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Do you remember how you celebrated this past Mother’s Day? Maybe you sent your mom some flowers. Or treated her to brunch. No matter the answer, odds are it didn’t hold a scented candle to Luc Ackermann’s present: performing the first-ever mother-son backflip.
The German FMX rider is no stranger to high-flying hijinks. At the age of 12, he became the youngest person to land a motorbike backflip. The wunderkind proved to be more than a flash in the pan, too. Ackermann soon attained the title of the youngest motorcyclist to pull off a double backflip in 2017 and the youngest FIM European FMX Champion at the Night of the Jumps 2018. Only adding to his illustrious resume, the X Games gold medalist set his sights on a new backflip first, this time with his 55-year-old mom on board.
"The idea came from my mother herself,” Ackermann acknowledged.
As a worried mom, Melitta Ackermann never watches her son’s live competitions. Once reassured that Luc hasn’t sustained an injury, she views event recaps, instead. Still, Melitta fully supports her 25-year-old son’s career choice. So much so that she proposed the mother-son backflip idea as a 50th birthday wish. More than five years of preparation went into making that wish a reality.
Ackermann didn’t just outfit his KTM with custom footrests to suit his front-loaded passenger. Countless practice runs, foam-pit jumps, and extensive planning sessions preceded the gravity-defying stunt. The team then configured a freestyle ramp and landing airbag for the eight-meter (26.25-feet) high and 13-meter (42.65-feet) long jump.
With all the pieces in place, Melitta clasps on her son’s handlebars — bracing for the worst. Head bowed, eyes closed, the daredevil duo observes one final moment of serenity before Ackermann fires up his dirt bike. He kicks into first and guns it. The pair hurtles up the ramp.
As soon as KTM soars off the lip, Melitta’s inertia sends her heeling over the bars. Butt out of the seat, helmet nearly brushing the front fender, she clings to the KTM like an inverted bat. All the while, Luc remains in control, completing the reverse rotation before sticking the landing.
Hollers and rev bombs comprise Luc’s celebrations. Melitta simply delivers a loving tap on her son’s arm. Action camera footage later reveals that she handled the stunt the same way she handles Luc’s competitions: with closed eyes. That, in no way, diminishes Melitta’s steely nerves. However, we’re certain the proud mama doesn’t want the same Mother’s Day gift next year.
"It was an incredible experience — I wouldn't do it again, though,” confessed Melitta.
I can’t blame you, Melitta, but I salute you nonetheless.
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