Balancing act: Local freestyle rider may not have all the tools, but he has all the talent

April 6, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - When it comes to freestyle motocross, Alaska is about as close to the mainstream as wheelies are to backflips.

Although the sport has taken off nationwide - Travis Pastrana's double backflip last summer is the single most famous moment in the 12-year history of the X-Games - Alaska remains isolated by a variety of circumstances.

Top tricksters from the state are hampered by a lack of sponsors and limited training facilities that make reaching the top level of the sport nearly impossible.

Wasilla's Traves Kelly is trying to buck that trend.

The 25-year-old lifelong Alaskan (who is originally from Bristol Bay) is beginning to get attention for his abilities on a bike, and has mastered some of the most difficult tricks in the sport.

&#8220He's right on the edge,” said Dane Ferguson, who this winter started the state's first freestyle snowmachine league and is a big supporter of freestyle motocross as well.

&#8220If he lived in Southern California he'd be making money riding his motorcycle,” Ferguson said. &#8220Because he lives in Alaska, it's hard to step to the next level.”

So Kelly's high-flying antics remain under the radar.

&#8220Its really hard,” Kelly said.

As of yet, Kelly has only found two sponsors - Alaska companies Arctic Coast Customs and AK-49 - willing to support his jumping. So instead of riding full-time, he works on the North Slope to support his career - which at this point is still more of a hobby.

&#8220If you're not a racer up here no one even cares,” he said.

Just because he's relatively unknown, however, doesn't mean Kelly is without talent. He's mastered the backflip - considered a benchmark trick in the sport - and is looking to add even more difficult tricks. In fact, he said he believes a front flip - now the Holy Grail of motorcycle tricks - could someday be possible.

&#8220I think it could be done, it just takes someone crazy enough,” he said. &#8220I'd like to be that guy.”

Dane Ferguson says he believes Kelly has the ability to compete with the best in the business.

&#8220He does have that level of talent,” Ferguson said.

Unfortunately, simply having the guts to try tricks that have never been done isn't all that's needed for freestyle success. Since many tricks are insanely dangerous, Outside riders use expensive foam pits to jump into. But there are no foam pits in Wasilla - or anywhere in Alaska for that matter.

&#8220They're running 50 grand, minimum,” Ferguson said.

Another obstacle facing riders like Kelly is that there are still relatively few freestyle riders in the state to learn from.

&#8220Up here it's like you're pretty much by yourself,” Kelly said.

For now, Kelly plans to continue working on his sport far from the bright lights and foam pits of the big time.

But the window for freestyle success is small, and Kelly said he knows he'll likely have to leave Alaska if he wants to compete at the highest levels of his sport.

&#8220This winter I'm going to try and get out of here,” he said. &#8220I've been saying that for a couple years now, but I'm getting old so it's time to do something.”

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com