Flying Over Highways
Kyle, Free Rider
I am Kyle Katsandris and I am a Free Rider. I got into free riding by camping with my family in the deserts of Ocotillo Wells where lots of motor enthusiasts come to exercise their love for the desert and motor vehicles. It’s an amazing time with friends and family enjoying tail rides, bonfires and just overall fun.
What is free-riding?
Free riding is a self-expression form of riding dirt bikes. Instead of going to a local track and paying to ride, you find some open green hills and ride there. There we can make bigger jumps with no rules or permits. Hence “free” riding.
How did you become a household name in free riding?
A video went viral of a "motorcyclist" jumping the 60 freeway in Beaumont, California. When the picture first hit social media, everyone thought it was fake and it got a lot of hate. The next day the video dropped and the keyboard warriors were silenced. That’s how my name gained traction in the motorcycle industry.
What advice would you give someone who wants to become a household name, whatever their field might be?
CREATIVITY. That is the word that I use which has always helped me be noticed in whatever I’m doing and is essential in all fields. The more creative you are the more your idea has a twist, the more your idea is different from the crowd. The more you set yourself apart.
Pain & Gain - Given the risky nature of free riding, how do you manage risks?
That’s a great question and one I get a lot. The only way I know how to answer is balance. The risk of free-riding is what keeps me coming back to it. Its the reason I continue to ride even after a month in the hospital. To be honest you can’t think about the risk. Because thinking about it doesn’t change the outcome. I enjoy scaring myself. As far as life, I approach it the same, all out!
Where would you like to see the sport of free riding in 5 years?
More kids involved. The modern world is becoming screen filled. Everyone is getting their excitement from a screen where they rely on other people for their entertainment. I just encourage the youth to get outside and be a kid again. That’s what will grow the sport of free-riding and action sports in general.
How do you practice self-care? Any tips?
My form of self care is definitely fitness. I have always enjoyed pushing my body and mind to different levels. Fitness for me is a way to put my mind in a completely different place.
How do you wear/style your SUAVS?
The way I describe SUAVS to people is versatility! SUAVS can be worn from anything to a family hike to a swanky wedding! They just fit everywhere! There’s never an occasion I can’t wear my SUAVS!
I was born at the wrong time. I’m at the tail end of the Boomer generation and when I was growing up in the 70’s and 80’s, extreme sports didn’t exist. Extreme was considered surfing or jumping a motorcycle over 10 buses.
What the Gen X, Millennial, and Gen Z generations have done with extreme sports is mind boggling. In every environment (land, sea, air) and with every vehicle imaginable, new limits are pushed everyday and seemingly impossible records are topped over and over again.
I’m curious about the environmental impact of motorbikes tearing up the native plants.
This was so interesting. I have never heard of anything like this.
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