LaxTV Forums | A Forum About The MCLA

Travis Pastrana lives his life on the edge. Recently, he jumped over it.

On Wednesday, September 26, Pastrana hopped a flight from his home in Davidsonville, MD, to Arecibo, Puerto Rico, to perform a stunt he's been dreaming up for more than a year. The next morning, four members of his group skydived from a single-engine Cessna from 12,500 feet. Pastrana performed his jump wearing only sunglasses, socks and surf trunks while holding a can of Red Bull.

He was not wearing a parachute.

The jump was the latest in a string of stunts the motocross legend is filming for his next video Thrillbillies, the fifth installment in his Travis and the Nitro Circus series. While it may not be the most dangerous stunt Pastrana has performed, it is his most shocking. In his past stunts, Pastrana has taken his life into his own hands. This time, he placed it in the hands of three men he'd known for less than a week.

What would be going through your head if you were TP? A) I forgot to wear my nice button-up. Or B) Oh, a chute may come in handy, too.Best known for landing the first freestyle motocross double backflip at the 2006 X Games, Pastrana has a reputation for tempting the limits of possibility. Earlier this year, he revealed two stunts he was hoping to perform by the end of the year. The first—to duplicate his 1999 BASE jump into the Grand Canyon on a dirt bike, but with a girl riding tandem—he checked off his to-do list in March. The second—skydiving without a parachute—seemed better suited for a Hollywood stunt crew. Then, two weeks ago, he proved a 24-year-old action sports star would do just fine. "It sounds crazy to most people," he said back in January, "but it's very possible."

TexOle wrote:Future Darwin Award winner?

Dan Wishengrad wrote:LOL he must have watched the movie "Point Break" for inspiration. For anyone who remembers that film, Keanu Reeves does the same thing, jumping after and onto a parachuting Patrick Swayze (minus the Red Bull but with a gun in one hand). Great stunt, well filmed (not sure how they did it) and a great special-effects movie sequence.

But to do it for real? Pastrana is not a thrill seeker, he is mentally ill IMHO.

Tim Whitehead wrote:Long live Johnny Utah! What a great movie...

Dan Wishengrad wrote:

Tim Whitehead wrote:Long live Johnny Utah! What a great movie...

LOL now I wouldn't go THAT far, Tim. It was an okay film, I gave it about a C+. As a lifelong surfer who grew up in Hawaii I didn't really appreciate the sterotypes that it reinforced among you land-lubbers that we are all either crack-addicted violent goons or zen-masters who rob banks in our spare time...

Tim Whitehead wrote:

Dan Wishengrad wrote:LOL he must have watched the movie "Point Break" for inspiration. For anyone who remembers that film, Keanu Reeves does the same thing, jumping after and onto a parachuting Patrick Swayze (minus the Red Bull but with a gun in one hand). Great stunt, well filmed (not sure how they did it) and a great special-effects movie sequence.

But to do it for real? Pastrana is not a thrill seeker, he is mentally ill IMHO.

Long live Johnny Utah! What a great movie...

Dan Wishengrad wrote:All-time greatest Keanu Reeves movie line: "You need a license to drive a car, you need a license to catch a fish, but any butt-reaming $#%^* can be a parent!"

(Apologies if I papraphrased it inexactly)