Too much excitement?

Last week I wrote about the excitement of the Next Big Trick. What would it be? Who would pull it? But now that X-Games 13 is over, I’m wondering if it’s something that we need to think more carefully about. Riders are risking life and limb in order to get the coveted gold medal. If they can be the next rider to pull (insert your choice of death defying stunt) then it will bring them fame, money, and a huge adrenaline rush. But is it worth it? Are we expecting too much of these guys? Jake Brown’s now infamous fall was such an eye opener—is it worth it?

Comments

[bill byrne]

It's a risk you take in any outdoor activity. Football players get hurt all the time, some have been paralyzed for life. People drown surfing. Foot-bag is rough on the ACL. The world off your couch is dangerous.

Growing up on long island, I had a teacher tell me once about her nephew who cracked his head on a curb while skateboarding (this was about 84 she was telling me) and he died. That's a far cry from a four story fall off a 1/4 pipe.

Jake Brown could have gotten hurt locking up at a public skateboard park while nobody was around. But because of the venue, it was an eye opener for those outside the core to start crying about the dangers of being uber extreme to the gnarly max SHAKA!. For those who are a part, it was hard to watch and our hearts went out to him, but slams are a part of progression.

I'm just happy Jake was able to walk away.