The Redbull X Fighters pulled off a daredevil
performance at Galle Face Green yesterday, awe
inspiring the Sri Lankan spectators.
Redbull X Fighters are freestyle motocross (FMX)
exponents from the world’s number one freestyle
motocross series.
Red Bull X-Fighters is the biggest FMX series in the world and for the first time in Sri Lanka four professional FMX riders performed in local grounds, making the evening at Galle Face Green a memorable event as they challenged the concept of gravity.
Nick De Wit from South Africa, Jimmy Verburgh and
Gilles Dejong from Belgium and Daniel Bodin from
Sweden performed hair-raising stunts yesterday,
creating an action-packed environment at the Galle
Face Green.
This novel experience was an exhibition show by
these four stunt riders who tour all round the world
performing flip tricks in the air.
Their talent and experience was shared among the
Sri Lankan military forces during their visit in Sri
Lanka.
Though fascinating for the laymen’s eye, the riders
claim that regular practising and strenuous
exercises are required to reach the level of
confidence to perform such stunts.
Daniel Bodin from Sweden shared his experience as
a stunt rider with the nation.
“Stunt-riding requires a lot of confidence and even
if a minute miscalculation is made, you will end up
having a crash. I myself have experienced several
falls. Once, seven of my front teeth were broken
after a crash and I recently recovered from a back
injury I suffered while stunt riding,” said Bodin.
Nick de Wit from South Africa, who is one of the
first non-Americans to master the back flip, said he
had been in freestyle motocross for eight years and
said the best part about being a stunt rider is the
experiences he had in different countries.
Jimmy Verburgh, who is a Belgian, is a father and
a businessman as well.
He runs his own team of freestyle motocross which is
called FMX4ever.
Speaking about performing stunts in foreign lands
like Sri Lanka where they have to adapt to novel
weather conditions, he said the weather condition
was important for them to give their best at the
show.
“When the wind is hard it is difficult to perform
most of the stunts. However, we are always nervous
before performing but after the first jump it all
goes away. It’s always the first jump that matters,”
he said.
Gilles Dejong is a Belgian and he too has suffered
several crashes. He said he listens to punk rock to
calm himself before the performance.
Exhibiting some jaw-dropping stunts, the Redbull X Fighters thrilled the spectators at Galle Face Green and the evening was definitely action packed with stunts which took places several metres above the ground.
Sourse:http://www.nation.lk/2010/11/07/news6.htm
Posted on Monday, November 08, 2010 @ 02:54:30 LKT
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