Crusty Demons
The Crusty Demons are a group of daredevil freestyle motorcyclists from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Europe.
Background
The origins of the group can be traced to 1994, when filmmakers Jon Freeman and Dana Nicholson had been accumulating footage to showcase a behind the scenes expose of the lifestyle of an American pro motocross rider in action, featuring 145 ft plus jumps, 45 ft high in the air soaring over sand dunes, mountains, houses, buses and anything else secure and steep enough to hold the weight of bike and rider. The end result was Fleshwound Films and the first video Crusty Demons of Dirt.
Freestyle Motocross (FMX).
Fleshwound Films spent two years gathering footage. Following the success of the first film, Crusty 2 was premiered 18 months later. Sales exceeded expectations and tripled from the first video as the Crusty phenomenon began spreading worldwide. What was somewhat a stagnant sport had received a positive injection of interest and proved its worthiness of being showcased Internationally. People began buying the clothing worn by their heroes (Fleshgear) and thousands around the world were getting bikes and heading for the racetrack, mountains, sand dunes and the sky. With a unique production style the Crusty Demons filmed created a whole new genre of Action Sports Films. With cutting-edge editing by Senior Editor Scotty Avalos, they quickly gained a following and the hardcore fans were born.
Rise to fame
It was only to grow bigger. With the release of Crusty 3 in 1997 and the videos and sport still booming with popularity, freestyle motocross pioneers Lofty AKA Brian Jordan went to Fleshwound Films with the idea of staging a freestyle motocross competition. Four months later the first competition was held in Las Vegas. This new side of the sport was looked down upon by the industry and many people said it would go nowhere - the excitement amongst the fans indicated that they strongly disagreed.
Before long FMX was introduced as a new sport in the 99 X games in San Francisco and was given worldwide exposure through ESPN television. FMX was then stamped as the king of Extreme, becoming the number one sport at the X Games.
Competition requires riders to travel a course for 90 seconds performing as many tricks as possible, which are judged by a panel. Usually about 10 jumps are completed in this time bracket and riders compete for prize money.
Fleshwound Films undoubtedly played a crucial part in the evolution of the sport, they are still shooting Crusty Films today and recently released the 10th instalment titled – Crusty X – A Decade of Dirt. They have successfully implemented their vision into the industry, introducing the world to their friends and lifestyles whilst creating gods in the stars of their video series. A highlight for them has been coming up with such a unique idea; planning to make it happen and seeing it grow beyond their vision internationally. Travelling to film in Australia, Japan, Brazil, Africa and Peru to name a few, has meant Fleshwound Films created 'The National Geographic of motocross'. Apart from videos, Fleshwound also made a great success out of Fleshwound Film merchandise, which inspired their creation of the official Crusty clothing brand, Flesh gear (a freestyle ride gear and lifestyle clothing). As for the stars of Crusty, their riding talent has spawned a cult following around the world. Inspiring lines for merchandising such as toys and clothing labels, the riders are regarded as heroes by their fans. Their popularity has seen the global growth of freestyle motorcross and the associated lifestyle products.
They produce DVDs which contain impressive FMX footage from around the world, and often go on tour.
Riders
- Joey Flora
- Jimmy Luciano
- Mike Metzger
- Tommy "tomcat" Clowers
- Ryan Hughes
- Larry "Link" Linkogle
- Brian Manley
- Jeremy McGrath
- Nate Adams (Destroyer)
- Jeremy Stenberg (Twitch)
- Mad Mike Jones
- Adam Jones
- Mike Mason
- Jim McNeil
- Seth Enslow
- Trigger Gumm
- Jon Guetter (Big G)
- Derek Guetter (Little G)
- Garry-Owen McKinnon (MACKA)
- Jimmy Blaze (Blaze)
- Justin Hoyer
- Matt Schubring (Schuie)
- Robbie Maddison (Maddo)
- Brad O'Neal
- Steve Mini
- Jackson Strong (Jacko)
- Joel Balchin
- Luke Smith (Smithy)
- Cam Sinclair (Sincs)
- James Chiasson (Bubba)
- Clifford Adopdante
- Levi (Leverage)
- Erik Harlowe
- Mary Perkins
- Michael Norris (Chuck)
- Marcus Lewis (Mad Dewg Marcus)
- Trevor Porter (Legend) (World Number 2)
- Daniel Grant (Champion) (World Number 3)
- Alex tubbah Noonan
- Scott Murray
- Victor chhin
- Liam buttigieg
- Kirstty Slama
- Travis Pastrana
- Ronnie Faist
European riders:
- León Carlos Toledano Macías
- Maikel Melero
- Gabriel "Gabi" Villada
- Kristian Linné
- Kai Haase
- Victor Marcusson
- Vanni Oddera
- Darek Klopot
- Vivian Gantner
- Cassandra Lundin 'Cassie / Stuntergirl'
Prominent riders
Nate Adams is currently ranked the number one freestyle motocross athlete in the world and Trigger Gumm held the world record for the longest jump on a motorcycle, until it was broken by Australian Robbie Maddison on December 31, 2007. Gumm was a four-time Guinness Book World Record holder for longest distance jump, breaking the record in Australia in May 2005 when he launched his Service Honda 500 cc motorcycle 277.5 feet. He also has the record for height in jumping, going vertical at 80 feet high. Seth Enslow who is also a member of the Crusty Demons will attempt to break this record in March 2008 in Australia at the event titled "The Night of World Records 2."
Also must mention Jeff Emig was a major rider in the Crusty Demons of Dirt. He won four world champion titles.
DVD list
- Crusty Demons of Dirt
- Crusty Demons of Dirt 2
- Crusty Demons of Dirt III
- Crusty 4: God Bless the Freaks
- Crusty Demons: The Metal Millennium
- Crusty Demons: The Next Level
- Crusty Demons: The 7th Mission
- Crusty Demons: The Eighth Dimension
- Crusty Demons: Nine Lives
- Crusty X: A Decade of Dirt
- Crusty Demons of Dirt 11
- Crusty Demons of Dirt 12: The Dirty Dozen
- Crusty Demons of Dirt : Global Assault Tour
- Crusty Demons: Night Of World Records
- Crusty Demons: Josh Anderson dirt to Dust
- Crusty Demons 13: Unleash Hell
- Crusty Demons: Night Of World Records II
- Crusty Demons: A Bloodthirsty Saga
- Crusty Demons: 16 Outback Attack
- Crusty Demons 17: World of Insanity
Video game
2007 marked the video game release of Crusty Demons, released on PS2 and Xbox. The game featured Ronnie Faisst, Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg, Seth Enslow, Kenny Bartram and Dan Pastor as playable characters as well as an array of fictional characters.
Records
The Crusty Demons have set the following world records:
- Longest Wheelie on a BMX - 255 feet, set by Trevor Porter
- Longest jump on a 250 cc motorcycle - 255.4 feet, set by Larry Linkogle
- Longest jump on a 125 cc motorcycle - 221 feet, set by Robbie Maddison
- Longest jump with a trick on a 250 cc motorcycle - 246 feet, set by Robbie Maddison
- Longest jump on a quad bike - 176 feet 11 inches by Jon Guetter
- Longest jump on a pro mini bike - 104 feet 7 inches by Brent Brady
- First ever backflip on a PW 50 - Daniel Grant
- Heaviest weight lifted while swallowing a sword - 22.4 kg by Chayne Hultgren
- Most swords swallowed at once - 17 by Chayne Hultgren, known as the Space Cowboy (Australian Circus and Freak show performer)
- Longest ramp to ramp backflip - 129 feet 7 inches by Cam sinclair
- Longest jump on a motorcycle - 351 feet by Robbie Maddison