The Athlete: CHAD SHETLER
Episode: Skateboard Vertical Record | Premiere: Dec. 3, 2006

Perry's Thoughts:
Skateboarders have always amazed me. To me, they are probably one of the most innovative groups of all action sport athletes. No sooner than you see someone pull off a trick on a skateboard that you thought could never be done, there is someone else right behind them trying to figure out how to outdo their stunt. I found Chad Shetler to be no different. The previous record set for the biggest wall ride was a mere 12 feet. Chad Shetler wanted to go twice as big, but to do that he figured he needed a little help. Jeff "Ox" Kargola, member of the famed Metal Mulisha, was on hand to assist Chad with his record-setting stunt. The plan was to have Ox tow Chad in on his dirt bike with the hopes of gaining enough speed to reach the ultimate goal of 28 feet. One of the aspects of this stunt that I was most impressed with was the ramp and the wall itself, which was built by Kip Sumpter. Watching them construct the ramp and mount the wall was a stunt in and of itself. This stunt is a prime example of how today's action sport athletes are pushing the envelope and achieving new "heights" never before thought possible.

Eli's Thoughts:
The idea of getting towed by a motorcycle while on a skateboard sounds fun, but I have seen firsthand that this is very dangerous. When I heard of the challenges ahead for Chad, I thought, it's one thing to get flung up the ramp but it's a completely different thing to come down smoothly. I first called my friend and expert in the field of skateboarding, Bob Burnquist, one of the most natural and skilled skaters of all time, and he definitely agreed this would be a perilous stunt. Chad was going for a 16-foot vert ramp with another 16 feet of straight vertical wall to clear, totaling 32 feet. On practice day, when the ramp was complete, Chad made a couple of attempts and it went well. His skills showed as he took the ramp smoothly, making a seamless turn from the very top back to the bottom. Stepping back, this structure was enormous — just as tall as a three-story building — and it was hard to imagine that Chad was going to attempt to ride this gigantic ramp. On stunt day everything was set; the rope was attached and motorcycle in place, so there was nothing left to do but get slinging. At first, Chad did some mellow tows, cruising up about 15 feet. Then, once he felt comfortable, he had Ox put on the throttle and up, up and away he went! At one point, he had a not-so-smooth run and it became clear there was not a lot of run-out until the concrete, and as all skaters know, pain is part of the game. He simply brushed himself off and hit the ramp even harder. A couple more attempts and repeatedly he hit the 28-foot mark; he was happy with the height, and in the end, this was to be the final mark. Nice work on Chad's part — he hit the ramp with style, and although it didn't end with 32 feet, 28 feet was no small order.