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Flying in a blue dream

Life doesn't get more exciting than it does for the Crusty Demons, as they defy the laws of physics with stunt devilry, says an awestruck RAKESH MEHAR, who plans to watch them again today

WHAT A LEAP The gravity-defying stunts by Crusty Demons are backed by meticulous behind-the-scenes planning PHOTOS: MURALI KUMAR K.

Back in the '90s, if you had mentioned Freestyle Motocross, you would have got strange looks. Then, in 1994, with the release of Jon Freeman and Dana Nicholson's Crusty Demons of Dirt, this brand of stunt biking suddenly became a credible sport. The Crusty Demons, the pioneers of the sport, became heroes to thousands across the U.S.A.

Come this evening, and Bangalore will be witness to a decade's worth of blood, sweat and tears that have gone into the sport. Eight of the world's best freestyle motocross riders will be performing at Palace Grounds, doing stunts that simply defy the laws of physics on dirt bikes, a snowmobile and a quad bike.

Crazy and loving it

For the Crusty Demons, this and every other show they put up is all about having fun and raising the bar on what's possible. All of them practically live for these experiences that give a whole new meaning to living on the edge. The main draw of the sport, they say, is that they get paid to go out and do something they love so much.

Take Mad Mike Jones, one of the more experienced riders on the team, who says he got into freestyle motocross because he "likes to do crazy things". The rush, he explains, is the best feeling he can have. Ask him if this high is better than, um, you-know-what, and he laughs: "Really depends on who with. But seriously, putting up a show for the crowd on a dirt bike is better than anything else you can do. It's better than playing sports or clubbing or anything." Steve Mini, who is also an X-Games medal winner, adds that there's always something new to be learnt. "Five years ago, we couldn't have imagined some of the tricks that we're doing now, and no one really knows what's possible five years from now. Yes, we are pushing the limits."

But to be out there on the frontlines is not an easy task. Being so passionate about biking means that the profession takes up most of their lives. The riders have to constantly stay one step ahead of the competition, practising stunts over and over; attempting to come up with something no one's done before. And with the hectic schedules that they keep, every moment that's not spent in a show is spent travelling or practising. "Even when you're play riding," says Steve, "you keeping trying out new things. So in that sense it's not really play riding." The work doesn't end there. On the contrary, the behind-the-scenes planning is almost exhausting. For example, the arena constructed at Palace Grounds has been fine-tuned to the last millimetre. Every stunt is also perfected and timed to the last second.

Despite all this planning, however, things can go wrong. As a small fall at an earlier preview proved, on the track the odds still reign supreme. Between them, the Crusty Demons have broken at least three or four dozen bones (see box). According to Steve, almost the very moment a rider leaves the ramp, he knows if it's going to work or not. "Halfway through the jump, you know it's not going to work. Then there's nothing you can do but hope for the best."

But that doesn't keep these guys down. Mad Mike decided that he was done when he broke his neck and landed in hospital. But three days after he was discharged, he was riding in his yard, and three months after, he was back at his job. Steve explains that whenever things seem to become a bit much, he thinks about all his friends back home who work 40 or 60 hours a week to earn less than half of what he makes.

Blake Williams a.k.a. Bilko, one of the younger riders on the tour, takes a different tack: "You always know you're going to get hurt some time. I'd rather get hurt on a dirt bike than get hit by a car on the way to the post office."

Living on the edge is a dream that drives most of us. But since pushing ourselves to the edge isn't always an option, for those looking for that vicarious adrenaline buzz there's no better place to be than Palace Grounds this evening at 7 p.m.

Past the breaking point

AIRBORNE The team, collectively, has broken close to four dozen bones

As much as we hear the warning "Don't try this at home", we're not likely to listen. The dangers of Freestyle Motocross too might seem a trifle exaggerated. But a look at the collective scars of the Crusty Demons is likely to convince anyone who might think so.

Mad Mike Jones has broken at least 17 bones in his body and has had 11 surgical procedures performed on him. These include breaking his back twice and breaking his neck once. He now has two steel plates and six screws inserted in his neck to hold it together.

Blake Williams once broke both his arms at the same time. He has also dislocated his shoulder, broken his leg and suffered internal bleeding in the past.

Jimmy Blaze once jumped a 140-foot step-up and didn't make it. The accident left him with a compressed spine, two fractured vertebrae, a pinched nerve in his back and paralysis for about 30 minutes.

Matt Schubring has so far broken two vertebrae, a femur, his pelvis, a forearm, wrist, a few collarbones and both feet.

The number of bones Robbie Maddison has broken is somewhere in the 20s. Joel Balchin and Steve Mini have broken six and three each.

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