete changes that will help me along (diet). That said, I have been taking it a step at a time. In fact I have been saying that a great deal too. I was just thinking today I just need to go all in and git er' dun.
Hope your weekend continues to be a great one.
It's interesting how sometimes we hear something right when we need to and how that can confirm one is on the wrong track, or the right one and spur one on to greater efforts huh?
I'm glad you're doing well and making progress, long may it continue.
Yes it is interesting for sure. Timing couldn't have been more perfect.
I am already amazed when I see someone drive without using their hands. Anything beyond that just seems like magic to me.
Yeah, these blokes flying through the air is a bit crazy but they do it well.
One of the most beautiful things I find about Hive is being able to read fascinating and inspiring stories, from people who grow closer over time. Sometimes I feel you are like that family member who talks to me gently, without judgement, to encourage me to keep going. And I am very grateful for that.
What a nice thing to say, thank you. I think it's good to share experiences and to read other people's as we can often learn a lot that can ultimately help us in our low lives. I appreciate your comment.
Whether it’s dedication or passion or stubbornness or stupidity is usually perspective right 😅
Watching skaters do stuff (and having done some much tamer stuff as a skater) is hairy enough, these freaking bikes are a whole other level.
Oh yeah, it depends on perspective for sure...even though that perspective might be skewed. Lol.
You’d never catch me doing anything like that on a bike. It’s unfortunate how many people give up when things get tough. So often, people sell themselves short and never reach their full potential because they don’t take the leap and really go for it. This is especially true for younger folks, who might not have as much at stake if they fail.
Fear is a big motivator...motivating people to stop at times too. It's when one pushes through that the real good stuff happens though, and pushing on is often difficult.
Dang, those hogs are heavy mofos, so that is no small feat for him to have done that. It's cool that you got to talk to him. I often wonder just how much I miss out on due to my aversion and ineptitude at small talk.
Yeah, it was an impressive feat. He was baid $30,000 to do it and was the only one to take up the challenge.
The conversation was pretty easy, he's a good lad, an Aussie country boy like me, and both of us with similar interests so the chat was pretty good. I took a lot away from his attitude, stuff that sort of underlined my own.
That is very cool. I went to a Harley rally in Michigan a long time ago and it was an experience I will never forget.
I like me a Harley but I love road bikes like my Yamaha R1 the best...although the riding position isn't good for me back. Lol.
I'm too much of a wuss to ever ride a bike I think. If I were to ever get one, I've been a fan of the Suzuki Boulevard for a while now.
All motorcycle's are good ones. 😁
After studying Orthopedics, watching those sports makes me a bit nervous. I enjoy them, I won’t deny it, but I can’t stop thinking about all the broken bones they’ve had to endure to reach that level; it’s truly admirable.
But what I liked most is the reflection you leave us: sometimes it’s necessary to jump because one step isn’t enough.
Yep, most of the people who do this sport have broken many bones. Get it wrong and they have a six month holiday while their multiple breaks heal.
Those guys doing the flips and tricks always seem to impossibly get more air time than they should and pull off moves that just seem to defy gravity!
I love this:
It's incredible to see really, the sort of hang up there right? A lot of broken bones went into making it look so easy. Lol.
I'm glad you liked that line, that was the key message.
!INDEED on both accounts.
I call all that hanging in the air "cheat codes" like in a PC game, of course its all the practice that does that.
On the other note... I shall endure...
They are people addicted to adrenaline that do not get bored so easily practice this type of extreme sports is their passion, but also the slightest mistake and can be crippled or lose their lives what I have always liked about this type of sports is how easy they make it look, but in reality it is very complex are totally masters, but no one sees the blows the broken bones and falls the blood that often spilled to do what they do.
If someone has worked hard to find continual improvement it's probably easy to look from the outside and think, that looks easy, but it rarely is and often comes down to a lot of hard work like you say.
Motocross and bike stunts are the least "Healthy" thing I could think of 😂
Yeah, it's only good for one's health when it goes right...when it goes wrong it goes really wrong.
Impressive shot!
I have seen similar jumps on ski in person, but not motor cross.
Reminds me of Baja 5000, but that is something else. More a endurance race.
Yeah, seeing it in person hammers home how dangerous it is and what can go wrong when things don't go to plan. They're professionals of course, operating at a high level, but they get it wrong sometimes.
The first time I saw this race was on Discovery Channel back in 2018 (but it was the Baja 1000), and I loved it.
It’s truly crazy what those cars do in the desert and how many people modify them for that purpose. Not all of them are from recognized teams or have big sponsors, but even the smallest thing can take you out of the race; even a small rock can ruin the whole operation.
Have you been able to see it in person?
No I haven't really seen the race in person, seen it in TV. But I have been to Baja California multiple times, and it is a magical place. It is therefore much more than a race from what I gather, it ends up becoming a quest. It is not much of a spectator sport, although there is plenty of spectator during the race at key point, but most of the time you race against yourself. I think that could be true for many races.
There are towns in the Baja, they call Pueblo Magico.... it is a national program... and popular with expats. I like them.