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.