Riding backwards on one wheel would be difficult enough on flat ground. Tomomi Nishikubo takes the challenge to an unbelievable new level by doing it down the steep landing hill of an Olympic ski jump in Hakuba, Japan.
Balancing entirely on the front wheel while facing uphill, the Japanese trials rider travels 136.6 meters down the enormous slope and reaches speeds of more than 60 km/h.
Riding Backwards on One Wheel at More Than 60 km/h
The technique Nishikubo performs is known as a fakie nose manual. He travels backwards while balancing on the bicycle’s front wheel with the rear wheel lifted off the ground.
Doing that on an ordinary surface requires remarkable balance. Nishikubo attempts it on a ski jumping hill with a gradient reaching 37.5 degrees.
Riding backwards on one wheel down such a steep slope required extraordinary control. During the successful run, Nishikubo covered 136.6 meters while reaching more than 60 km/h.
The achievement didn’t happen overnight. The project took around two years and roughly 50 full-course attempts before everything finally came together.
Why We Loved This Video
The perspective makes this stunt almost difficult to comprehend. Nishikubo is moving rapidly downhill while facing the opposite direction and balancing his entire bike on a single wheel.
The combination of speed, balance and the enormous ski slope makes the successful run spectacular to watch.
It’s an incredible demonstration of what years of precision, practice and determination can make possible.
