Freestyle Motocross Racer and Gold Medalist Jeremy Lusk dies - a Message to His Family
Posted: Sunday, February 15, 2009
by Teresa Ortiz
Freelance writer/Speaker
Every year my son looks forward to the X Games--an Olympic style event for extreme sports which includes freestyle skateboarding, BMX, snowboarding, and dirt bike racing.
Among his favorites is now retired Mike Metzger. Metzger is known as the Godfather of freestyle motocross as he played a major role in this extreme sport. Over the course of his career, he won five X Games medals. His career ended in 2007 after breaking his back in a failed attempt to jump between two barges--but not before he set a Guinness world record for successfully completing a back flip while launching 125 feet over the fountains at Caesars Palace in 2006.
When Jeremy Lusk became a noted free stylist, Justin began to follow his career. In the 2007 X Games, Lusk unsuccessfully attempted the "Hart Attack" backflip--the same backflip which would later end his life--but walked away uninjured.
Nevertheless, he came back strong in the 2008 X Games, winning a Gold medal in freestyle. In "The Best Trick" event, he won a Silver medal for landing the first double-grab Hart Attack backflip. The Hart Attack backflip received its name from free stylist, Carey Hart in 2000. He was the first rider to attempt a backflip on a full size motocross bike at the Gravity Games in Canberra, Austrailia.
Metzger met Lusk in 2006, when Lusk was still an unknown. Metzger was impressed with his zeal and commitment to the sport and was convinced he had what it would take to make it to the top.
Watching my son and the other young men race has taught me a lot about the character and type of drive it takes to succeed in this sport. There is a balanced mix of confidence and humility. It takes determination and commitment to practice hours on end, and it takes the support of loved ones.
The excitement that rushes through your mind--along with the silent prayer that says, please keep them safe, is almost always overshadowed by the reality of the dangers involved in this sport. These young men risk their lives for what they love--can we blame them? We teach our children to reach for their dreams, to live life and work hard to succeed. I suppose as parents we never dream they would apply these lessons to extreme sports--perhaps a firefighter, or police officer, but not dirt a bike racer. Still, I am proud--and my son isn't anywhere near the professional level, and is leaning toward endurance and trail racing rather than freestyle jumping. I can only imagine the pride and joy that Jeremy's family had each time he successfully completed his amazing tricks! Watching him on TV was certainly a thrill.
Then came February 10, 2009. Another day of thrill, cheers, and pride--until an unsuccessful attempt of the Hart Attack backflip. He landed short, face first. He was rushed to Calderon Hospital in San Juan, where he was put in a medically induced coma. He later succumbed to his injuries with his parents and his wife at his side.
It breaks my heart as I can only imagine being by my son's side should he ever sustain such an injury, and yet I know this young man died doing what he loved--full of life and giving his fans a reason to cheer. Of all the paths that we can choose in life, I am willing to bet his parents and his wife are proud--I would be.
I am praying for his wife, his parents, and all his family. If by chance they see this story, I want them to know their son has been a positive influence on mine.
May the Grace of God comfort and sustain the entire Lusk family.
© Teresa Ortiz 2009
Sources: My son ; www.foxnews.com ; www.nytimes.com ; www.askvilleamazon.com
Among his favorites is now retired Mike Metzger. Metzger is known as the Godfather of freestyle motocross as he played a major role in this extreme sport. Over the course of his career, he won five X Games medals. His career ended in 2007 after breaking his back in a failed attempt to jump between two barges--but not before he set a Guinness world record for successfully completing a back flip while launching 125 feet over the fountains at Caesars Palace in 2006.
Nevertheless, he came back strong in the 2008 X Games, winning a Gold medal in freestyle. In "The Best Trick" event, he won a Silver medal for landing the first double-grab Hart Attack backflip. The Hart Attack backflip received its name from free stylist, Carey Hart in 2000. He was the first rider to attempt a backflip on a full size motocross bike at the Gravity Games in Canberra, Austrailia.
Metzger met Lusk in 2006, when Lusk was still an unknown. Metzger was impressed with his zeal and commitment to the sport and was convinced he had what it would take to make it to the top.
Watching my son and the other young men race has taught me a lot about the character and type of drive it takes to succeed in this sport. There is a balanced mix of confidence and humility. It takes determination and commitment to practice hours on end, and it takes the support of loved ones.
The excitement that rushes through your mind--along with the silent prayer that says, please keep them safe, is almost always overshadowed by the reality of the dangers involved in this sport. These young men risk their lives for what they love--can we blame them? We teach our children to reach for their dreams, to live life and work hard to succeed. I suppose as parents we never dream they would apply these lessons to extreme sports--perhaps a firefighter, or police officer, but not dirt a bike racer. Still, I am proud--and my son isn't anywhere near the professional level, and is leaning toward endurance and trail racing rather than freestyle jumping. I can only imagine the pride and joy that Jeremy's family had each time he successfully completed his amazing tricks! Watching him on TV was certainly a thrill.
Then came February 10, 2009. Another day of thrill, cheers, and pride--until an unsuccessful attempt of the Hart Attack backflip. He landed short, face first. He was rushed to Calderon Hospital in San Juan, where he was put in a medically induced coma. He later succumbed to his injuries with his parents and his wife at his side.
It breaks my heart as I can only imagine being by my son's side should he ever sustain such an injury, and yet I know this young man died doing what he loved--full of life and giving his fans a reason to cheer. Of all the paths that we can choose in life, I am willing to bet his parents and his wife are proud--I would be.
I am praying for his wife, his parents, and all his family. If by chance they see this story, I want them to know their son has been a positive influence on mine.
May the Grace of God comfort and sustain the entire Lusk family.
© Teresa Ortiz 2009
Sources: My son ; www.foxnews.com ; www.nytimes.com ; www.askvilleamazon.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Teresa,I love your articles and I agree with you in so many areas but I have been wrestling with this one for almost an hour. Pride in one's husband or one's son when he loses his life in order to save others is one thing; pride in behavior in which the chance of death or permanent injury is highly likely -- because that individual wants to pursue his dream or his love -- is an entirely different ballgame. Is the 'rush' of successfully completing a dangerous maneuver so great that you would risk everything for that moment? And if successfully accomplished, what's next? Some might even consider these types of extreme sports as suicidal. And what about those that are left as 'vegetables' or quadriplegics?Pride is not what I see here. Instead, I see a widow and parents who have lost a loved one because of the thrill of the moment. I wonder, were he able to tell us now, whether he would say it was worth it? Were I the wife or the parent, I would say No.NancyTeresa,Further to my above comment. It was not left by Anonymous. But because of my hour-long 'wrestling,' I lost my login and the comment went through anyway.NancyNo problem, I was thinking is was the Nancy Daniels Nancy :-)Hi Nancy,I understand where you are coming from, it is not an easy situation. I am sure you know my son recently had shoulder surgery due to a dirt bike injury, and still my husband and I have made the prayerful decision to support his every move toward racing. Without riding, there is a certain fire and life that is taken from him. When I say pride, it's not unhealthy pride I am talking about here, I am talking about being proud of a loved ones effort, determination and hard work, I am talking about the pride that brings a smile to your face when you see your loved one geniunely happy.I have other family members that are into racing, I can't speak for Jeremy, but I know that my family members would say it was worth it. They are good citizens that serve their community and do well in other areas of their lives and they just happen to love these kind of sports. My son tried the traditonal sports, soccer, baseball, basketball, you name it, and it did nothing for him. But when he first road a dirt bike, it was all over. How can you take away something that brings joy. You do your best to stay safe but that is it. I don't think any of these boys go into this sport, nor their family members thinking "it won't happen to them", but why do we have hobbies? If someone plays an instrument, why do they do it? because it brings joy and pleasure to the heart.There are so many sports that are dangerous. Football players die on the field, swimmers have freak accidents and die, the list goes on.I am sure his family tried to intice him with other sports as a young child, but nothing would do. I am sure they are broken beyond words, but I still stand by the statement that they would tell you that he thought it would be worth it. One last thought, his wife went into the marriage knowing this was his love, and though I am sure it scared her, she obviously stood by him every step of the way. If she were that against it, she would not have marrried into that life.Thank you for sharing your thoughts, again it is a hard issue and everyone has a different take on it. The important thing is that we do not have haughty hearts and start saying how stupid things like this are. I have to deal with it all the time when other parents ask me how come my son doesn't participate in sports. When I say he does and tell them what it is, I get this look of disgust. And this from parents who are in the ER with their kids for broken legs and colar bones from playing football. It all boils down to love and support. Lord bless you bunches :-)I realize this is a sport, but I liken the love and support to that of some of my friends who have children in the military, they would prefer something entirely different, but are proud of them as their children. One in particular has a son leaving for Iraq next month. He is special ops, top of his class-elite and going right into the heart of battle.I love the friendship and appreciate the discussions we have. We have different takes on several things, but I think we learn from eachother, at least I do you.We just might get the opportunity to hear from his family soon. I'll be watching for the news.Teresa,Gosh I love your response and I understand a little bit better but I am still saddened that this young man suffered a needless death.My son will join Special Forces upon finishing college this June. I worry just thinking about it and will continue to do so every time I think of him during those 5 years of his enlistment but I actually want him serving his country for many reasons, not the least of which is his gift for languages and his desire to work in intelligence following his service. I know his skills will be valuable.If, Heaven forbid, he should die serving our country, I will be comforted knowing that his death was not in vain.NancyHI Nancy, I am glad it help you understand a bit better. Maybe I didn't do a good job explaining the grief of loss involved here, so I am glad you mentioned it. I also did a search and found out the funeral is tomorrow at The Revival Christian Fellowship in Menefee, Ca. I am sure his family will remain silent for sometime, but have a feeling they will speak at some point.I get teary-eyed if I think about it too long and I am praying for the family and friends. In the grand scheme of things, I could see why itwould be viewed as a senseless death, but to me, a senseless death is when someone is killed by drugs, murderers and drunk drivers. I don't think because his death was not brought about by a "greater cause", it was senseless. I would see it more as untimely.I applaud your son's efforts, it sounds like he will be a great asset. And you are right, God forbid he should lose his life serving his country, but if he does it will not be in vain. Lord bless you.
Great article, Teresa. I cannot imagine the pain the family feels and my heart goes out to them.Hi Ken,Thanks for reading and thinking of them. I was praying for them this morning. The funeral is today.Like any sport, it feels like family even when you don't know a member personally. Seeing how it affected my son, made it personal and I was compelled to write.I appreciate your input.
hi t,life is filled with surpises we never saw coming. how awful for this man's family. it must change one's perspective on life. thanks for bringing this to us,my best regards,sueHi Sue,Good point. It is a reminder that each day is a gift.Thank you for your input. Blessings to you, t
Thaks for the article, I loved it! As I was reading I began to think of my own son and all the risks he takes in his life every day. I feel deep in my heart God has placed him in the Special Forces to do something positive for our country. He has always been a risk taker and very compassionate towards other, so when he tells me he wants to help others and serve our counry, I feel proud. But, I know he is doing something dangerous that he loves. So, we as parents need to support our children in all their endeavors (even the ones that scare us) because they make them happy.My prayers go out to his family.Hi Patti,Thanks for much for sharing your thoughts!! Sure is a long way from diaper's isn't it?!God Bless you!
Great article, Teresa!!! You have such good insight. I just realized You are a Blessed Thinker........ and teacher.Hi Heather,you made me blush :-) thanks for the kind words of encouragement!I hope all is well on your end.
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