EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Nitro Circus Stuntman Travis Pastrana

• Author: Vivianne Lapointe
• Posted on: Tuesday November 10, 2009 at 12:00 PM
• Filed under: exclusive, action sports, travis pastrana

An X Games gold medalist in supercross, motocross, freestyle and rally racing & MTV superstar, Nitro Circus head stuntman Travis Pastrana is one of the most popular riders of all time with an impeccable reputation... He agreed to chat with us about the next few tricks he's got up his sleeve.

Photo Credit: Agustin Munoz

Photo Credit: Christian Pondella

JT.com: You have been riding 2,500 miles down the great continental divide over the month of September in a full-suspension mountain bike. How did it go?

TT: I needed to take a step back after shooting the new season of Nitro Circus, which was immediately followed by the X Games. I needed to get off schedule, and take a trip to get away and simplify things. I went on this expedition with three of my best friends, and some other people tagged along the road.

It was a lot colder and there was a lot more snow and rain days than what I had expected. It was a great challenge afterall - it ended up taking a whole month. It's great to take some time off and enjoy the smaller things in life, ones that really make you happy. We rode through so many different and beautiful lands, went up mountains covered in snow. We even encountered a grizzly bear... All in all, I got exactly what I asked for.

Photo Credit: Red Bull USA

JT.com: You decided to send out postcards to fans selected from your Facebook fan page to keep them updated on your trip. What brought you to revert to the old school, snail mail method?

TT: We were looking for something to keep in touch with reality while we were away. Lot of peeps wrote in to receive postcards, actually. We didn’t have anything except post office marked on our itinerary, where we would pick up energy drinks supplies and mail out the post cards.

Here's one fan pic from the Travis Pastrana fan page on Facebook

JT.com: On New Years Eve, you’re planning to attempt to break the world record for longest distance jump in a rally car, launching from the Pine Street Pier in Long Beach and hoping to make it onto a landing ramp more than 270 feet away.

TT: Right now we're testing all the car stuff, basically we just wanna make sure we get the ramp angle right… So far I have been jumping 150 feet, and I’ll keep going further and further until we get to the challenge…

JT.com: What happens if you fall in the water?

TT: (laughs) If I don’t make it, it’s gonna hurt really bad. I guess all I can say is I'll have to do my best to get back to the surface!

JT.com: What else have you got planned for New Years Eve?

TT: Nothing!

JT.com: You teamed up with DC Shoes to make a motorbike with shoes instead of tires. How did that idea come up? 

TT: If you're going to do something really artsy thing with shoes, I think you might as well make one that’s also functional...

Photo Credit: Fatlace.com

Check out this really cool 'making of' vid!

JT.com: What’s the most difficult stunt you’ve ever done?

TT: It's a tough question, because things keep progressing. Every year, the impossible becomes possible.

JT.com: You’ve broken your back on an accident before. What made you start to ride all over again?

TT: Can’t live without it. Even when I’m injured, all I can think about is trying all over again, and getting it right this time. For me, not trying is a worse feeling than getting hurt.

JT.com: What’s the part of luck vs. talent or hard work in your job?

TT: I think you create your own luck… A lot of things that can go either way, but before you do anything, you better be sure that you have more than 50% of chances to succeed. I think that in this industry, the people that are on top are those who are good at making the best of the worst situation.

Photo Credit: Aaron Rogosin

JT.com: You have to be a clean act to land stunts like this. Tell us more about your everyday life.

TT: Action sports in general require a lot of discipline. Since I participate in 3 different types of events, my training and my diet vary accordingly. For example, when training for a motocross competition, your body needs to be in very good condition, so I'm training all the time, I go to the gym, do a lot of swimming. That's when I'm in my best shape ever. In freestyle, you need to be stronger, light and agile. Rally is not as physical as it is about thee mental process; you're holding your concentration, sometimes 3 days without sleep.

JT.com: What has changed in your life since your stunts and your crew are getting top ratings on MTV? Has the pressure gone up?

TT: I've always been extremely self motivated... Wanting to do the best I can and pushing myself has nothing to do with anybody else. However, being on a successful MTV show is awesome because obviously, more people are paying attention now. But in the end, we want to succeed for us. No one could come down on me worse than myself anyway.

JT.com: What would be your electric chair meal?

TT: I think of that every year before X-Games start (laughs)! I would say... definitely Coldstone cake batter ice cream, and a steak. Maybe a beer as well, if that's an option.

Interview conducted by Vivianne LaPointe

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