By Josephine Lee
Young athletes dream of making their sport their career, but few actually have the opportunity of turning that dream into a reality. Terry Adams, who found his passion for BMX Flatlanding at the age of nine, recently visited University of Louisville’s campus on day 14 of his 40-day college tour. Flatland BMX combines break-dance techniques with cycling for a routine that includes complicated twists and balances in various positions.
Adams first became aware of Flatland BMX through videos and magazines and attempted to imitate their twists and turns. Through his passion and dedication, Adams has become quite a phenomenon in Flatland BMX, winning many awards and landing prestigious sponsorships including Red bull Energy Drinks. Kyle Sutherland, student brand manager for Red bull, helped coordinate Adams arrival to U of L’s campus.
Sutherland intended for the arrival of Adams to be a surprise for students. The location was kept secret in order to draw a spontaneous crowd to witness the performance. Adams first began performing outside of Threlkeld Hall and drew a small crowd of students.
“I think it’s really cool. It’s kind of scary because he could fall off. I’m impressed though,” sophomore Speech Pathology major Danielle Collier said.
Andrew Smith, senior Biology major, said, “Watching this guy makes me want to go do something dangerous. It’s kind of wild.”
The variety of moves that Adams performed showcases his talent in his field. Not only did Adams invent a trick, “The Katrina,” but he also has won numerous awards and made special guest appearances on “Glee” and “The Ellen DeGeneras Show.”
“Being voted the Number One Flatland Rider as voted by Ride BMX magazine and winning the Asian X games were my favorite accomplishments,” Adams said.
After a short showcase at Threlkeld, Adams performed a few tricks in front of the Thinker statue and Grawmeyer Hall. Where Adams received the most exposure was at the corner of Fourth Street and Cardinal Boulevard. Cars stopped to watch. Adams even performed in the middle of the intersection.
“If you want to be a professional at something, follow your dreams,” Adams said. “Take your time, have fun and don’t take it too seriously at first.”
