SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KSBW) – Nineteen-year-old Brock Johnson of Santa Cruz has broken the world record for bike surfing.
Bikesurfing is a popular BMX stunt in which a cyclist balances one foot on the handlebars of the bike and the other on the saddle.
The record for distance covered by bike surfing was 80 meters. On Friday afternoon, Johnson attempted to bike surf 100 meters.
Johnson describes himself as a professional stunt rider. He is a member of the bike crew Santa Cruz Maniacs – everyone was convinced that Johnson would break the record.
Phoenix Campbell, a fellow cyclist, tells stories of Johnson bike surfing the Miramar Death Hill just six months after he first attempted the stunt. The hill is the biggest in Santa Cruz for stunts, and Johnson biked and surfed down its entire length.
“I’ve seen him surf on his bike for 20 minutes straight, just pumping around,” Campbell said. “We’ve seen guys who claim to be the best bike surfers out there, but none of them can compare to what Brock can do on his bike.”
Kief Laughron, another friend of the stunt rider, describes him as a “natural talent.” Johnson said he has felt comfortable on motorcycles since he was a child.
“I remember when I was 3 years old, I would pick up my bike and ride around the block and people would call my mom,” Johnson said. “She would say, ‘Oh, he’s fine. He knows how to ride a bike.'”
Johnson put all of that to the test on Friday when he began sprinting around the Santa Cruz High School track on his bike. In front of members of his cycling crew, dozens of students and a few passersby, Johnson jumped on his handlebars and bike seat as he crossed the starting line of the 100-meter dash.
With spectators filming, cheering, and even driving right behind him, Johnson glided down the course with ease, easily surpassing his 100-meter target and crossing the 200-meter mark in no time.
After breaking the world record, the stunt rider jumped down from his surfing position and threw his helmet into the air to loud cheers.
After the successful world record attempt, Johnson continued doing bicycle stunts in the high school parking lot and talked about what comes next. Johnson says he needs to submit his logbook to Guinness so that official verification can be completed.
To break the official world record in bike surfing, the Guinness Book of Records sets out many requirements. The attempt must take place on a track in a sports facility, two sports officials must measure the time, a covering letter must be submitted and eyewitnesses must write statements after the event. Wearing a helmet is also mandatory.
Until the testing of these materials is completed, Johnson and his crew will be surfing by bike in Santa Cruz.
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