Flashback: Travis and the art of knocking the wind out of yourself!

Photos & Entry By Jolene Van Vugt, AKA “Nitro Girl”

Travis is not new to knocking the wind out of himself but I don’t really think it’s something that anyone becomes accustom to no matter how many times you do. The act of gasping for air, knowing it with evenutally come back, you just hope sooner then later is still not one of the funest things to indure, but and I mean this in the nicest way possible, it sure can be funny for those who are watching. Especially with us ’cause it usually follows something dumb that we thought of, or someone not committing to something! I can’t remember how many times I have seen that look on Travis’s face along the very odd sound that one makes when fighting to get their breath back after knocking the wind out themselves. Travis is very loud and very distinct, as was caught on tape last year at the Winter Games filming in Utah when we was trying to backflip the snow-cycle and went a little too big trying to beat Jim.

So while we were at the Forgotten Lake and he was sick of seeing nobody complete what he thought was a completely simple task, he stepped up and on the first try, proved his point! He had everyone chuckling at the fact that he had clammed to be sitting this one out but was now once again gasping for air as the repercussions of his body slammed a huge high speed bell flopped onto the water from a forward jumping motion off the beach behind the Ogio boat. As I stood there laughing and taking pictures of him in discomfort as he slowly and painfully swam and then clawed his way back onto the beach, this lead me to my thought of how many times I have seen Travis knock the wind of himself, which then leads me to this little flashback remembering one of his hardest and maybe not so funny at first hits when we were filming the Summer Games last year at his house in MD and once again wanting to upstage Jim and ending up dislocating a couple of his ribs, (which he still to-date mentions that they are out of place and cause him discomfort at times) as he crashed and yes, knocked the wind out of himself.

It all started with Travis bringing in some guys from Woodward, having them bring and set-up a huge resey as part of the NC Summer Games ‘07. There was to be a best trick and big air competition. Travis didn’t win either of these, but not for lack of trying in true Travis style throwing a fricken-wicked-redonkuliss attempt at a double backflip on his mountain bike, crashing and leaving for the hospital before the contest had even really started! Fortunately his Father Robert was there to tell him what a whimp he was being and that there was really no need for him to go to the hospital! Oh, good old Robert always there for those words of encouragement just when you need them most and to pick you up when your down! Travis did nail the first and even the second rotation and would have had it but at the last minute, thought he didn’t, twisting his head and body position, which then stopped his rotation and had him hit the landing extremely hard on his side. (This footage is also in the ThrillBillies video) The sound rang through his backyard as he got up from the crash, stumbling around gasping for air and holding what he thought were broken ribs. As Travis has no patience he was already try to explain even before he was done gasping for air why he chickened out at the last second.

I’d have to say if there is one person in the world that has managed by repetition, to master the fine art of knocking the wind out of yourself and doing with grace, it’s gotta be TP!

Travis getting ready.

The take off!

And a graceful belly flop landing.

The music begins.

Crawling out, still gasping!

The Double back attempt.

Sorry I missed the landing shot, but here he is holding his ribs.

And here gasping for air!