Extreme sports are defined as action or adventure sports. It is a popular term for certain activities perceived as having a high level of inherent danger and that are counter-cultural. These activities often involve speed, height, a high level of physical exertion, and highly specialized gear or spectacular stunts. Extreme sports differ from traditional sports due to the higher number of uncontrollable variables. Athletes in these activities compete not only against other athletes, but also against environmental obstacles and challenges.
Across the Chattanooga area, young men and women compete in a variety of extreme sports that test their skills and abilities. They are highly motivated individuals with ambitious goals within their chosen sport – and in life. The following are four such world-class athletes who routinely test their limits while driving to excel in sports they love.
Brandon Lord
In a culture where team sports tend to get the most press, mountain running is not something that most Americans are aware of. Brandon Lord, a 17-year-old senior at Baylor, is a newcomer to the sport but is already a world champion, coming in fourth at the World Mountain Running Championships in Campodolcino, Italy. An accomplished athlete since his early youth and an avid runner since his sophomore year of high school, Brandon did not pursue mountain running. He was chosen for the U.S. Mountain Running team out of a large pool of potential hopefuls. The team was selected based on track times, training and work ethic by the U.S. Mountain Running Association. Brandon was the youngest member chosen for the team.
Running in the world championships was quite an experience for Brandon. He describes the scene, “The day before the race, we paraded through the small town of Campodolcino. The streets were packed with people, and everyone wanted to see and meet the U.S. team. It was a really cool cultural experience. Little kids were coming up to me and wanted me to sign their shirts and brochures. It was totally different than in the United States. Everyone wanted to see the opening ceremonies and the race.”
The race path was not what most would expect. Unlike in America where switchbacks provide a gradual climb up the mountain, there were no switchbacks, just a straight shot up. Brandon describes the race day, “People lined the side of the mountain throughout the entire race. There were marshals there to keep us from falling off of the mountain. During my warm up, I didn’t run nearly as fast as I did during the actual race. When you get close to the edge and are going really fast, there are parts where if you fall off, you will die. The spectators are up there, cheering us on, knowing all the while that they have to push us back up.” Some of the spectators are, quite literally, risking their lives to catch a glimpse of these incredible athletes.
Brandon plans to continue pursuing mountain running, as well as track and field. He has recently committed to attend University of Georgia and is looking forward to being a part of their exceptional athletic program. Brandon has high hopes academically as well. He explains, “I plan on studying some type of science at Georgia, possibly genetics. I’d like to go to medical school and continue to be involved in collegiate athletics as possibly an orthopedic surgeon.”
Alexis Stephas
Alexis Stephas is a 17-year-old senior at Notre Dame but she’s not your average high school senior. Fiercely independent and motivated to succeed, Alexis is a real -life cowgirl right here in the Tennessee Valley. She is a champion horse cutter and has made a name for herself in the horse cutting world, recently coming in fifth in the world in the senior youth division at the NCHA World Finals. Like many athletic activities, reaching the world championships in horse cutting is cumulative. Alexis explains, “You have to go to a weekend show every single weekend of the year and accumulate points. I’ve put 60,000 miles on my truck this year.”
Most teenage girls would bring along a parent to haul a large horse trailer around the country but not Alexis. She does it all herself. She sleeps in a horse trailer that is equipped with living quarters.
When she’s not travelling the country competing, Alexis divides her time between home, school and the ranch in Flintstone, Ga. where her horses are boarded. Alexis is passionate about her horses. She has four of them, but the two that she attributes the bulk of her success to are Swing In Time, a 6-year-old horse she calls, “Swinger” and Tina Bars Queen, an 8-year-old lovingly dubbed “Tiara.” Alexis is very proud of them. She says, “They go out of their way every time and consistently put their heart into every competition. It wouldn’t be possible for me to make it to the finals without them.”
Alexis hopes to one day be the best in the world at horse cutting, a gender-neutral sport. In the meantime, she plans on becoming a large animal vet, starting her educational journey at Louisiana State University in the fall. Her horses, of course, will accompany her to college.
Crosby Wheeler
Mountain biking is a hobby for many people in the Chattanooga area. For 16-year-old Crosby Wheeler, a student at Signal Mountain High School, mountain biking is more than a hobby. Crosby has always loved the outdoors. His father is an avid biker and bought Crosby his first mountain bike about four years ago. He has been hooked ever since. In addition to mountain biking, Crosby is a cross country runner. He explains, “I am really into the cross country discipline of mountain biking. It involves long distances and endurance. I’m a cross country runner as well and the two kind of go hand in hand.”
Crosby’s participation in mountain biking tournaments and competitions has led to impressive achievements. Last year, he participated in the 12 Hours of Tsali at the Tsali Trails in Bryson City, N.C. The 12 Hours of Tsali is a relay race and whoever has the most laps at the end of 12 hours is the winner. Crosby’s team came in second in the adult level. He was the youngest member of the team. Crosby also competed in the Southeast Regional Championship and at the age of 15, he won the race in the 15 to 18-year-old class. With youth and time on his side, Crosby’s prospects for the future in mountain biking are bright. His prospects for the future in general, however, are even brighter. Crosby explains his goals, “I plan on going to CU- Boulder because of the excellent biology program and the mountains. Right now, I’d like to be an orthopedic surgeon.” Crosby also has his sights set on another race, the 24 Hours of Moab in 2010. One of Crosby’s favorite quotes is from Mohammed Ali when he said, “I hated every minute of training but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’” For Crosby Wheeler, those are words to live by.
Mike Zuppa
Paintball is probably not something that most people associate with athletics, just ask 16-year-old Mike Zuppa of Chattanooga. Mike is a student at McCallie and an avid paintball player. He started playing paintball when he was 10 or 11 at a friend’s birthday party. Mike explains, “Before that party, I had the common, stereotypical view of paintball as just a bunch of backyard militants shooting each other in the woods. But by the end of the day my view was completely different. I started playing at Insane Paintball on Amnicola Highway almost every weekend, and I haven’t stopped since.”
Mike clearly has no delusions about the public’s perception of paintball, but he is happy to debunk those myths. He explains the sport, “Paintball is basically a modern version of Capture the Flag. The basics of the game are simple: eliminate the other team by marking them with a paintball and capture their flag. A good player must be in top physical condition and able to rely on a gut-level instinct while remaining aware of time limitations and avoiding penalties. It requires teamwork, trust and patience.”
Mike’s skills as a paintball player have taken him all over the country. He started playing in tournaments at age 12 and has competed in several different leagues across the country. He describes some of his experiences, “The teams I have been on have done pretty well. In the 2007 season, I played on the Chattown Ballers from Chattanooga, sponsored by Jared Powell of Insane Paintball. We placed in the top 8 in division 3 of the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL).”
Mike continued to compete, eventually joining the Division I Cross-Eyed Paintball Team led by Craig Williams, which consistently finished in the top at the Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP) events. The Cross-Eyed Paintball Team has recently joined forces with the Palm Beach Vipers and, as a result, Mike flies to Palm Beach, Fla. every few weeks for mandatory rigorous weekend practices. His record is especially impressive considering he is the youngest player on his team, holding his own with college age or older players. Mike hopes to one day be the best in the country and would like to eventually go pro. He will continue playing paintball in college and beyond.
The athletic aspirations of today’s youth are no longer confined to a handful of sports. With the growing popularity of extreme sports, it is possible to succeed and even go pro in these sports. Young athletes, such as Brandon, Alexis, Crosby and Mike, share a common thread in unconventional athletics. But it should be noted, these exceptional teens share another common thread: a determination to succeed under unusual circumstances that will most likely bring them success throughout their lives.