Pro Interview: Stunt Rider Mattie Griffin Update

Jo    Pro Arena    

Two years ago we introduced you guys to motorbike stunt rider, Mattie Griffin, sponsored by BMW and riding his way into an enormous number of freestyle championships, and jaw-dropping shows. Today, we caught up with him to see what he’s been up to since then.

Hey Mattie, last time we spoke to you, all the way back in 2011, you had lots going on, so just a quick catch up and insight into your world for our Extreme Element readers. You’ve now been stunt riding for nearly ten years right? What do you love most about it?
Yes, I can’t believe how time has just flown past! That’s a tricky question… what I love most about stunt riding… I’d have to say… the thrill of learning new tricks, traveling all over the world, meeting interesting people and most of all, performing and entertaining fans and spectators.

It all sounds so amazing! What has been your most memorable stunt riding related event in the past 2 years?
Again, another difficult question! Mainly because I’m so fortunate to have done so much over the past two years..! I think my most memorable stunt riding related event would be my most recent trip to perform in India (that was an experience and a half), truly unforgettable!

Corr, we bet! We hear your 2013 shows include some brilliant features, please tell us about it.
I am constantly changing and improving my shows, a really recent addition are some impressive stunts using some of our newest and most remarkable ramps. I really love to mix things up with my shows, so I can keep them entertaining for both new and existing spectators. Traditionally my shows are three sets of fifteen minutes, but quite what they include you’ll just have to come along to one to find out!

Do you have anything else exciting coming up in the future?
I’m as busy as ever! I have some pretty high profile shows coming up this year: MCN Live 2013, North West 200, The world famous Goodwood Festival of Speed… To name a few! Over the next few months I will travel throughout Ireland, England, Europe and even as far as Japan to perform. 2013 really is shaping up to be a busy year for me with many new shows, and I really am loving every performance!

Thank you Mattie for chatting to us, we’ll have to come along to one of your shows! Want to find out more about Mattie, or follow his impressive shows around the world?

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Attention, A Life In Extremes – Interview

Jo    Pro Arena    

Here at Extreme Element, we love ALL things extreme, whether it be a sport, video, athlete or something completely outrageous, like a parkour dog! When we heard about this up and coming video that has been produced to delve deeper into the life of three extreme athletes, and the challenges they face, we knew we just had to find out more. We caught up with the director behind the movie to get a real insight into the film.

Movie Title: “Attention, a life in Extremes”
Genre: 80.min. Feature Documentary
Director: Sascha Köllnreitner
Production: AdriAlpe-Media

So Sascha, please just talk us through the film – “Attention, a life in Extremes”, and what you’re hoping to give to your audience?
What fascinated me the most was the real human being behind the so called “modern superhero”. A perspective I mostly missed in other extreme sports movies.

So first we get to know the daredevils, the gladiators at the edge of the possible, but step by step the true identity and emotions behind this daredevil are uncovered. With all the difficulties, challenges and problems the extreme athlete is facing… Professionally, and even more, privately.

As I’m sure you can imagine, it’s not that easy having a family while you are constantly risking your life, and unfortunately without taking these risks and pushing these boundaries, our inspiring and motivating athletes just won’t get recognised, be able to live their dream or become successful!

So the audience can expect a very entertaining movie, where you can dive into the psyches of people who live pretty extraordinary lives.

It sounds truly moving, could you please just tell us a little more about the three extreme athletes you mention?
The three athletes fit the theme of the movie perfectly, as they’re all from different backgrounds, doing different extreme sports and living different lives. I love the diversity, it really helps to create a true insight into the extreme world. Every one of them has a really interesting story to tell, and have experienced things most of us can’t even begin to imagine. One of my favourite stories is actually how Gerhard, the cyclist, was previously a weightlifter! I learnt so much about these athletes whilst making the film, and it’s such a brilliant way to delve deeper into their backgrounds and past experiences. I felt I really connected with them all.

It’s not long until you’re due to be finished making and editing the film, what are your next steps from there?
Get the film into as many cinemas as possible! I’m really looking forward to a broad promotion tour we’ll be doing in the near future, where I’ll be connecting with so many people from around the world.

We wish you the best of luck with your crowdfunding campaign, how has it gone so far?
From the perspective of a PR agent… Brilliantly! The trailer views are constantly rising.
Speaking in producer language; “Could be better!” We still need a few backers.

It’s always interesting to hear the background, or ‘behind the scenes’ for any movie, do you have any insightful, motivating or interesting stories from your time making the film?
We would be here all day if I even attempted to tell you half of it!

Having recently survived nine days in a car, during the Race Across America, with no more than three hours of sleep a night, we certainly have some brilliant videos and pictures that might give you a rough idea into the ‘making of’. We actually did this trip twice! It was such an amazing and memorable experience. We created a YouTube channel and Facebook page to document our adventures… they’re just too good to miss!

I have learnt so much in the making of this movie, it’s unbelievable. I really can’t stress enough how great it is to just be out and about meeting people and getting to know them! After filming this I’m now constantly telling people to travel as much as possible, and dare to dare sometimes. You may not fancy yourself to be a wingsuit flyer as such…. but get out there! Be extreme!

Brilliant, it all sounds very exciting and like a real eye opener, if you’re dying to find out more, check out the ‘Attention, a life in Extremes’ trailer!
Dying to find out more certainly sounds very fitting to the topic. Thanks again guys and I hope you enjoy!

Pro Diaries: James ‘Woodsy’ Woods Interview

Jo    Pro Arena    

Here at Extreme Element we love chatting to pros from all sports, today we caught up with James Woods, nick named Woodsy, a pro skier, to see what he’s been up to!

Hey Woodsy, I hear you’ve had a busy winter, so what have you been up to?
Hi, yeah my whole winter and year actually is really busy now, not really sure how that happened to be honest! During the winter, the majority of my time is taken up by competing. There are always so many competitions happening all over the world and the hard part is to choose the right ones to do, because I obviously want to do everything. Although X Games, Dew Tour, World Cups and the other Platinum AFP ranked events take up almost every single week of the winter. When I’m not competing it’s a good bet that I’ll be skiing and practising somewhere, normally either Breckenridge, Mammoth, Whistler or Saas- Fee.

So, how did you first get into skiing?
Well, I was the first in my family to try out skiing at the age of 10, which is pretty late compared to most people that compete like me. I was going through a phase of wanting to try out every sport under the sun, and I’d seemed to settle on field hockey, and some skating for fun after school. I’m from Sheffield, UK and the skate park was right next to the dry ski slope (artificial plastic bristles – either called snowflex or dendex) in Sheffield Ski Village, I always knew it was there and one day my curiosity got the better of me. I tried skiing and snowboarding and loved them both and was pretty good too, but the easiest and cheapest way to carry on was to join the ski club. After joining I started going every Saturday to Sharks Ski Club and well, it just seemed to (artificial) snowball from there… I raced, did moguls and then started jumping and doing rails, and honestly since then I’m not quite sure how all of this happened! I know I’ve always tried and practised really hard to be the best skier I can be – but this is crazy, my dreams are coming true!

Ok, perhaps a pretty tricky question…but what’s your favourite jump or rail to ride?
That is a tough question because each different feature is so specific. I love doing this sport because there’s never two things the same. Every jump, rail, feature and course is different, always. I simply love finding a line of working out a hit that feels good and then try and learn some new tricks using it.

Would you say there’s anything or anyone that truly inspires you whilst on the slopes?
Skiing wise, I’m from a pretty deprived area and I try to go to small ski resorts all over the world that are trying to make freeskiing happen, and every time I do, it amazes me at how stoked all of the people are. So, I’d have to say these people inspire me the most, from both extremes kids building their own rails and sliding down carpet to hit it in the summer to the huge, most perfect parks around the world where the best of the best are inventing and learning new tricks all the time. I’m constantly inspired by this sport – that’s why I’m still here.

Talking of slopes, what’s your all-time favourite place to ride?
They would have to be either Breckenridge, Whistler or Mammoth.

What has been your best memory or most memorable experience so far?
I have been lucky enough to experience some incredible things already in my life and for everyone that has helped me I am so grateful, but I have to say stepping out onto the X Games podium in Tignes for the first time, in my first X Games was my dream come true. I can honestly say that for a split second there I felt on top of the World.

I know you’re away in Whistler at the moment, could not be more jealous but do you have any other plans for the summer?
Oh yes, there’s so much going on it’s really exciting! I have just got back to Europe now after an amazing month in Whistler, and now I’m in Saas- Fee, Switzerland. After here, I get to go and watch some of the Olympics in London, which is amazing. Then I have a little more training time somewhere, not too sure where yet. I’ll be training for the first Slopestyle World Cup of the ‘12/’13 season in Argentina, which means… it is the first qualification event to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games!! Then my best friend is getting married and all the city big air events start and then it’s the winter again, so it’s all pretty full on!

Sounds non-stop, do you ever get any days off, if so, how do you spend it?
I love taking days off, but even just after one day I start getting antsy! Usually I’ll sleep in as long as I can and then try and sort out all my E-mails and ‘real life’ things that get totally neglected for months! I do really enjoy doing other sports too, so whenever I can, I’ll try and get outdoors doing something even if it’s not skiing.

Now, what we would all like to know…any exciting plans for the next winter season?
Well, like I said, the Olympic Qualification has opened up, so I’m focussing on that and hoping to do well in it. Other than that, I aim to carry on as I am, trying my best at the X Games, Dew Tour etc. I do have some new tricks that I’m currently working on that I’m really excited to bring into contests next winter as well. I’m also going to try and get a couple more edits out as my last one went down well I think.

Cheers for that Woodsy and good luck for the future! Definitely got a lot to look forward to! Here’s a tiny insight into what Woodsy does:

Pro Diaries: Jeff Rowley – Jaws Wave Rider

Jo    Pro Arena     jaws, Jeff Rowley, surfing

We caught up with Jeff Rowley, a professional big wave surfer from Australia, who has certainly got some exciting stories!

Now, I’m sure you’ve been asked this more than once…how did you get into wave surfing?
I started surfing when I was 6 years old, my parents owned a surf shop in Anglesea Victoria Australia, and my dad was a surfboard shaper, so I pretty much grew up on the floor of my dad’s shaping bay. From about 6 years of age I was on my own surfboard, but before that I was riding boogie boards in the tiny little shore break near home. I first started surfing big waves when I was about 17 years of age and I was really launched into that on the southern coast of Australia, just off Victoria. There’s a lot of reef breaks there and they catch a lot of the winter swells in really cold water, and they’re super isolated, there’s no one around, there’s a lot of cliffs and most of the time it was just myself, or myself and one other friend.

Sounds like quite a wild surf, how often are you taking to the waves?
Over the past year, I’ve been lucky enough to score some really good waves, which is pretty amazing. I’ve been to some of the best big wave spots in the world including Cloudbreak in Fiji, Teahupoo in Tahiti, Jaws in Maui, Mavericks in California and Albatross in Australia. I’m always watching the weather maps, waiting for big swells to develop somewhere in the world, ready to travel at a moments notice.

When I’m not chasing monster swells, I surf a few times a week in small to medium fun waves – it helps me keep up my surfing and catch up with good friends in the water.

I’ve always wanted to learn to surf! What would you say is your biggest motivation?
My biggest motivation is pushing myself harder every time I go for a surf. That means riding bigger waves, paddling into more challenging waves, go faster, take a later drop and go where no other surfer has gone before. I love all aspects to surfing big waves from the preparation, the surfboard design, how my equipment feels, the wetsuits and floatation systems, and the excitement.

I love being at the forefront of big wave surfing and I can’t wait to see where we’re going to take it in the next decade.

This all sounds so dangerous, have you ever been injured while surfing?
When I was younger I had my share of minor injuries, which led to time out of water, but nothing worth mentioning and I’m certainly not going to complain. I’m grateful to be fit and healthy and train as hard as I can to make sure I’m prepared.

What has been your best memory or most memorable surf so far?
Every time I get the chance to surf really big waves it’s one of the best experiences, and those moments are burnt into my memory forever. However, the one surfing experience that means the most to me, was paddling into jaws on January 30 2012. It was just myself, Greg Long, Albee Layer and a few friends in the water and they really were the perfect waves. We had to push ourselves as hard as we could in that historic paddle in session.

I noticed on your website you mention your own personal training program, can you tell us more about it?
Preparation, plus opportunity, equals success. I know exactly what I want to be doing with my life and I’m giving it 150%, I love it! I train hard in the pool- my empty lung holds are up to 2:23. I eat well. I’ve got 5 boards over 9′6″ because I’m prepared. At the beach I don’t psyche up, I calm down. I perform lung exercises before I paddle out that deprive me of oxygen, so my body is in a state of conserving energy. And then I have to be there on the best days to create the opportunity.

Long hold downs are inevitable. When I’m down I count seconds and spins. In the pool I get tumbled for 50 seconds, untie my leash and swim 25m on an empty lung. When you have a serious wipeout, you really lose count of spins. I’m training to make two wave hold downs enjoyable, so I when it happens I won’t be under pressure.

So there’s been a huge shift in my training and it just gives me so much more confidence in the water. So I think training is really important for me because I want to be the best in the world at big wave surfing and I want to be the best that I can be. For me to train in the pool where it’s in a controlled and safe environment you can push yourself way beyond what you thought was possible, and then when you go out in the ocean, the idea is that it’s never as bad as what you have prepared for.

There must be so much to think about! Any tips on how to stay calm under water?
When I’m going surfing and the waves are really big, I prefer to calm down. A lot of my training is around trying to conserve my energy and making sure that I’m in a really good mental state before I go out there. If you get too excited you get too pumped up, you’re getting all your blood flowing and you’re burning all your oxygen before you even paddle out in the surf. If this happens, you only end up getting yourself in a really heavy situation and it’s going to make you really stressed, and that’s when you can get in trouble. So, I prefer to really calm down, do a lot of lung exercises to prepare my body for being in a situation where it’s not going to have much oxygen and I’ve still got to be able to maintain coherence and function at 100%.

I know you surfed ‘Jaws’ this year, how exciting! How did it feel to be surfing waves that could get as high as 70ft!?
Surfing Jaws was my Everest. I spent the last 18 months with laser beam focus on preparation and training for surfing Jaws, so overcoming my fears to paddle into the wave was fulfilling my dream.

Becoming the first Australian to paddle into ‘Jaws’ Peahi on the island of Maui in Hawaii on 4 January 2012 was one of my biggest life achievements. At the same time, I achieved my 2012 Charge for Charity quest to paddle into, and catch a 50-foot wave. I was going to catch that wave no matter what happened, it was massive and I was in the right position and it was my time to go for it. I stood up and the wind hit me and tried to rip my board from under my feet as I started freefalling, I couldn’t see a thing but I pushed down as hard as I could and made the ride. I was like trying to catch and ride a Tyrannosaurus Rex with your bare hands – the best thrill but you’re so glad to be alive!

I had to train hard, overcome a number of barriers and conquer my fears to achieve this.

Paddling in is the ultimate challenge, it’s man VS ocean, actually it’s man VS himself. You have to constantly make decisions that will impact what happens next. For the big wave I caught at Jaws on January 30, I knew I was in exactly the right position the moment I saw it. I didn’t want to waste any energy paddling, I was under it and it was going to eat me if I didn’t make it. It was amazing to be recognized for my achievements when I placed 4th in the world in the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards in the Ride of the Year category for the wave I caught at Jaws on that day.

I’m definitely on the hunt for bigger waves. I’m not as afraid of the waves as I am of missing the opportunity to surf bigger waves.

An amazing once in a lifetime experience then! Has anything exciting been happening since ‘Jaws’?
I’ve been invited to compete in the Big Wave World Tour (BWWT) as an alternate this year. The best big wave surfers in the world compete on the BWWT and this competition showcases some of the best big waves in the world. I have been surfing big waves since I was about 17, so I’m really grateful to be invited to surf on the BWWT this year, the pinnacle of competition for big wave surfers. I’m looking forward to competing with some of the best big wave surfers in the world at some exciting big wave destinations. Usually, I free surf with all these guys at various locations throughout the world so the opportunity to compete with everyone formally is going to be really fun.

In March 2012, I was the first Australian to paddle into Mavericks Left in California which is traditionally known as a Right hander. The Left Hander at Mavericks is really heavy – the take off is a vertical free fall into a nasty slab barrel. I wiped out on a monster wave and tumbled down, it drained all of my energy and I didn’t know which way was up.

The water is so cold and the waves are so powerful, one mistake and the wave eats you for breakfast, and next thing you know, you’re washing in towards the rocks. I rode my 10’2” (3m) Al Merrick quad fin surfboard dubbed the “Magic Carpet”. The wave is crazy, I’ve never had my 10′2″ surfboard free falling on the take off on my backhand like I did today. It was just me, a handful of great local surfers and a couple of seals, classic day.

I scored some big waves at Albatross in July 2012. I’ve been waiting months for the Southern Ocean to come alive, this might prove to be the Swell of the Year. When I saw the weather charts, I was prepared for the biggest and best day of the year in Australian waters. I had to jump off a cliff to get out to the waves, and paddle about 2 kilometres out to sea against crazy rip current – it’s a total adventure. Albatross is a challenging wave, you’re so far out to sea and there is nothing to line up on or get your bearings, just the waves. It took me over two hours to catch my first wave, but it was well worth the wait – that was the wave of my winter so far. These waves have been entered into the Australian Big Wave Awards for 2012/2013.

So many exciting things, maybe I shouldn’t ask but what does the rest of 2012 and 2013 hold for you, any big events to watch out for?
We’re currently in the waiting period for the Big Wave World Tour event at Pico Alto in Peru, until 31 August 2012, so I’m really looking forward to competing in that event amongst the best big wave surfers in the world.
I’ve got my eye on the weather maps and waiting for a big swell to hit some of the big wave destinations in the world. This year, I’m completely focused on big-wave surfing. I want to be at all of the best locations in the world on the biggest days. I’m really looking forward to surfing Jaws 50% bigger, or twice the size of what we’ve tried to paddle into. So I’ve just got my head down – under water, in the pool, in the gym every day trying to get as strong and fit as I can, and increase my breath hold. I’m really looking forward to pushing it out there and being the best I can be.

Surfing Jaws again and the BWWT, so many exciting things happening for you! Any other advice you’d like to tell us about?
There is a lot more to riding really big waves, you can’t just go out – you have to be familiar with the location, friends helping you, resources towards travel and filming and most importantly, commitment. When you watch big wave surfing, it might look like we just turn up and catch these amazing waves, but there is a lot more that goes into it like the logistics of getting there and making it happen. It’s a challenge to be there at the right place at the right time, and there’s always the opportunity cost of going to one location over another.

It’s definitely just yourself out there in the water and it’s just you that has to turn around and catch the wave but, back on land you actually need the support of a whole team of people – your family, partner, friends, photographers, surfboard shapers. When you ask the universe for what you want, there is a whole world of resources that also opens up to support you achieving your goals.

My advice for people who want to take up big wave surfing is that the most important thing is to have belief in yourself. You have to know that you really want to do it. Once you know you want to surf big waves, you have to train, prepare and get the equipment and then hunt down the waves. It takes a ‘go for it’ mentality, giving it 150%.

For any surfer, fear is always present but you have to refuse to focus on it. You have to leave it behind and focus on what you can achieve. If you hold back the result is certain, but if you give 150% who knows what may come.

Great, well thanks for talking to us today Jeff, I certainly feel like I’ve learnt something! Good luck for all the intense and amazing surfs you have planned! Hope to hear about it in the future!

Pro Diaries: Interview with Aaron Jennings from Surfers Against Sewage (SAS)

Jo    Extreme News & Views, Pro Arena    

Aaron Jennings, Brighton SAS representative, recently took part in setting the UK record for beach cleaning in Brighton and is jumping with us this weekend! We caught up with him to find out more…

Have you ever done a bungee before, and are you nervous?

Yes and yes! I did about a dozen jumps when I was 18 and 19 (a whopping 15 years ago) but haven’t jumped since. Back in my heyday I did one in a straight jacket, learnt to do somesaults, backflips and did a night jump into a black void. Not having done one for so long I’m feeling pretty nervous, yes.

What is the craziest extreme activity you have ever done?

There’s a whole list from back in my 20’s. Including some of my previous bungee jumps, paddling out in murky Fijian surf after just spotting a tiger shark pop up in the line-up and some stupid skateboard stunts which have left a fair few scars. These days I just surf and skate bowls, nothing too extreme.

Explain a bit about your role as an SAS ambassador…

SAS is a national organisation protecting oceans, waves, surfers and beaches all around the UK. The SAS team are based in Cornwall and need to know what’s going on around the UK. I’m 1 of 30 reps around the UK who feedback the concerns from the local water users. I’m also tasked with explaining to the Brighton/south coast water sports communities about the SAS campaigns that are helping our beaches and how we can all get involved.

Do you think Brighton is improving as a result?

There are some significant improvements, but there are many more new threats impacting our coast. I think we are better at recognising the value of the beach and accept how the fragile an environment the coast is. A great example of this is the proposed developments at the Marina that could have destroyed one of Brighton’s best wave. The surfing community was successful in ensuring the social and economic value of waves was understood and the development was turned down, for now.

…and Britain as a whole?

SAS’s campaigns have helped beaches all over the UK and without SAS standing up for surfers and waveriders our coast would be a lot worse off. However, with every new tide there are more threats that expose themselves and more issues for SAS to work on. 22 years ago it was all about sewage. Now SAS campaign on marine litter, protecting waves, climate change, toxic chemicals and although we’ve achieved a lot with the sewage campaigns, we are now tackling a new threat from sewage, the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)!

Which site(s) do you feel SAS have had the biggest impact upon?

Any of the 200 beaches included in the ground breaking Sewage Alert Service. At these beaches SAS informs you for free and in real time, when a CSO discharges raw sewage into the sea. There are over 30,000 CSOs around the UK and we have plenty of CSOs around Brighton. It’s good to know before you go!

Which site(s) do you feel need most attention in the UK?

Brighton could always do better. We are a huge coastal community and our sewage goes into the sea without the best levels of treatment (and after heavy rain, it’s even discharged raw!)

What is next to raise the profile of SAS?

There’s an exciting, ambitious and important Protect Our Waves campaign that will galvanise the surfing and water sports community about to go live in August. Check out www.sas.org.uk for more details and to support the movement.

Aaron Jennings will be jumping with the lucky competition winner from the beach clean up, this Saturday at the Brighton Marina. We still have a few spaces left so grab them before it’s too late! To Book a Brighton bungee jump just click the link!

Pro Diaries: Kitesurfer Jake Scrace

Aaron    Pro Arena    

I think the fact that some people still think it’s a hoax has helped me realise and fully appreciate that what I did was quite an accomplishment. Luckily I still have some unreleased on board footage from the very first pier jump

Motor Racing Live Stockcar Racing Experience: Supplier Interview

Aaron    In the Limelight, Pro Arena     Driving Experience, Extreme Dodgems, Motor Racing, Motor Racing Live, Stockcar, Stockcar Driving

The Stockcar Racing Championship Day is one of our firm favourites here at Extreme Element and has been one of the best sellers for the past four years. We caught up with Mark from Motor Racing Live, the company that supplies the Stockcar Experience as well as some of the other top experiences on our site!

Hi Mark, thanks for talking to us today. So how and when did you get started in Stock Car Racing?
Stockcar racing has been in my family for 40 years – my father started selling newspapers at Hednesford Hills Raceway, and eventually went on to become the co-owner of the track. I have been watching Stockcar racing for 30 years and became managing director of one of the main promoters of the sport fifteen years ago.

What other aspects of stock car racing are you involved with?
I started off as a race commentator which is still my favourite job. After selling our three tracks 5 years ago, we now focus on running experience days.
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Pro Diaries: Ben Lecomte Swimming The Pacific

Aaron    Pro Arena     ben lecomte, Endurance, Pacific Swim, Swimming

Ben Lecomte is in the final stages of preparing for an amazing feat of endurance and mental strength as he gets ready to swim 5,500 miles across the Pacific Ocean from Tokyo to the shore of the American West Coast.

Originally from France, Ben know calls Texas home and is a typical guy next door with a wife and two young children. However, it is his dedication to helping Cancer patients that sets him apart. Having lost his father in 1991 to an 18 month battle, Ben decided he wanted to raise funds and awareness for cancer patients by being the first person to swim across the Atlantic. He completed the journey in 1998 after 73 gruelling days at sea;

“My battle was very different from the one faced by cancer patients, as it was my decision and I could give up at any time. But during my swim I better understood their suffering and the feeling of not knowing the outcome.”

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Pro Diaries: Leo Forster Rallycross Champion

Aaron    Pro Arena     Leo Forster, Rage Buggy, Rally Driving, Rallycross

Here at Extreme Element we pride ourselves in brining you the greatest experiences from top notch suppliers, so for this feature we thought we’d take the time to find out why our suppliers are among the best in the business… This month we’ve interviewed Leo Forster, founder of the Forster Racing School – ex National Rally Cross Champion now offering Rally Cross experiences in the South East!

Hi Leo, thanks for taking the time to talk to us today. So, how did you first get into motor racing?

I first got into racing aged of 5 when I was fortunate enough to be taken Karting by my Dad in a local field, I remember racing my older brother… and actually beating him at something!
I was racing by the age of 11, and had won my first ever race and championship in my first year. I moved into Juniors which was a bit more difficult, racing 16 year olds, but I managed to win the British F6 Karting Championship at 13. Motor racing was put on the back burner for a few years after that, until after my A Levels – but I soon took it back up and went on to place second in the National BRDC Formula Ford Championship.
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Pro Diaries: Anthony Dunn – Radical Champion

Aaron    Pro Arena    

We caught up with Anthony Dunn, one of the country’s best Performance Track Driving Instructors and an accomplished Racing Driver. In his 20 years of experience in the motorsport industry, Anthony has achieved many race victories including those in the Radical, which you can enjoy an experience for yourself with Anthony right here at Extreme Element.

Hi Anthony, thanks for talking to us today. So what makes the Radical so awesome, and what do the competitions consist of?

The great things about Radical Sports Cars are the aerodynamic grip, nimbleness and balance. It’s a terrific car to drive – easy to pick up, but hard to master. But mainly it’s just great fun! Racing in one depends on the level you compete in; either Club, National or European. Invariably each race or stint will be around 20 minutes – so if 2 drivers are sharing we would each do 20 mins of a 40 minute race.

How did you get into Racing?

Like many racing drivers, I started with Karting. But I was a bit older than the average, as I started when I was 18. Most racers nowadays start at 6…or even younger!
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