Daredevil Clint Ewing Pens Memoir
Pro Motorcyclist from Santa Barbara Tells All in ‘A Freestyle Life’
Santa Barbara freestyle motorcyclist Clint Ewing made national headlines in August 2013 when his attempt to set a second world record for riding through the longest tunnel of fire ended in near-death disaster. His career was in jeopardy, but Ewing, who was raised in Montecito, struggled through recovery to get back onto his globe-trotting routine, performing wheelies, spins, and other tricks in front of thousands around the world. He recently penned a memoir, A Freestyle Life, and told us a little about it last week.
Why did you decide to write a book about your life? I was getting a lot of inquiries from fans at my events. I didn’t realize my experiences were unique until people started to point it out to me.
What’s the deeper message? I want people to understand that nothing good comes easy, and working hard builds character. Learn to enjoy the ride and each moment.
Have you recovered from the tunnel-of-fire accident? It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to come back from physically and emotionally. What gave me the drive was having a goal. I told myself I would not only come back from this injury but that I would come back stronger than ever. After four months of physical therapy and working out, I have made a full recovery.
What’s your next move? I signed with Kawasaki as of 2016 and will continue to work hard in order to open up more doors for the future. I cannot ride forever in the freestyle industry, but I will continue to strive to achieve and do the best I can at whatever life throws at me. —Matt Kettmann
Clint Ewing will sign copies of A Freestyle Life at the Moto Loco (736 Carpinteria St.) Third Thursday Bike Night on May 19 at 6 p.m. See clintewing.com.
