User:Iamtattooguy/Ronnie Faisst

Ronnie Faisst (born June 22, 1977 in Mays Landing, New Jersey) is an American freestyle motocross (FMX) rider.

Early Years
Ronnie Faisst started his journey to freestyle motocross in Mays Landing, New Jersey. Faisst grew up riding with a boyhood friend at the age of eight and quickly fell in love with the freedom he experienced when riding a motorcycle. Taking a gamble on making his passion a career, Faisst went pro at the age of 18, racing the 125 Outdoor Nationals and East Coast Supercross Series. Two years later Faisst would make another bold move as he relocated to southern California, the mecca of the motocross community. It was here that he began building relationships with industry giants and filmmakers and began laying the groundwork for what would become one of the biggest action sports of all time, freestyle motocross. Faisst spent his days riding in the hills with other FMX OG’s like friend and mentor Brian Deegan, Carey Hart and the Godfather of freestyle motocross, Mike Metzger. Back then there were no ramps, just sketchy dirt hits that someone had to man up and hit first.

Career
1998 would bring Faisst to Las Vegas, Nevada for the first of its kind FMX contest and land him a spot on the Vans Warped Tour riding demos across the country. Faisst landed a few crucial sponsors as the sport went mainstream in 1999. That same year, the world was introduced to the Metal Mulisha, the first of its kind FMX team with Faisst in the mix as one of the top riders. To date the Metal Mulisha is the most medaled team of riders in the history of the sport. Faisst was thrust into the spotlight on such notable stages as the X Games and Gravity Games when he earned a silver medal at the 1999 Gravity Games. As the sport continued to grow, so did his popularity, not to mention his skill on a dirtbike. He would go on to win two more bronze medals at the 2002 and 2004 Gravity Games as well as a bronze medal at the 2006 Winter X Games. Summer X Games has become the premier stage for the biggest names in the sport and Faisst has had tremendous success over the years placing top ten in every event he’s competed in since 2000. One of his greatest accomplishments came at the 2008 X Games where after three failed attempts resulting in a fracture wrist, separated shoulder, broken foot and concussion, he was able to cleanly land a 360 as the 5th person in X Games history to do so. Landing it was monumental as the trick had escaped him the two previous years. Fast forward to 2010 and Faisst would claim the bronze medal in speed and style, edging out last years gold medal winner in his first of three heat races. Outside of the contest role, Fiasst has played a major part in nearly every action sports tour to span the globe. Three years in Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huck Jam Tour, multiple Vans Warped Tours, MTV’s Sports and Music Festival, the Dew Tour, Crusty Demons of Dirt World Tour and most recently the first of its kind Nuclear CowboyzTour.

Personal Life
In an industry that glorifies the rock star lifestyle, Faisst keeps his fame in check by remaining strong in his faith. “I stand on what the word of God says and reject the lies of the devil. God has given me a story and I’m going to tell the world how He has moved in my life, just by taking steps of faith. I’m thankful for everything He has blessed me with. I really like getting on my bike and knowing that God is behind me and protecting me.” His faith first mentality is helping to keep him strong in an often times dark and demeaning world. Outside of his career in freestyle motocross, Faisst started Shui Clothing, a clothing company dedicated to self-expression.

Career accomplishments
- 2010 Alli Dew Tour, Salt Lake City, UT - 3rd

- 2010 X Games 16, Los Angeles, CA - Speed Style: Bronze

- 2009 ASA World Championships of FMX, Pomona, CA - Quarterfinalist

- 2008 AST Dew Tour, Orlando, FL - Freestyle: 10th

- 2008 X-Games, Mexico - Freestyle: 4th, Best Whip: 6th, Best Trick: 4th

- 2008 AST Dew Tour, Salt Lake City, UT - FMX: 6th

- 2008 Red Bull X Fighters, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 7th

- 2008 X-Games, Brazil: 4th

- 2007 X Games, Los Angeles, CA - Best Trick: 8th

- 2007 Dew Tour, Cleveland, OH: 8th

- 2007 Dew Tour, Baltimore, MD: 6th

- 2006 Dew Tour, Denver, CO: 7th

- 2006 Dew Tour, Louisville, KY: 10th

- 2006 Winter X Games Best Trick - Bronze

- 2005 LG FMX Championships, Pomona, CA: 6th

- 2005 WFA Moto-X Grand Prix - Freestyle: 1st

- 2005 Dew Tour Series Year End Rank: 5th

- 2005 Dew Tour, Louisville, KY - Freestyle: 5th

- 2004 Gravity Games - Freestyle & Best Trick: Bronze

- 2002 Gravity Games Moto Challenge - Bronze

- 1999 Gravity Games Team Competition - Silver