Stunt biker Robbie Maddison created a record once again! Having been the first to ride a giant wave using a motorbike. All to chase his "Pipe Dream" and to film an advert for DC shoes.
The Australian daredevil previously wowed fans with amazing stunts such as jumping onto the Arc de Triomphe in front of the Las Vegas Paris hotel, doing a motorcycle back flip over London Bridge and leaping over the Corinth Canal in Greece. His latest trick seemed to defy gravity though, wherein Maddison was able to keep his 100 kilogram motorcycle afloat to ride a wave without any lines or hooks attached. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the stunt was for a DC shoes advert which the company unveiled Monday through a video clip titled "Pipe Dream." The clip featured Maddison surfing the world's heaviest and dangerous waves in Teahupoo, while on a customised motorbike.
In the report, the Sydney Morning Herald took note of the motorbike's specifications which allowed Maddison to keep it afloat on the water. The motorbike was a modified KTM250 SX that was outfitted with custom skis. Fins were installed beneath the skis to act as rudders for maneuverability and control. A paddle tire on the rear wheel was also added to propel the bike forward on the water, but also handle well on land. The Australian biker reportedly chose the two-stroke model given that it is less likely to cause mechanical issues while on the water as compared to the four-stroke bike.
Fans have also been wondering what made Maddison pursue this unbelievable pipe dream in the first place. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Maddison revealed he had an epiphany while wakeboarding with friends. He thought that with the right mechanics, he could combine his love for surfing and motorbikes. It took the daredevil biker two years of testing and development before he was able to come up with the custom skis. Afterwhich, Maddison reportedly approached DC Shoes' global brand leader Jeff Taylor with his idea of surfing on a motorcycle. Taylor supported Maddison's pipe dream and the rest was history.
Despite the amazing feat, Maddison also told the magazine that the stunt nearly killed him. The stunt biker revealed that there was a point when a wave hit him and he almost drowned. Maddison shared, "There I was on a motorcycle, with the worst thing that could possibly happen... when I finally popped up. I could see the helicopter and Jet Skis, and had a quick moment to wave my arm so that they could locate me."
He added, "Back on the boat, I was in tears. My friends and crew were completely rattled, having thought that I had drowned in the wave. It's the gnarliest thing I have ever been through."
