the next big thing?

[bartman314]

Robbie '''Maddo''' Maddison Zooms Across The Ocean On Dirt Bike Like Something Out Of A Dream

[bonham123]

Old news. I did that last weekend. It was cool.

[Imbeek]

More like the next desperate attempt for marketing attention and you tube views, if you ask me. Totally disrepectful of Tahitian aloha and culture, and that's coming from a guy who thinks dirt bike sounds are music to the ears...

On the other hand, all the comments over on Surfline are priceless. Sounds like red bull or whatever energy drink sponsored it has a legit boycott brewing

[tsorfas]

There is no such thing as negative publicity.

They hit their goal just fine.

You call it desperate attempt for publicity. Some people are just game changers. What did you call Evel Knievel then who had no YouTube?

[SVRACER01]

i didnt realize that water was strictly tahitian culture

[Imbeek]

I call Evel Knievel badass. I called Robbie Maddison badass, too, for the Vegas jumps, and he earned the title of next coming of Evel Kneivel with that jump.

That doesn't mean every thing Maddison does for the rest of his life is automatically un-pathetic or un-stupid, though. Granted, it's damn hard to eclipse what he did in Vegas. Suicidal, even. But he's lost a bit of respect from me and plenty of others for this one. It seems desperate. Reaching. Not really dangerous, just nonsensically dumb and insensitive. Like putting wheels on a jetski and coasting it down a kinda steep hill or something. Right across a pristine paradise where the locals have been more than kind and generous, despite an influx of people who want only to take.

And as far as no such thing as bad publicity, that is sad but true in our culture. You got me there. But red bull has been whoring out surfing since red bull was founded (big wave contests, ice surfing contests, etc etc) as well as using dirt bikes for marketing, and I think it's a mistake for them to shit where they eat. Let's face it, hardly anyone who does either sport at the levels they are using for marketing...because of the fitness required in both...drinks the crap!

[OreoGaborio]

More like the next desperate attempt for marketing attention and you tube views, if you ask me. Totally disrepectful of Tahitian aloha and culture, and that's coming from a guy who thinks dirt bike sounds are music to the ears...

On the other hand, all the comments over on Surfline are priceless. Sounds like red bull or whatever energy drink sponsored it has a legit boycott brewing

Do they not have dirtbikes, jetskis or powerboats in Tahiti? Any powersport vehicle of any kind?

I could see if you getting a hair across your ass about it, but only if you were a native & lived there all your life. Have/are you?

[tls25rs]

I'm a little curious why it is such a big deal that one rider/company filmed one video and this is disrespectful and yet there are hundreds of surfers that get towed into these waves regularly on jet skis and old ratty boats that are far worse long term for the environment in which they are used.

Seems odd that one guy/company had a vision to try something out of the ordinary for entertainment/marketing value, I'm sure there were hurdles to go through to make it happen with the locals, and he/they are the devil. It isn't like this is going to spawn a large number of people outfitting their dirtbikes with skis and paddle tires and heading down to Tahiti to ride this wave. Seems to me it is going to be a one off crazy video that entertains people like us and that is about it.

I guess if we heard stories of local people and government telling him/them no you cannot do this even though he/they tried to ask for permission and yet he/they went and did it anyway it would be a big deal.

[OreoGaborio]

Exactly.

And if this were in a James Bond film, no one would bat an eyelash.

[Imbeek]

i didnt realize that water was strictly tahitian culture

I've never been to Tahiti either, but from what I hear, it's pretty much just like Hampton Beach

[backinthesaddle]

Its not like he killed a lion with his bike.

[Imbeek]

Do they not have dirtbikes, jetskis or powerboats in Tahiti? Any powersport vehicle of any kind?

I could see if you getting a hair across your ass about it, but only if you were a native & lived there all your life. Have/are you?

Never been there, but I've been to plenty of other beautiful tropical places where I was treated kindly and welcomed warmly as a surfer, so I'm not thrilled when a company acts like an obnoxious guest, just for money. I probably never will go there, both because of money and because I will never be good enough to surf that wave. Is it not ok for me to think its a lame stunt, even though I've never met the locals there and have no personal interest in a continuing welcoming attitude? Do I have to support what any white guy does on any motorcycle no matter what he does?

This is a minuscule issue, and I'm not about to hit the streets picketing about it (LOL); I didn't even start this thread, only responded when others posted about it and asked for comments...but seems to me that some other people are getting a hair about me thinking it's stupid, just because it's a motorcycle, and Robbie Maddison, and therefore there can be no criticism.

TLS makes a good point; there are already jet skis and boats in the water there...which is the same reason I think this stunt was kind of lame. Big deal, a paddle tire can propel the bike forward if it's on floaties, and after 30 or 40 attempts, he can roost it in a straight line and outrun the barrel. Whoopdie do.

[PhilB]

The stunt is pretty cool.

I also took the impression, though, from the video of "what an asshole".
In real life, all the people he buzzed were probably consenting, maybe even paid, so it's not likely that he caused much real problems making this.
I looks like a fair bit of money was involved, so probably overall a welcome boost to the local economy.
But the attitude projected is a poor attitude -- that it's cool to disrupt peaceful nature and harass local/native peoples.

PhilB