written by Steve Sommerfeld |
Last time I was on Forty8.de I was talking about heading to New Zealand for the best comp I've done, the Red Bull Farm Jam. Well, I only managed to get to practice before I had a big crash while we were filming with a helicopter. We were doing trains for the cameras but I collided mid-air with Dan Frew during a whip train when we were jumping 2 different ramps. I was jumping the 85ft ramp and Dan was jumping the 75ft ramp I thought we were both going off the same ramp but it didn't happen that way. He whipped one way towards me, and I whip the other way, which... goes towards Dan. Unfortunately his ramp washes a lot of speed off compared the ramp I was jumping so the 10ft gap we had between each other was shortened real quick when I noticed I was about to land on top of him.
![](columns/sommerfeld_column/sommerfeld_2010-04-07_1.jpg)
Then when we hit mid-air I tapped the side of his bike and it was enough for my front wheel to go out. Before I knew it, I was getting rag-dolled into the dirt and sliding on my brand new Fox Carbon Fibre helmet which sucks so I have to throw that one out.
To see footage of the crash, check it out here.
I got up to find though I broke my collarbone quite badly and had to go to hospital in Invercargill, NZ. It was pretty bad when they wouldn't do surgery even though it was clearly broken badly with splinters of bone sticking in different areas. So I went back to the competition the next day and sat down with Nick Franklin who fell off the day before and broke his wrist and elbow in 2 places each. We chilled and watched the boys tear it up with Levi Sherwood taking out the comp with Seat Grab Indy flips and even after he crashed one.
I flew back to Australia and had surgery 2 weeks later. The surgeon said one part of the splintered bone almost cut my nerves that control my left arm, so I'm glad that everything went ok and nothing actually went wrong. Now I have myself a plate and 8 screws for my troubles. So now I've just been relaxing and letting the collarbone heal which is actually happening quickly with my Q-Magnets over the bone. Now I've been organising myself to get back on the bike and go straight back into shows and competitions and get training.
![](columns/sommerfeld_column/sommerfeld_2010-04-07_2.jpg)
Another big thing that is happening here, all the work I've done with Matt 'Schuie' Schubring might be coming to fruition soon as we will get to work on more of the Bike Park plans here in Queensland. The government have released a report on what needs to be at the park and now we need to put our application in for Tender so we can become managers of the biggest bike park in Australia. Imagine if people who know what they are doing with FMX actually could manage a park? Well, hopefully that will be us and we can make something that will be world-class facilities and build the moto industry in Australia to another level. We have until roughly May to do our business proposals and find out who gets the job. Fingers crossed!
Until next month, take it easy!
Steve
www.stevesommerfeld.com
|