SAN FRANCISCO -- Mat Hoffman, nicknamed "The Condor" for his sharp features and swooping style on the vert ramp, has recovered from a devastating knee injury, thought to be career ending, to re-emerge as one of the premier competitors in his sport. Hoffman is thrilled to be back on his bike, leading the way in a sport that he has almost single-handedly dragged to the status it currently enjoys. His fellow riders, aware of his impact, are happy to see him back on the ramp at this year's X Games, competing with his customary excellence.

Hoffman, vert's world champion from 1987-1997, is legendary in his sport. He has been the leading innovator in vert virtually since he began competing in 1984, landing tricks that no one else would dare or could even imagine.

Jamie Bestwick of Great Britain, himself a top rider, marvels at the creativity Hoffman has demonstrated over his entire career.

"Mat's one of those riders that a lot of people still can't do the tricks that he was doing ten years ago."

Hoffman used riding as a springboard to create a bike stunt empire that pervades the entire action sports universe. Hoffman Bikes, a company he created in 1992 in his hometown of Oklahoma City, Okla., has grown steadily and resulted in a slew of other companies including Exhibit Clothing, Hoffman Productions and Hoffman Manufacturing. Hoffman Promotions organizes bike stunt events at numerous contests, including the 2000 X Games here in San Francisco. He also started the Hoffman Sports Association this year as a sanctioning body that takes care of the BS Series -- the premier bike stunt series -- and the Crazy Freakin' Bikers Series, developed as a more grassroots, rider-friendly format.

Through it all, his riding remained vital to him as a creative outlet and a way to expand the boundaries of his sport. The more innovative his riding, the more his competitors strived to reach the bar he raised, resulting in better overall riding and the continued progression, and increased exposure, of Bike Stunt in general.

This was all threatened as he missed the entire 1998 season with a severely torn ACL that many doctors told him would be impossible to come back from. Injury is a constant in the lives of vert riders, evidenced by the scarred and bloody shins that are requisite at all events, but a little physical therapy and boatload of toughness are usually enough to get a rider back on the ramp. Hoffman didn't think he would be so lucky this time.

"I couldn't even drop in on a vert ramp much less be able to pump up the 12 feet," said Hoffman. "It was pretty devastating for a while and I guess I had to accept it because I didn't think there was any way out of it."

Doctors in Montreal, though, provided Hoffman with hope in the form of a surgery that isn't even performed in the United States. Surgeons implanted a synthetic ligament, flown in from France, to replace his tattered ACL. The surgery was successful and he was back on a bike for the 1999 season, although he wasn't competing at the level he had for so long. After reinjuring the knee -- he had screws implanted to strengthen the ligament in May of this year -- Hoffman returned again and has been riding as he was accustomed to since.

Hoffman's reconstructed knee is carrying him to new heights

Back on the ramp, and back in control, Hoffman has resumed the pioneering style that inspires his competitors and feeds his own soul and his sport.

"It's been important to me, when I ride, to be innovative and try to do original tricks and try to contribute as much as I can to the sport," said Hoffman. "I've been really concentrating on that this year."

The results are evident in his finishes this year. He has won or placed second in every event he has competed in. Bestwick, for one, is an unabashed fan and isn't shy about trumpeting Hoffman's return.

"It's fantastic to see Mat up there having a lot of fun, learning new tricks and inspiring people to go bigger and better," said Bestwick. "There aren't many riders out there I like to watch but I could I could sit and watch him all day. He's very inspiring and I'm proud to be on the same ramp as him."

Dave Mirra inherited Hoffman's X Games crown and is similarly excited to see him come all the way back.

"Mat coming back is awesome," said Mirra. "I think we need to have more and more athletes getting involved like him. Losing Mat from the sport would be a big, big loss. It's awesome to see Mat healthy again and have him up on the deck."

Hoffman's legacy is evident in riders like Mirra and Bestwick and his continued involvement and ability to create and innovate will prod Bike Stunt forward. Extreme sports are still emerging and the loss of an icon has the ability to stunt their growth. With the Condor again aloft, Bike Stunt's prospects are still soaring.

   Send to a friend  | Most sent  | Submit your photo or video