If at first you don’t succeed, try again — and add a motorcycle.
For the second straight year, champion snocross racer Levi LaVallee will attempt to set a world record by jumping his snowmobile over 361 feet on “Red Bull: New Year. No Limits.” On a practice run last year, LaVallee encountered mechanical problems and was badly injured, which canceled the 2010 telecast.
“The one positive is I don’t remember hitting the ramp and I don’t remember three days after that. So I kind of missed all the bad stuff. So to me it worked out well, because if I would have remembered the crash or remembered [the sled engine] cutting out in the air, I probably wouldn’t want to do another jump on my snowmobile,” LaVallee said.
But this time, LaVallee won’t be jumping alone. Red Bull has decided to up the ante by having freestyle motocross champ Robbie Maddison do the same jump on his motorcycle alongside LaVallee.
“There’re a lot of variables with this jump and it’s a lot riskier having two guys breaking world-record distance jumps at the same time. It adds to the wow factor for sure,” LaVallee said.
“To me I looked at it as I had a once in a lifetime opportunity, and unfortunately I crashed last year and didn’t get to do it so I was kind of bummed about that. And [Red Bull] came back and said `Would you consider doing it again,’ and I said ‘Heck, yeah.’ I just got a once in a lifetime opportunity twice.”
Maddison, a “New Year. No Limts” veteran, having set records on both the inaugural broadcast in 2007 and in 2008 and who is looking to break the current record of 391 feet, thought twice before agreeing to the simultaneous jump.
“Originally I was a little bit skeptical just because it’s such a dangerous jump and when we kind of went through it I thought this could be awesome, being the first of its kind. No one’s ever done this before. Levi’s a great athlete, and I’m a huge fan of his, and to jump with him, the snowmobile and the bike, I thought this would be awesome,” Maddison said.
Even with only one in-tandem practice jump, Maddison thinks they’re up to the challenge.
“The one jump we did have was enough to get our bearings and we know now what we have to do to achieve the good jump,” Maddison said.
The jump will take place at the Embarcadero Marine Park over the 300-foot span of water between North park and South park.
LaVallee and Maddison have both considered how badly things could go, including ending up in the water or trying to dodge an out-of-control, 450-pound sled.
“To have that thing chasing both of us down is a scary thought, but for me I’m staying positive. I know what I need to go and do and I’m excited to do this jump,” Maddison said.
And LaVallee can always rely on the lucky coin that his dad gave him. His dad has been sober now for about 30 years and he gave Levi his sixth-month coin for good luck.
“Even with the crash last year, I had it with and you may say that’s not very good luck, but at the same time, once you see the crash and the fact that I made it through that crash, I’d say it was a good day,” LaVallee said.
The event will air live on ESPN on Saturday, Dec. 31 at approximately 11 p.m. ET immediately following the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.