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*** Wild BMX Ride Ar Ramadi Infantryman ***
CAMP CORREGIDOR, Iraq -- 02/01/2007
Dirt trails, hard knocks, broken bones and numerous
difficulties are all in a day's work for one Soldier here
with 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment. It was that
way even before he joined the Army.
Dirt trails, hard knocks, broken bones and numerous
difficulties are all in a day's work for one Soldier here
with 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment. It was that
way even before he joined the Army.
Pvt. Douglas R. Meeker, of Miamisburg, Ohio, an infantryman
with Company D, has been racing in BMX events for about nine
and a half years and isn't going to stop anytime soon.
"BMX will always be there for me," he said. "Even if I'm
not competing down the line I'll continue riding." Meeker
currently competes at the semi-pro level and plans to go
pro when he returns from Iraq.
His plans also include finishing his training at the police
academy where he is enrolled and getting his bachelor's
in criminal justice. However, he said there will always
be time to ride.
Skateboarding, rollerblading and BMX racing all have
similarities that attract people such as the tricks and style,
but BMX racing stood out for Meeker.
"It's the thrill of being able to go out there
and learn something new everyday," he said.
Meeker said his interest in BMX racing started back
in middle school when he befriended a high school
freshman who was a sponsored racer.
with Company D, has been racing in BMX events for about nine
and a half years and isn't going to stop anytime soon.
"BMX will always be there for me," he said. "Even if I'm
not competing down the line I'll continue riding." Meeker
currently competes at the semi-pro level and plans to go
pro when he returns from Iraq.
His plans also include finishing his training at the police
academy where he is enrolled and getting his bachelor's
in criminal justice. However, he said there will always
be time to ride.
Skateboarding, rollerblading and BMX racing all have
similarities that attract people such as the tricks and style,
but BMX racing stood out for Meeker.
"It's the thrill of being able to go out there
and learn something new everyday," he said.
Meeker said his interest in BMX racing started back
in middle school when he befriended a high school
freshman who was a sponsored racer.
"I thought it was the coolest thing," he said.
His sponsor, Coastal BMX in Ohio, took
Meeker in as an amateur.
“I picked it up real fast," he said.
Practicing in parks and on dirt paths everyday after school
during his freshman year, Meeker started learning freestyle.
His sponsor, Coastal BMX in Ohio, took
Meeker in as an amateur.
“I picked it up real fast," he said.
Practicing in parks and on dirt paths everyday after school
during his freshman year, Meeker started learning freestyle.
His progression led him to his first competition during his
sophomore year. The competition was in Louisville, Ken.,
and Meeker placed sixth.
"One of the big thrills is when you compete in a hometown
area or park," he said. "All of your friends and family are there.
I really love competing in front of family and friends. I always
loved how people tease you about why you still ride a bicycle
at 20. Some tricks take years to learn."
One person from his hometown is featured in the Guinness
Book of World Records for jumping 116 feet over 16 sport
utility vehicles, but tricks like this aren't learned overnight.
sophomore year. The competition was in Louisville, Ken.,
and Meeker placed sixth.
"One of the big thrills is when you compete in a hometown
area or park," he said. "All of your friends and family are there.
I really love competing in front of family and friends. I always
loved how people tease you about why you still ride a bicycle
at 20. Some tricks take years to learn."
One person from his hometown is featured in the Guinness
Book of World Records for jumping 116 feet over 16 sport
utility vehicles, but tricks like this aren't learned overnight.
It takes dedication to progress, Meeker said, and it took
him over two and a half years to learn one stunt.
“I kept trying and trying and finally
one day I got it down," he said.
Meeker said he dedicated every free second he had to riding
his bike and perfecting new tricks until it was so dark outside
it was hard to see.
"I'll ride until my legs won't allow me to," he said.
Learning tricks is one aspect of BMX racing, but Meeker
said good physical conditioning is just as important.
In order to stay in shape, Meeker said he would take his bike
to Denver and use the BMX parks there, or he would stay in
the Colorado Springs area and ride to build up his endurance.
"You're using everything on a bike," he said. "You have to
be in pretty good condition to keep going fast for the 30 to
60 second run."
Meeker said one of the things he loves about BMX racing is
the supportive environment. He said there are racers who will
take you under their wing and show you new tricks, while others
will give you a hard time, although they also congratulate you
when you complete a run.
"I guess it's more or less the thrill," he said. "You can go out
and ride some of the same stuff on a skateboard or rollerblades,
but you can go faster and get height."
As with everything, there is the risk of seriously getting hurt.
“If you mess up, there's no going back," he said.
"You're going down hard and going to get hurt."
Aside from the thrill he receives from competing, Meeker said he
also enjoys teaching the next generation of BMX competitors.
During his junior year of high school, both of his little brothers
started to ride. He helped them, but also extended his knowledge
to anyone who wanted to learn. Meeker said he used to take his
brothers and other children between the ages of 10 and 13 years
down to the local park and show them some beginner level stunts.
him over two and a half years to learn one stunt.
“I kept trying and trying and finally
one day I got it down," he said.
Meeker said he dedicated every free second he had to riding
his bike and perfecting new tricks until it was so dark outside
it was hard to see.
"I'll ride until my legs won't allow me to," he said.
Learning tricks is one aspect of BMX racing, but Meeker
said good physical conditioning is just as important.
In order to stay in shape, Meeker said he would take his bike
to Denver and use the BMX parks there, or he would stay in
the Colorado Springs area and ride to build up his endurance.
"You're using everything on a bike," he said. "You have to
be in pretty good condition to keep going fast for the 30 to
60 second run."
Meeker said one of the things he loves about BMX racing is
the supportive environment. He said there are racers who will
take you under their wing and show you new tricks, while others
will give you a hard time, although they also congratulate you
when you complete a run.
"I guess it's more or less the thrill," he said. "You can go out
and ride some of the same stuff on a skateboard or rollerblades,
but you can go faster and get height."
As with everything, there is the risk of seriously getting hurt.
“If you mess up, there's no going back," he said.
"You're going down hard and going to get hurt."
Aside from the thrill he receives from competing, Meeker said he
also enjoys teaching the next generation of BMX competitors.
During his junior year of high school, both of his little brothers
started to ride. He helped them, but also extended his knowledge
to anyone who wanted to learn. Meeker said he used to take his
brothers and other children between the ages of 10 and 13 years
down to the local park and show them some beginner level stunts.
Meeker said it's important to teach the next generation.
"BMX has been around a long time," he said. "The oldest guy
I ride with is 43 and he started when he was 12, when BMX
was just starting."
For those who want to get started in the sport,
Meeker has some advice.
“Always try and pursue your goal until you learn it.”
"BMX has been around a long time," he said. "The oldest guy
I ride with is 43 and he started when he was 12, when BMX
was just starting."
For those who want to get started in the sport,
Meeker has some advice.
“Always try and pursue your goal until you learn it.”
*PHOTO
Pvt. Douglas R. Meeker, of Miamisburg, Ohio, is an
infantryman with Company D, 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry
Regiment who competes in BMX events and hopes to
turn professional when he returns from his current
deployment to Ar Ramadi, Iraq.
http://www.blackanthem.com/artman2/uploads/1/militarynews2007013106.jpg
Pvt. Douglas R. Meeker, of Miamisburg, Ohio, is an
infantryman with Company D, 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry
Regiment who competes in BMX events and hopes to
turn professional when he returns from his current
deployment to Ar Ramadi, Iraq.
http://www.blackanthem.com/artman2/uploads/1/militarynews2007013106.jpg
Geneb...Wenatchee,Washington-USA
All Things Northwest in BMX!
***** Gene`s BMX *****
http://www.genesbmx.com
All Things Northwest in BMX!
***** Gene`s BMX *****
http://www.genesbmx.com
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