Thirty kids from Outdoor Outreach San Diego enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience when they were invited to a private one-hour freestyle motocross (FMX) show featuring Metal Mulisha founder and professional FMX rider Larry Linkogle, Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg, Bobby Lee, Sean Fogle and Destin Cantrell.
At-risk youth were treated to private freestyle motocross show hosted by Metal Mulisha members. (Courtesy photo)
“These kids are dealing with some pretty serious hardships and it’s easy to take the wrong path when everything around you seems to be falling apart,” Linkogle said.
“I can relate to them as I have dealt with my own struggles. It’s through my experience that I hope I’m able to give back something and give these kids something to look forward to. None of us are perfect. Many of us have been at the lowest of the low and had rough times, so if we can do it, they can do it,” he added.
All of the riders performed tricks and flips for the kids at MDP Block, a FMX track built at Linkogle’s home in Temecula. The compound serves as a training ground for young and up and coming FMX riders.
“The kids that came up here to Larry’s compound would have never had this opportunity without his generous support,” Joe McLeod, Director of Operations for Outdoor Outreach said. “So, what this means to the kids is an opportunity to further reach outside their neighborhoods, outside of their comfort zone and really experience something that they never have before; something they only get to see on television. This was made possible obviously by Larry and Metal Mulisha and we’re excited to have this opportunity.”
After the show, Linkogle and the other riders visited with the kids and posed for autographs while they enjoyed their pizza lunch. Following lunch, Linkogle spoke to the kids about the struggles he and his fellow riders have faced and emphasized the importance to work hard to better their life. Each child also received a Famous backpack and Metal Mulisha gear.
At-risk youth were treated to private freestyle motocross show hosted by Metal Mulisha members. (Courtesy photo)
“The kids got to experience things outside of their norm,” McLeod said. “I think what they can take away from an opportunity like this is seeing people who are living their dreams and passions and really following what they want to do and kind of writing their own stories in life. I hope the kids who came out today can take that away from the experience and recognize that they can do anything they want to if they put their minds to it.”
Outdoor Outreach empowers at-risk and underprivileged youth to make positive lasting changes in their lives through outdoor activities. Their programs support underserved youth in San Diego County who are at risk for school dropout, substance abuse, violence and unintended pregnancy. It is the only agency in San Diego, and one of just a few in the country, to utilize outdoor physical experiences to provide youth with the support, relationships, resources and opportunities they need to become successful adults.
Linkogle is regarded as one of the pioneers of the freestyle motocross sport. He has competed in numerous contests, including the Freeride Motocross Championship, Zero Gravity Festival, NBC Gravity Games and the ESPN X Games. He currently holds the world long distance motorcycle jump record set in Australia in 2005. His life story was featured in documentary “Mind of a Demon: The Larry Linkogle Story” which was voted “Best Documentary” at the Slamdance Film Festival and voted best “Jury International Documentary” at the Bel-Air Film Festival.
For more information about the Metal Mulisha, visit www.metalmulisha.com.
*Contributed by SWRNN media partner Neighbors Newspaper
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