death

Caleb Moore dies from X-Games snowmobile crash

25 year old snowmobile rider Caleb Moore was performing big tricks on his snowmobile during the snowmobile freestyle competition when he crashed performing a back flip. During the freestyle competition riders have 75 seconds to perform tricks and impress the judges.

Nearing the end of Moore’s 75 second run he attempted to back flip his 450 pound snowmobile and under rotated. The ski’s of the sled dug into the snow launching Caleb head first into the snow with the snowmobile chasing him and landing on top of him hitting him in the head and chest.

He laid unconscious for awhile and when he woke up he said it was like waking up from a long dream. He walked himself over to a medical tent where he was placed on a stretcher and put into an ambulance. He was diagnosed with a concussion at the scene which would have been his 11th by count.

Caleb’s brother Colten Moore was also competing in the freestyle event. When Colten came up to the same jump where his brother had crashed a little earlier he over rotated the backflip and crashed hard off the back of the sled.

“They’ll do some big trick and my heart skips a beat,” said Wade Moore, Caleb’s father. “This is not new to us,” Wade said as both the Moore Brothers were rushed to the hospital.

After being examined in the hospital Caleb was found to have a bleeding heart and was airlifted to St. Mary’s Hospital where he had an emergency surgery.

The crash happened Thursday January 24, 2013 and Caleb died a week later in Grand junction hospital.

Caleb Moore’s death is a scary reminder of how dangerous the world of extreme sports can be. “It is definitely a scary thing for a sport like ours,” said Levi LaValle (X games competitor.) “The only thing we can do is we can look at that and learn from it and look at how we can try to prevent that. Other than that, you look at it, what happened to him, it was an accident. He’s done that trick multiple times. He’s practiced. He’s done everything he can to prevent that.”

 

R.I.P. Waldo Autry

 

Waldo Autry 1957-2013. On January 23, 2013 Waldo Autry, a skateboard legend, street luger and the definition of an adrenaline junky passed away. Waldo was a friend to everyone that knew him. He touched the lives of many and his passing away was a shock to everyone who knew him.

Waldo was best known for inventing the kickturn on an invert in the Baldy pipes. He raced in the Signal Hill speed runs and made the cover of many skateboarding magazines. He was always pushing the limits with everything he did. “If they were going to jump over a car, I was going to jump over a garage” Waldo said in an interview with Juice Magazine.

Not only is Waldo well known for skateboarding but he was also a well known street luger. Most people who don’t know much about street luging know him for his participation in the Red Bull luge launch in San Francisco.

The skateboarding he did in bowls far exceeded others of his time. Anybody who skateboarded in the 70′s would know who Waldo Autry was and anyone who has ever had the chance to meet or ride with the man has a story to tell.

My first time meeting him was at Barrett Junction and it was obvious that he was willing to push the envelope. Waldo only knew how to charge into things hard.

At Barrett Junction I saw him crash twice and both times were crazy. I know he liked the way I told the story of his crash. I was street luging right behind him and almost got tangled up in his wreck with Niko Kroha. “It was probably better to crash there then to make it,” Waldo said after I told him my recollections about watching his crash and how crazy it was. I pretty much had first row seats to the crash following right behind him down the hill.

Waldo Autry’s crash with Niko Kroha was one of the gnarliest street luge crashes that I have witnessed in person.

Niko was out in front of Waldo, I was right behind them and Tabitha Mitchell was right behind me.

Waldo went for the pass on Niko on the inside. Niko was pretty far inside though and there wasn’t much room for him to pass.

Instead of throwing his feet down and braking Waldo was trying so hard to pass Niko two of his wheels left the road for a second. As soon as this happened he got the speed wobbles and wobbled straight through the right hand turn before Docs corner.

As he wobbled through the turn he clipped wheels with Niko causing him to lose his line.

Waldo hit the rock and dirt covered wall at around 45 mph and the wall exploded around him.

After his wheel was clipped Niko was also headed to the dirt and rock wall. As soon as his luge left the road the front dug into the dirt and catapulted him into the wall.

Me and Tabitha Mitchell threw our brakes down because we were right behind them when all this went down and the crash looked pretty intense.

I looked up to the crash scene and waldo was laying on the side of the road not moving. His street luge was flipped upside down on top of him.

Niko was also walking towards Waldo. “Waldo? (no response)…….Waldo are you there?” said Niko.

All of a sudden Waldo started shaking around and shoving the street luge off of himself. “I was just checking everything out, making sure I was alright” said Waldo.

Waldo Autry was a man, a legend and a friend to everyone who knew him. His passing is definitely a big blow to the community but he is a man who will never be forgotten.
The stories about him will live on forever. – Lee

Etnies Skatepark Speed Demon Race 2012

The Etnies Skatepark Speed Demon race, known to many (or at least me and my friends) as the death race was happening but no one was showing up for it. That just meant more heats and runs for everyone. It was a cool event having riders start near a pole jam, push their way down into some transition, whip around a bank and over a cone, then over the hump whip around another bank, cross over to the next bank and then go around yet another bank. This is the spot where riders ended up crossing paths and collissions were a good possobility although we didnt get to see anyone collide. Crashes did happen though. The race was fun if you were riding in it which looking back I should have done. Watching it sucked. Even video taping and photographing. It took forever and I couldn’t wait for it to end. Another heat, they said…….”shit” I thought to myself. Anyways the next one I probably will compete in and it is a really cool event, just not many people came out to it. The worst part is I know people who could have shredded the shit out of this course but no one was there. Anyways it was all a good time and everyone who entered was stoked.

 

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R.I.P. Sam Trowbridge

Sam Trowbridge caught a heel edge riding his freebord with no helmet on 4-20-2011 at around 4:25 p.m. He hit his head and was rushed to the hospital where doctors did what they could to help him. Sam was pronounced brain dead this morning 4-21-2011 and died this afternoon surrounded by his family, girlfriend, and many of his friends.

Doctors say he did not suffer since he was knocked unconscious right away. Sam a member of the freebord pro team 2011 was at the beginning of a freebord journey that was to end up in San Francisco. He was in Auckland at the time of the accident.

Sam’s riding abilities, video editing skills and love for the sport was seen by all. He inspired many riders and touched peoples lives who he had never met.

The following are some of my favorite videos Sam has edited. A lot of these inspired me to get out there and ride.

SAM, WE WILL MISS YOU BUDDY!

Car Pass Crash

Riding with the Dethbox crew for their So Cal Represent Tour 2010 was fun. This Gnarly carnage occurred on my second run of the first day of their tour. We were riding a fairly simple hill and I was feeling confident with some speed when I saw the opportunity to pass a car. Passing cars is completely bad ass unless you pass them only to crash. Basically I caught a heel edge and got some of the gnarliest road rash I have ever gotten. It also caused me to break the Scaphoid bone in my right hand.