4 Guys Posing on Boards

On January 4, 2001 four streetluge pilots were selected to do the Budlight streetluge commercial. The spot was going to air during the Super bowl. The pilots selected were myself, Darren Prescott, Biker, and Dave Rogers. It was shot on GMR in the rain, and we all had a blast. The fun part was Seeing how close we could get the lugers balls to the stop sign.

Red Helmet - Reebok Commercial

The producer that cast me in the Old Spice commercial, called me and asked if I would make a crazy wooden luge, wear some old clothes and a red half shell helmet, and imitate every guys first fast run down a neighborhood street, in the Reebok -Defy - Commercial. To my surprise, The spot aired every week during the original series of Survivor on ABC.

Me and Camera Man Posing - Dell Commercial

In March, my Red Bull teammate (Akoni Kama-the Mountain boarder) called me up and said I just got the Dell Computer commercial, The bad news is I have to luge with another guy and I don't have any equipment, I said no worries bro, and 2 weeks later we filmed the Dell spot on Templin hwy, A favorite training spot for most California lugers.

Single Luge Run- Qualifying at DHX

2001 started off the racing season right, we jumped on a plane and headed off to the Red Bull Down Hill Extreme (DHX) in South Africa. This track is the ultimate playground for the worlds top pilots, after a great practice and qualifying round I found myself in the first heat with Dave Rogers, Rat Sult and Jono Moore, This could have been the final, I was doing the T.V. intro live to the entire African continent, the starter said 30 second to start, I introduced the race sat down tightened my helmet looked at the starter, when the light turned green my right handle grip tore off the side of the gate, my day was over. I not only went out the first round of the first world cup points race of the year, but the Red Bull rider was out of the Red Bull DHX. So I made the best of the event, then I jumped on the Harley Davidson and headed for La Med, The greatest bar on earth, And partied at the afterburner party until I forgot the race completely- its going be a long season so I have to stay healthy and consistent, the points will come.

All The Big Guns Were Here

The next stop was the St. George Grand prix-round 2 of the world cup point race and the 2001 X-Games qualifier. Myself, Mike, Gerhard and Pereyra set out on a road trip in his new truck. This always sets the pace for a wild trip to say the least. Luckily I qualified the previous year by getting the silver medal at the St. George Grand prix pro event and the Gold medal in the classic pro event both in 2000. A truly great day for me.

I qualified great and was ready for a great day, then in a practice run with Digger, Jono crashed in the high speed turn, He compound fractured his leg and actually cut his foot off. I am very cool with injuries, but I love Jono like a brother, So my focus changed, and the new game plan was to finish the event that day, respectably and safely, and get to the hospital were Jono was endanger of loosing his leg and or his life that night, I finished 13th and 4th in the classic luge event. We hung around the hospital that night and the next day, until we knew he was on the long road to recovery. A road trip home knowing one of the crew is in the hospital really hurts.

Tom Passing Billy at 80+

The week I got home from Utah, I received a call from Billy Copeland (The rocket luge guy) He said The Guinness Book T.V. show wanted him to race the current Guinness Book streetluge record holder, while setting a new Rocketluge record. I took the lead, put a great show together and Billy made History. The whole police and fire dept. of Draper Utah was on hand, not to mention a full production crew, local Media, and all my local luge bro's.

3rd Place Victory Scottish Style

In two short weeks we were off to Scotland for round three of the world tour. I was boarding the plane with Freeman, Hardwick, and Golter when my name was called. They oversold the flight. Much to my surprise the lady at the airline gave me a first class ticket on Virgin Atlantic airlines, and this was the start of a great trip. We hooked up with Chris Beard in Avimore Scotland, then went to the road. It was great. It started off fast, then technical Then fast and furious to the finish line. I pulled off a 3rd in Streetluge and a 4th in classic luge. A great race with a cool field, followed by another crazy afterburner party. This was a low budget event, thrown in world class style, Chris and his family did a fantastic job for all of us.

Practice Was Dry and Fast

The first week of July was here already, and it was off to Austria, for round four of the world tour. This is a big one, this is Hot Heels, the European Championships. When over 100 competitors show up for a week of training on the mountain before the event, the race is special. Qualifying and most of the racing was held in the rain, it was a wild, cut throat, kill or be killed Event. I was happy with a 4th in classic luge, and some heavy contact rain riding left me with a 10th in streetluge, which I should be happy with, considering the company I was in.

Racing Was Wet & Wild

Rain or no Rain, Gerhard had the live band blasting and the Red Bull vodka's flowing every night at the track. This race is not only one of the great ones, but symbolizes the whole European downhillers life style. Everyone needs to go there at least once.

The Only Thing More Important Than Big Air

I flew directly to Mexico for a family vacation, here I had a week to get my head together before my big week of the year, Red Bull Big Air…….

6 Man Final - No One Held Back

July 28th was here and the entire streetluge community showed up for the Wildest streetluge race extravaganza, and party of the year. This year I knew I needed to add something to the event, so I added a 2 inch ramp in the races. This added a whole new level to the racing, and the guys showed the crowd as well as them selves, how good they really are.

The Street Luge Elite Were On Stage

Then The moment of truth, 48 of the worlds top streetlugers come to Big Air, but there are only a hand full of guys who are serious about capturing the title Mr. Big Air. After a few guys broke last years record of 80 + Feet.

Big Air Waldo (Everyone Knew They Were Beat)

Then Waldo put it on auto pilot and flew 94 feet (that's 30+meters) And turned this contest, into one of Extreme sports most radical days.

Big Air Winner (Yes Waldo You Won)

Two weeks since Big Air, every one who entered, still had at least a mild case of whiplash and a couple of abrasions. We are in Philadelphia for The ESPN X-Games. This is the single hardest field of competitors in the world. We rode rain in Austria for a week and it paid off this day, I qualified 5th, and felt very comfortable in the rain.

Group Shot The First Two Heats Ready For Battle

After a crazy day of racing I was delighted to finish in the top ten. This was the fifth and final stop of the world points tour, all the races to come will be for nothing more than my insane love of competition and travel.

I have worked for 8 months to put on the most challenging stand-up downhill skateboard race in the world for Red Bull, The Seattle Downhill. Everything was finished and all that was left was be the chief steward and enjoy the race.

Poster of Me (My Billboard Was Out of Control)

No such luck, I was told to be in Rio De Janeiro next week for the Red Bull down Rio Streetluge race, so I put Jono in charge and took off to Brasil. The race went off perfectly and is scheduled again for 2002.

Jochen, Tom & Rolli Got The Party Started

One week since X-Games, I am a wreck, worried about the stand-up Race in Seattle, all my gear is still wet in my gear bag and starting to mildew, and none of that matters now, I am standing on Ipenima beach In Rio De Janeiro, and the track is unbelievable. It starts at the feet of the Christ statue, it has 22 hairpin turns thru the jungle, an a vibe that Only the people who were there could even imagine. I had a great time I was happy with a 5th place finish, considering how hard we partied.

Its been 10 days, since I arrived home from Brasil and I am still exhausted. I am in Providence, Rhode Island for the NBC Gravity Games. I qualified fifth, and rode as well their as any race I rode all year. I won all my heats And tried to pass for the lead instead of staying calm a getting the final transfer spot. My 5th place finish was fine with me.

2001 Gravity Games (I Was In The Zone That Day)

We took off for Ohio, to my final race of the season, most of the guys were there to collect their last big points race of the year, but I could not use any more points, since I had done well in all 5 world point races this year.

We arrived in Bainbridge, Ohio, USA. The track was long and fast with rain coming on race day, I was well prepared for rain, and I had no world points pressure, so I just Rode hard and had a lot of fun and with a lot of luck, I went from dead last to win the Gold Medal. A great way to end my season.

Ohio Win

Barrett Junction was our last race, Gerhard Lanz and Werner flew in from Austria to stay with me, I took them to the race, and decided not to race. I drove the chase truck all weekend and was a spectator, what a pleasure that was. I let my body start healing a little early to be ready for next year.

I personally want to thank all my buddies on the world tour for making the traveling great. We are like a big family, sometimes we piss each other off' Ride extra rough, and get down on each other from time to time. I will bet money, next year at the first race of the season, our family is bigger and tighter than ever. This is why we do it - it sure isn't the money.