OKLAHOMA CITY, March 30 - Ten-time and current World Champion vert rider Mat Hoffman continues to challenge the sport of Bicycle Freestyle and the laws of physics, surpassing the goals set by the sport and by himself.
Well-known as an innovator and legend to the sport of Bicycle Freestyle, Hoffman was the first person to build a 21-foot-tall vert quarter-pipe and set the high air world record at 20 feet in 1992. In 1993, he took the high air attempts one step further when he built the first-ever 21-foot-tall vert half-pipe and confirmed his world record air of 20 feet.
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| Hoffman sets the first high air world record at 20 feet in 1992. |
During the past 9 years, Hoffman has been increasing that height with each attempt. Hoffman has re-established the world record twice since 1992, clearing 23 feet in 1994 and, most recently, surpassing 26.5 feet in March 2001, in which he used a 24-foot-tall vert quarter pipe and catapulted more than 50 feet above the ground - by far the highest air ever achieved and the largest vert quarter pipe built to date.
In the days exceeding 26.5 feet above the ramp, Hoffman continued to pursue a greater personal goal; however, he sustained substantial injuries during a crash. He is expected to make a full recovery.
History of High Air Records and Monster Ramps
Winter 1991/1992 - Hoffman builds the largest vert quarter pipe ever built, measuring 21 feet tall.
Spring 1992 - Hoffman sets highest air record, clearing 20 feet above a 21-foot-tall vert quarter pipe. The record before this was near half this height.
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| In 1993, Hoffman clears 20 feet above a 21-foot-tall vert half pipe. |
1993 - Hoffman builds 21-foot-tall vert half pipe and adapts a weed eater motor to bike, using a 40-foot roll-in to gain speed. He clears 20 feet again, but experiences a considerable crash in which his spleen is ruptured and removed.
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| The 21-foot-tall vert half pipe Hoffman built in 1993 included a 40-foot roll-in. |
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| In September 1994, Hoffman clears 23 feet on 21-foot-tall vert quarter pipe during the Bicycle Stunt (BS) contest in Oklahoma City. |
1994 - Hoffman rebuilds a 21-foot-tall vert quarter pipe and clears 23 feet in September at the Bicycle Stunt Series (B.S.) contest held at Hoffman Bikes in
Oklahoma City. NOTE: The 1994 air was initially evaluated to have cleared 26 or 27 feet, but after intense scrutiny through a technical, accurate measuring system, the air was confirmed to have cleared 23 feet from coping.
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| In March 2001, Hoffman clears 26 feet atop a 24-foot-tall vert quarter pipe. |
1998 - Skateboarder Danny Way sets a skateboarding record, reaching approximately 15 feet of air using an 18½-foot-tall vert half pipe.
1999 - Hoffman Bikes team rider Kevin Robinson sets Guinness record of 15-feet, 3-inches during MTV Sports & Music Festival in Las Vegas.
2001 - DC Shoes and Dave Mirra challenge record, using an 18½-foot-tall vert half pipe, clearing 19 feet above ramp.
2001 - Hoffman builds 24-foot-tall vert quarter pipe and reaches 26.5 feet, breaking his existing record of 23 feet. (See
Hoffman's life has not only been committed to the sport of Bicycle Freestyle, but it has served to shape the sport, bringing it to exciting, new levels each year.
With a resume that includes taking his bike base-jumping off 3,500-foot Norwegian cliffs, Hoffman has defined the sport with the invention of more than 50 revolutionary tricks like the 900; Flip faki (backflip which includes landing backwards); and Flair (backflip with a 180 degree turn) - to name a few.
Despite numerous injuries, 14 operations in all, and all the new business projects that he is involved in, Hoffman came back into the contest circuit and pushed the sport to new levels in 2000. Within the first six months of his return, he became the 2000 Bicycle Stunt Series Champion, the 2000 CFB Series Champion, the 2000 European Champion and the 2000 World Champion (10th time to receive World title), dominating once again.
With 18+ years of success as a bicycle stunt rider, Hoffman is a leader in cultivating Bicycle Freestyle with the creation of the Bicycle Stunt Series in 1991, now a part of ESPN's Bikes Boards and Blades and the Crazy Freakin' Bikers Series. The Hoffman Sports Association (H.S.A.) organizes all the bicycle stunt events for the X Games (internationally and in the United States) as well as for the X Trials and several independent international events. The H.S.A. is the revered organization in the bicycle stunt industry.
For more information on Mat Hoffman and his latest endeavors, visit www.hoffmanbikes.com, www.expn.com or call April Tippens at Hoffman Bikes at 405-528-4130, ext. 117.
Extensive information on the bicycle freestyle culture and current events can be found on www.hsacentral.com.
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