BMX BANDIT

In the latest book BMX freestyle Olympic gold medallist, X-Games legend and world champion LOGAN MARTIN takes us on his inspiring journey to the top of the global podium. In this edited extract he shares the discipline, courage, sacrifices and perils required to be an international extreme sports athlete...

CRASH & BURN

There is a comfort in getting uncomfortable. Every day I’m riding on an adrenalin rush and constantly scaring myself – some days more than others, particularly if I’m trying new things or almost crashing. That’s why there’s a sense of pride walking away from each session, because you’ve overcome the fear. The positive endorphins running through your body give you a feeling that is so addictive. You crave it. And that rush comes about only because you’ve pushed yourself out of your comfort zone. And you’ve survived.

The ability to overcome fear has a lot to do with your personality; it’s like you’re constantly having an internal chat with yourself. If I do crash my mindset isn’t, “What if I get hurt again?” Straightaway I’m thinking, “When can I get back into it?” I’m aware of the risks. I know what can go wrong, but I prefer to look at it in a positive light: what can go right. That is a better way to look at life and the precarious situations that I’m constantly confronted with in BMX.

People often ask what I’m thinking about during tricks. Because I’ve been doing this for 17 years – professionally for nine years – I’m a lot more conscious of what’s going on in the trick or in a spin. As soon as I take off from the ramp I can feel if something is about to go wrong, or I can feel if something is about to go right. I know how to control things to a point. If I need to I can correct it in the air, or if I’m going to crash, I can slide out a little bit more smoothly than I would have 10 years ago, because I have more awareness of where I am and how the trick has gone wrong.