This dude gives a new meaning to the term riding the waves.

If you go fast enough on water, sporting the right equipment, chances are you won’t sink very fast. And I’m not talking about boats and ships, but dragsters, buggies and motorcycles – just to make it “a tad” interesting

Robbie Maddison – stunt biker and freestyle champion – wanted to combine his love for motorcycles with his love of surf, so he came up with the idea of surfing a bike. But what made him want to perform such a task? Well, in an interview for the Rolling Stone, the rider stated:

“I’ve grown up surfing my whole life. If I didn’t end up in professional moto, I would be a professional surfer. I was winning competitions in both sports when I was a grommet. This dream is about combining two of my life’s passions in order to do something that has never been attempted.”

Originality at its best and the idea is actually even more hardcore than it seems – if you can get more hardcore than this; the rider actually wanted to surf the two-wheeled vehicle in one of the most dangerous surfing spots on the planet – Teahupo’o, in Tahiti, where waves often reach up to 7 meters.

A KTM 250SX was used in this daring attempt, although the bike wasn’t left untouched for the stunt.
Modified with custom skis attached to the front wheel with skegs beneath to act as rudders for maneuverability and a paddle tire in the back – with some scoops into the thread to help it propel across the water, the bike had a serious mission to accomplish.

Furthermore, the engine was changed from a four stroke 450cc to a two stroke, in order to make the rig fixable on the spot without complications. Why? Because riding a bike on water is more difficult than this outstanding movie makes it look and before the whole stunt was completed with success, Maddison frequently sunk the bike. And we all know engines don’t get along with salt water.

After trying it out by himself for two years, he approached DC Shoes global brand leader Jeff Taylor who – according to the magazine – wrote a check on the spot in order to support the project, Maddison managed to accomplish his “pipe dream”.

Mind you, the stunt the biker confessed he was scared:

“I’d become quite terrified, trembling in my boots. But I made my bed and it was time to lie in it.”

Needless to say, he was right to be scared, as he barely survived filming the video. While performing the stunt, he caught a massive wave that took him under, as he stated to Rolling Stone:

“I was picked up and thrown, and my bike landed on my back, knocking all the air out of me. It was the most violent ride I’ve ever been on, tumbling beneath the surface in full gear. Over the next four or five minutes, I only had two split-second moments when my head broke the surface and I could take in a fast breath, only to be yanked back down and tumbled with my bike. Everything was going white. I became completely limp and was prepared to take in a full breath of water, when I finally popped up. I could see the helicopter and Jet Skis, and had a quick moment to wave my arm so that they could locate me.”

Fortunately, things turned out ok and the rider actually caught a big Tahitian wave on his bike.

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