The Ride of My Life (47 page)
I can remember the good old days when I’d be on the phone with an insurance claims department and they’d think I was on some disability scam: “Let me get this straight,” the operator would say. “Am I to understand you broke your wrist on the 4th, went in for a concussion on the 12th, needed nine stitches in your foot on the 23rd, and two days later you broke your ribs?’ I had the fraud departments pretty suspicious of me for years. Eventually, they called me in and went over my occupation and hobbies. Needless to say, when they found out I rode vert, actively skydived, and was attempting to get a pilot’s license … I got dropped, pronto. Now, with bike riders regularly on TV, the medical industry knows what bicycle stunt riding is and limits coverage accordingly. The key is to actually do enough work in the film industry to be eligible for SAG union insurance.
Matthew Hoffman selling medical equipment by the truckload. My dad could sell sand to an Arab.
Lew: This wouldn’t have happened without you. Thanks for pulling all the information out of me, adding your magic, and organizing and writing it in a way that best documents my life and our sport’s history. You delivered so much more potential to this book than I ever imagined. You are amazing. You’ve been one of my heroes for the last twenty years. Thank you.
Jaci:
For understanding passion and for letting me follow my heart no matter the risks and dangers. You’re my inspiration. I love you.
Giavanna:
For showing me how precious and beautiful life is, and for constantly testing how fast my reflexes are to save you.
Steve:
For being such a warrior by my side through thick and thin. No matter how rough it got, I could always trust you’d be there ready to take on the world with me.
Dad:
You made me who I am. Thanks for the determination and the will to try to make whatever I wanted happen.
Mom:
For showing me how much you could love, and showing me the definition and direction of what life is and could be. You always told me I should write a book. Wow, I wrote one. This is because of you. We all wish you were here.
Ron Semiao:
You’re truly an entrepreneur with an amazing vision. Thank you for building that bridge between my backyard ramp and the living rooms of millions. You’ve offered many great opportunities for my friends and me. Thank you.
Evel Knievel:
There’s nothing that I can say that you haven’t already said. You’re Evel Fucking Knievel, man. Thank you.
Spike Jonze:
I have never shot photos with someone that has had a better eye for bike riding. You’re amazing at everything you do. Thanks for so many great memories and documenting so many great times. And thanks for giving me so many freakin’ great photos to use in this book!
Mike Wanzer:
Thanks for your faith in me and my companies.
Bob Haro
: You’re the originator of Bicycle Freestyle. Thanks from all of us.
It would be another book if I go into all the reasons for everyone who has inspired and supported me, so thanks to …
To my immediate family:
My brothers, Todd and Travis. My sister, Gina. To David Lindley, Luke Lindley and Cameron Lindley To all the Dandinos and Papas. To the “Sparrow” Keihl Hoffman; Blair; Jane Hoffman; Tom Rhude and the Rhude family; Don and Joyce Keel; Donnie and Jill Keel; Brett and Austin Keel; Doug Swope and last but definitely not least Martha Swope.
To my Hoffman Bikes family, past and present:
Mark Owen; Page Hussey; April Tippens; Bryan Baxter; Mark Udell; Jeff O Riley; Clarence Owen; Erick Petchprom; Mickey Esters; Mike Collins; Michael Castillo; Chris Collins; Annie Collins; Darrel Banks; Chad Kagy; Achim Kujawski; Davin Hallford; Kevin Robinson; Leif Valin; Seth Kimbrough; Mat Gipson; Day Smith; Mike Escamilla; Kevin Jones; Rick and Madonna Thorne; Chase Gouin; Dennis and Parady McCoy; Chad Harrington; Taj Mihelich; Ruben Alcantara; Eduardo Terreros; Brian Tunney; Paul Bailey; Simon and Pippa Tabron; Chris Breen; Paul Buchanan; Koji Kraft; Lawan Cunningham; Jim Petterson; Joe Kowalski; Pat Miller;; Daniel Randall; Sherry and Rollin Shu; Kris Gack; Chris Stauffer; Tom Stober; Jon Taylor; Art Thomason; Rob Sigaty; Scotty Yoquelet; and Jimmy Walker.
To friends not yet mentioned:
Jeff Phillips; Tony Hawk; Bob Burnquist; Steve Caballero; Eddie Roman; Maurice Meyer; Ron Haro;. Brian Blyther; Mike Dominguez; Stephan Prantle; Joe Johnson; Joe Rich; Leigh Ramsdell; Ron Wilkerson; Hal Brindley; Chris Moeller; Lee Reynolds; Chris Rye and Marco Massei; John Paul Rogers; Ronnie Bonner; Ruben Alcantara; Sandy Carson; Steve Buddendeck; Nate Wessel; Keith Treanor; Brian Foster; Danny Way; Mike Frazier; Neal Hendrix, Steve Ing; Terry Kim; Kevin Martin; Troy McMurray; John Parker; John Vinyard; Stewart Johnson; Jim Huff; Tina @ Trend; Jill Schultz; Charles Schultz; John Vincent; Roger Wells; Dr. Grana; Nick Adcock; Alan and Donna Vano; Robert Earl; Barry Zaritzky, Jack Weinert; Scott Hanley; Bernadette Hobson; Aileen Koprowski; Gary Morgenstern; Katie Moses; Suzanne Paige; Chris Stiepock; Susan McGowen and the entire CFB medical staff; Dr. Chow; all the parks who have hosted the CFB; Tom Archer; Esther VanHuystee; Bridgett Quinn; Kate Nelligan; Katie Moses, Joe Prisel; Drake Miller; Mark Rainha; Adam Streiby; Brain “Yellow” Gavigan; Keith Mackinnley; Jared Souney; Aaron Cooke; 20 Minute Crash; K Pop; Jerry Busher; Joey P; lan MacKaye; Joe Lally; Brendan Canty; Guy Picciotto; Mike and Kim Dillon; Joey Zampella; Keith Mulligan; Mark Losey; Sean M Mulligan; Brad McDonald; Mark Noble; Mike Daily; Steve Giberson; John Ker; Andy Jenkins; Will Smith; Bart De Jong; Paul De Jong: Chris Hargrave; Adam Booth; Chris Hallman; Brian Bright; Will Kassoy; Ryh-Ming C. Poon; Rachel Silverstein; Brad Carraway; Deanna Natzke; Dave Stohl; Renee Iwaszkiewicz, lan Kleinert, Brian Dubin, Skyway; Haro, Simpson; Jones Soda—Peter Van Stolk; Duffs Shoes—RP Bess; Skatelite Ramp surface; Paradise Parachute; Woodward—Gary and Ed; Adventure Travel—Sheryl Armstrong, Gary Ellis; Frank Barbara; Fred Bezark; Kim Boyle; Stuart Dawkins; Ian Morris; Rie Okamoto, Mike Devitt; Marge Peeler; Susan Urbach
For all the amazing ramps:
Tim Payne; Tim Kulas; Mike Cruz, Dave Ellis
For inspiring the world to be a Jackass:
Bam Margera, PJ Clapp, Ryan Dunn, Jeff Tremaine, Spike Jonze, and the rest of the Jackass posse.
And for having the ability to put me back together so many times, Dr. Carlan Yates
Austin, Texas 1986. It was a demo for the Texas AFA—one of the first shows outside of the Edmond Bike Shop and Mountain Dew shows I was asked to ride in.
I wanted to get lit on fire in the chicken suit, go through the loop then jump into the lake to extinguish myself. MTV wouldn’t let me because some kid had lit himself on fire trying film his own Jackass stunt.
This was difficult to land because I couldn’t see my landing through the smoke. Once I took off it was a blind jump and it became pretty intense. (Photograph courtesy of Brad McDonald)
the ride of my life.
COPYRIGHT © 2002 BY MAT HOFFMAN.
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EPub Edition © JULY 2010 ISBN: 978-0-062-00450-5
FIRST EDITION
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