(Trick Skilz - Jacksonville, FL)
Stunt Riding..."...is a motorcycle sport characterized by stunts involving acrobatic maneuvering of the motorcycle and sometimes the rider." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stunt_riding).
You may have seen them here and there... lurking in alleyways, behind warehouses in urban areas, practicing along lonely country roads, or suddenly popping a wheelie next to you on the roadway or highway at speeds that make you personally fear for their safety. Or perhaps you've only noticed their remnants strewn across a parking lot in the form of circular tire tracks, leaving a trail that appears to have been left by a rubber tornado. The single-lined marks indicative that STUNTRIDERS were there.
Riders from as early as World War II have been able to do basic motorcycle tricks and pop wheelies with exhibition in mind. A particular rider in the 1970s set a record with a roughly 145 mile continuous wheelie! Even with this rather rich history, the sport of Stunt Riding is not quite the most popular extreme sport. It really started picking up popularity in the 1990s. With all due respect, we're not talking leaps and bounds like Evil Knievel (R.I.P). We're talking bad ass, short-ranged tricks.
This sport is characterized by tricks such as Stoppies, Wheelies, Endos, Highchairs, or 12:00 wheelies/12-stands, and burnouts. It truly is exhilarating and entertaining to watch these "stunters" perform their maneuvers-- mostly solo-- on or directly near the bike, but occasionally with a tandem female rider who participates by riding along and joining in on the acrobatics of a given routine. Or, (as shown above) some riders do routines in collaboration with each other. From coast to coast, the sport has attained recognition and notariety as an extreme sport; which I'm sure 9 out of 10 ladies would agree is hot!, while non-stunting guys either watch on in admiration or trash-talk out of jealousy.
If you've searched high and low for the "stunters," and just can't seem to find their "spots," or are now just plain curious, there are a few ways you can satisfy your curiosity. Much like those who participate in other extreme sports compile "skate videos" or "snowboarding videos," stunters have "stunt videos" in their world. You can find these on websites like http://www.stuntlife.com/ or http://www.bikerpunks.com/. You can also hop on YouTube and find clips and videos of pros and amateurs in the sport. Try searching, for example, "XDL," which is a premier stunt bike competition held in various nationwide locations.
I've personally been a spectator of the Stunt Riding scene since 2006. I've had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with pros like Kane Friesen (http://youtu.be/Sw6o935-oA0) and also the privilege of catching masters like A.C. Farias (http://youtu.be/Bmx7yfeyV9U). One of the best times in my life was when I first moved to Las Vegas; my old roomie and brother-from-another-mother, Trick Skilz (Jacksonville, FL stunt rider) really introduced me to the riding and stunt riding world. So I must say that even aside from the fact that this sport is extremely sick in a good way, I have a soft, nostalgic spot for you STUNTERS!
~Meow~
Pennies
