Tom Pagès survives 135 m cliff jump with motorcycle

Frenchman Tom Pagès has never been afraid to push the boundaries of freestyle motocross and impose his own style. With his latest breathtaking feat, the multiple Red Bull X-Fighters champion ushered in the new winter sports season - thanks to a world first.

As the 2021 motorsport season draws to a close around the world, winter athletes are busy with final preparations for their respective disciplines on the FIS World Cup circuit. Pagès decided to bridge the two different sports seasons with a daredevil stunt in Avoriaz, following on from speedriding pioneer Valentin Delluc's memorable stunt last year that went viral around the world. The 36-year-old, who has also won five gold medals at the X-Games, two silver medals and a bronze medal, wanted to combine freestyle motocross (FMX) and skydiving in an exciting project where he would do a double front flip off a cliff in Avoriaz, land with a parachute and jump off.

He explained, "I enjoy skydiving in my spare time when I'm not driving. I've taken it one step at a time. I started training in the wind tunnel, then skydiving with the Soul Flyers - Vince Reffet and Fred Fugen - in 2015. Next, I started BASE jumping from a helicopter, then from a bridge on Reunion Island with Loïc Jean Albert (air sports pioneer). After that, I learned to jump from a cliff with Aurélien Chatard aka Bras Noir (Black Arm). I was petrified by the idea, but I couldn't help imagining what it would be like to jump on a motorcycle. In 2020, I wanted to go to Dubai, but COVID struck, so I put everything on hold until March. Now, with the support of my sponsors and despite the complexity of the project, I finally have the opportunity to realize my dream."

After a freestyle run of three tricks in the pedestrian streets of the famous Alpine town, Pagès shifted into fourth gear and accelerated up a seven-meter-high ramp at 80 km/h (the standard ramp has an average of 2.70 meters). He shot more than 55 meters above the cliff, did a double front flip in mid-air, and then crashed freely on his bike at 150 km/h before opening his parachutes for the landing 30 seconds later and 170 meters below.

He revealed to us: "There was no better place than Avoriaz for this action! It's a magical place: surrounded by nature, with wooden architecture and great infrastructure. The ski area is great for freeriding, and it's the only place where I found a vertical rock face over 130m high. All conditions had to be met, because we couldn't leave anything to chance. Fred Fugen was by my side during the five days on site to take all the safety measures and help me with the mental preparation. The most difficult element to overcome was what you don't see in the video: the wind.

Since BASE jumps with heavy motorcycle gear (helmet, boots and protective clothing) restrict the field of vision and blur the ground markings, Stéphane Zunino developed the parachute specifically for the motorcycle, with a manual release integrated into the seat - a technical tour de force.

Pagès added, "It's a career-defining project: combining the two universes I love, FMX and skydiving, in the same performance. It's also a life-defining project, where I mix influences to surprise people and show up where they least expect it. For a freestyler like me, creation is not just about inventing a new trick, it's about bringing an idea to life, whether it's a physical or technical challenge. Inspiring people have shown me the way. That has always been my motivation, and I want to encourage others to push their own limits. My thoughts are with the stuntman Alain Prieur, whom I admire very much, and with the skydiver Vince Reffet, my friend, whom I miss very much."