Renner goes for a record
By DANIEL ARCHULETA Managing Editor
SM PIER Leave it to Red Bull to give a freestyle dirt bike rider wings.
Ronnie Renner, a regular competitor at ESPN’s X Games, will attempt to defy gravity at the Santa Monica Pier today as he makes a run at a Guinness World Record. Using a custom-made 25-foot quarterpipe, the daredevil is vying to establish the record for the highest air ever.
“It is a new record. It’s totally different than anything that’s ever been done,” Renner said. “In the sport of freestyle to try something unique and spectacular is hard to do.”
The stunt is part of the Red Bull Experiment, an ongoing series that attempts to break new ground in the world of extreme sports. Officials with the energy drink maker believe that Renner’s jump is keeping in line with the Santa Monica-based company’s approach to adrenaline-fueled marketing.
“The idea for the Red Bull Experiment came from the concept of progressing sport by taking world-class athletes and giving them a platform to perform world-first sporting achievements before a mainstream audience, while maintaining credibility within the endemic community,” said Jordan Miller, Red Bull Motorsports communications manager.
When choosing a site for the event, Miller said it was a no brainer.
“The Santa Monica Pier is such an iconic location, and taking these sports to the masses in unique locations is a hallmark of the Red Bull Experiment,” Miller said. “We’re very excited to hold it in our own backyard.”
In the days leading up to the world record attempt, Renner has been busy practicing and psyching himself up for the risk-taking event. His method for keeping his nerves in check centers around sticking to a routine, something he said is crucial.
“I leave my bike the same as my freestyle set up,” he said.“What goes up must come down. I just want to feel comfortable. It gets tricky coming in for a landing and you don’t want to deal with anything out of the ordinary.”
Even his safety equipment will be as standard as ever.
“Nothing special,” he added. “I have to stay loose and be comfortable throwing my bike into the air.”
While this is a first-time record attempt, this isn’t the first time Renner, 31, has performed the stunt. He’s been working on quarterpipes for the past couple of years and has a certain height in mind. He’s going for 50 feet from the ground. That would be 25 feet above the top of the quarterpipe.
“Not only am I setting the bar, but I’m trying to raise it at the same time,” Renner said. “I want to set a mark that won’t get touched.”
With zero hour on the stunt approaching, Renner is as ready as he’s going to be to make history.
“I feel really good, I’m really excited,” he said.“I’m happy with how practice has gone. I’m set to get people out to the pier who have never seen anything like this before.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 11, 2008. Read the original PDF.