Larry Linkogle

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Larry Linkogle

Linkogle (left) and Bobby Lee at community outreach event in December 2012

Larry "Link" Linkogle (born February 12, 1977 in Orange, California) is a professional Freestyle Motocross rider and the creator and owner of Metal Mulisha, LLC.[1] Linkogle holds the world record for long distance motorcycle jumps and has appeared in feature films as a stuntman. He is regarded as one of the founders of the Freestyle Motocross sport.

Metal Mulisha is one of the most-recognized freestyle motocross team's in the world and is an internationally-known lifestyle apparel line. What started off as Linkogle and friends wearing Metal Mulisha gear while performing tricks and jumps at the first-ever FMX course—the Metal Mulisha Compound built at Linkogle’s childhood home—has grown into one of the most recognized and respected brands in action sports.

On December 6, 2001, while serving as the stunt double for Vin Diesel in the movie Triple X, Larry Linkogle was accidentally struck by a helicopter blade during a stunt for the movie. At the time of the accident, the injuries suffered were believed to have been minor and Larry Linkogle walked away from the accident.[2] Shortly after the accident, it was discovered that his frontal lobe was torn away from his skull from the impact with the Huey Helicopter's blade and his ACL snapped and shoulder separated from the resulting fall.[3]

Early life

Linkogle was age 11 when he first started to ride motorcycles in the desert and within months began competing in amateur contests. By 16, Linkogle was the youngest professional rider in the circuit. After a successful career in motocross, Linkogle envisioned an elevated form of motocross with the addition of awe-inspiring jumps and tricks. It was no easy feat to switch from circuit racing to a purely freestyle riding but he was determined to not let corporate influence dictate the evolution of a new, exciting sport. His vision set the foundation for freestyle motocross which involved daredevil skills to perform airborne tricks on a motorcycle with the skill of an acrobat. In no time, Linkogle won freestyle motocross contests and earned the admiration of fans worldwide. During the early years of freestyle motocross, Linkogle with pals Nathan Fletcher and Trigg Gumm thought up Metal Mulisha as the calling card for the new genre of riders. At contests, Linkogle tagged his bike with Metal Mulisha and soon after created shirts for the motley crew of riders. The group became known as the Metal Mulisha troop and competed under the moniker. Aided by the first-ever freestyle motocross course built at Linkogle’s childhood home, the troop perfected their skills. The new course would become known as the Metal Mulisha compound and serve as the epicenter of the freestyle motocross movement.[4]

World Record Jump

On May 5, 2005, at Queensland Raceway, Ipswich, Australia, Linkogle set the world's long distance record for the 250cc Motorbike class by jumping 255.4 feet. The world record jump occurred at an event promoted by the Crusty Demons production company. During the event, five other riders set world records.[5]

Notable Achievements

1993 - Won AMA Amateur National Supercross Series

1996 - Created Metal Mulisha Company

1996 - Created Metal Mulisha Compound which becomes the headquarters of the counterculture movement

1996 - Linkogle won the first freestyle motocross event in Castaic Lake, California, which was promoted by Shane Trittler.[6]

1998 - Performed nationwide on the Van’s Wharped Tour

1998 - Won 2nd place in the Jump Contest in Portland, Oregon

1998 - Won 3rd place at Free Air Festival

1998 - Promoted first-ever Freestyle Extreme Moto-X Show with the Metal Mulisha Troops at the Winchester Arena, Winchester, CA

1998 - Won 5th in the Freeride Motocross Championship

1999 - Won 2nd place in the Zero Gravity Festival

1999 - Won 6th place ESPN X Games in San Francisco, CA

2001 - Featured rider in Crusty Demons film, Crusty 6

2001 - Won 1st Place in MX 2002 Moto Survival Tour

2002 - was voted the most popular extreme natural terrain rider in the world by Fox Sports/Blue Torch TV during the 2002 Moto Survival Tour.

2003 - Nominated for World Stunt Awards and Taurus Award for stunts performed in “XXX”.

2005 - Featured rider in 10th Anniversary Crusty Demons World Tour Australia

2005 - Performed fire jump stunt off Docklands Wharf in Australia

2005 - Performed Superman Stunt into Waitemata Harbour at Princess Wharf in New Zealand

2005 - World Record Jump (see above).

2006 - Competed with Mike Metzger in the first-ever Freestyle Biker Build-Off by Discovery Channel

Television and Movies

Mind of the Demon: the Larry Linkogle Story (2009), directed and produced by Adam Barker is "a dark, analytical look into the psyche of one of the most brilliantly talented, yet aggressively self-destructive minds of our generation." [7] Winner of the 2009 Bel Air Film Festival - Best Jury International Documentary.[8] and the 2010 Slamdance Film Festival - Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Biker Build-Off (TV series documentary 2004–2005) - Mike Metzger vs. Larry Linkogle (Episode #5.1)[9]

Crusty Demons of Dirt, Vol. 4: God Bless the Freaks (2002), as himself.[10]

MTV Sports & Music Festival 2 (TV 1998), as himself [11]

Was the stunt double for Edward Furlong as John Connor in Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.metalmulisha.com/stuff/history/
  2. ↑ "Linkogle Struck by a Helicopter!". Transworld Motorcross. December 7, 2001. Retrieved 2 February 2011. 
  3. ↑ "The Crusty Demons' Worst Motocross Injuries". Maxim Magazine Online, Alpha Media Group Inc. 2006. Retrieved 2 February 2011. 
  4. ↑ "Larry Linkogle". 
  5. ↑ "Crusty Demons Night of World Records". 2005. 
  6. ↑ "The Rise of Amateur Freestyle Motocross". Lee Klancher, Motorcycle Product News. January 28, 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011. 
  7. ↑ "Mind of the Demon: the Larry Linkogle Story". IMDb. 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2011. 
  8. ↑ "2009 Bel Air Film Festival votes Mind of the Demon: The Larry Linkogle Story Best Jury International Documentary". PR Web. December 9, 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2011. 
  9. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1022639/
  10. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445000/
  11. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0783240/

External links

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