DON'T LOOK DOWN
The Red Bulletin|June - July 2023
It's one thing to dream about riding a bike in the sky. It's quite another to pull it off. Enter Kriss Kyle, a Scottish BMX pro whose imagination is as wild as his skills in the saddle.
JESSICA HOLLAND
DON'T LOOK DOWN

Kriss Kyle's hands have been sweating all morning despite the December chill, and he's hardly slept. The 30-year-old BMXer is checking over his bike in a small aircraft hangar on a country estate in Wiltshire in South West England, trying to keep warm and stay calm. It's frosty enough outside that the grass crunches underfoot, but as the sun rises, it burns off the mist and fills the field with golden light. Today is the day Kyle has been waiting for.

Eleven months of waiting, to be precise, for the right weather to attempt his most extreme stunt yet. All told, it's been almost three years since a lockdown pedal through the hills near his home in Scotland inspired the unlikely idea of a BMX ramp suspended in the air. The pro rider has worked on some outlandish projects in his time, but this was next-level even for him. When Red Bull asked if he was serious about turning this daydream into a reality, Kyle's answer was instant. "I was like, fucking 100 percent," he says. "I said I would do it in a heartbeat."

In reality it took a lot longer than that. What followed was a Herculean effort full of setbacks and grit as a team was assembled to problem-solve their way to making airborne BMX riding a reality. By that cold December morning in 2022, a carbon-fiber skate bowl-like those you find in skateparks, roughly the size and shape of a small, empty swimming poolhad been constructed, which could then be attached to the U.K.'s biggest hot-air balloon and flown almost 2,100 feet above the ground. It was the product of a collaboration between engineers at Red Bull Advanced Technology, who usually work on F1 racing cars; U.K.-based company Cameron Balloons; and a group of Kyle's old BMX friends from Scotland and the north of England, who had been building ramps together since they were kids and now do so professionally.

この記事は The Red Bulletin の June - July 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は The Red Bulletin の June - July 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

THE RED BULLETINのその他の記事すべて表示
Teflon Sega DIGITAL REVOLUTIONARY
The Red Bulletin

Teflon Sega DIGITAL REVOLUTIONARY

Created as a means of outsmarting the music industry, this 2D anime singer is pushing the boundaries of artistry in the metaverse.

time-read
3 分  |
August - September 2023
Open-Door Policy GAME CHANGER
The Red Bulletin

Open-Door Policy GAME CHANGER

Frustrated by the lack of options to watch women's sports while out drinking with friends, Jenny Nguyen decided to do something about it.

time-read
2 分  |
August - September 2023
ENTER THE DRAGON
The Red Bulletin

ENTER THE DRAGON

Content creator Stefan Li, aka the Sushi Dragon, is revolutionizing livestreaming with his innovative use of consumer tech.

time-read
4 分  |
August - September 2023
The Spirit of Defiance
The Red Bulletin

The Spirit of Defiance

When Peruvian-born and Miami-based photographer Celia D. Luna learned of a skate crew in Bolivia, run by young women who ride in traditional Indigenous garb, she knew she had to shoot them. The photos are a testament to the power of self-expression.

time-read
4 分  |
August - September 2023
RACING TOWARD PEACE
The Red Bulletin

RACING TOWARD PEACE

Custom car builder, content creator and budding actress Emelia Hartford has found much-needed serenity-at very high speed.

time-read
10+ 分  |
August - September 2023
DIGGING DEEP
The Red Bulletin

DIGGING DEEP

In her own words, pro mountain biker Kate Courtney describes how she learned to confront her fears and demystify obstacles by working with veteran rider Jill Kintner.

time-read
8 分  |
August - September 2023
TOUR DE FORCE
The Red Bulletin

TOUR DE FORCE

Pro cyclist Wout van Aert loves to push himself to-and beyond the limit.

time-read
10 分  |
August - September 2023
Field of Dreams
The Red Bulletin

Field of Dreams

In the plains of Kansas, freerider Tyler Bereman and builder Jason Baker are perfecting a dirt bike course that inspires riders to go big and unleash their creativity.

time-read
2 分  |
August - September 2023
TENACITY AND JOY
The Red Bulletin

TENACITY AND JOY

The future of women's soccer has arrived. Her name is Trinity Rodman.

time-read
10+ 分  |
August - September 2023
Playlist - HIGHER CALLING
The Red Bulletin

Playlist - HIGHER CALLING

British singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding revisits four songs that have played a crucial role in her musical education.

time-read
1 min  |
June - July 2023