Dale "Extreme D" Elliott
Wildcat Name:Extreme D
Alley:Southern Australia
Heat Status:Happily married... Sorry gals
Wildcat Adaptation:He learnt to fly... (1st Paraplegic skydiver in Australia & New Zealand)
Favorite Roar: "Get busy living, or get busy dying!", "Frustration is inevitable, but misery is optional". "It’s not about getting back to where you were, it’s about going further!"
Wildcat Growth:
Born in 76
Raised in rural South Australia
Pilot at 16
Soldier at 18
Married at 21
Aircraft Engineer at 23
Paraplegic at 26
Checked pulse at 30, it was too low
First Aussie Paraplegic Free-fall Skydiver at 32
Hand-cycled 5000km across Australia at 34
Pushing it to the extreme ever since!
***
Extreme D learnt how to play the cards he was dealt, and developed character which added to the game of life which still lay in front of him. He became a visionary and motivator, creating new consciousness for thousands of people simply by exposing his own conscious mind. Whether it be a conference or lecture, or one of his “stand-up sit-down” comedy routines, he makes people think. A lot.
The wildcat alias analogy I have referenced for “Extreme D” to Dale Elliott is something we should all think about and ponder within ourselves. It is that extra character that shines through ones self that should surface more frequently in life rather than a momentary push for the harder, darker times. An alias lives in all of us. It is part of you mentally as much as it is physically, which will ultimately push you to do the right from wrong, give you the unique outlook on your “time on earth” and allow YOURSELF to set YOUR OWN boundaries and limitations. Own your shadow and become that part in yourself that you respect and admire, then build on him/her to reach a limit set by only yourself and not by the limitations of others. Our capabilities are limited by our own ambition. Here in front of you, is the proof.
Dale “Extreme D” Elliott, a perfect example of a true Wildcat.
Watch him, as I did:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ_YFrvYxqo
www.imthinkingofyou.com.au
www.cantwalkcanfly.com/
www.daleelliott.com
Kevin 'KevyMetal' Brooks
Wildcat Name: KevyMetal
Alley of Birth: Surrey, BC
Cat Heat Status: Currently Caught
Wildcat Role: Adrenalin Sport Enthusiast, Rocker and Inspirational Speaker
Wildcat Adaptation: Riding the Steel Horse
Favorite Roar: "INTO THE NITE RIDE"
1979: Born Badass
1985: Discovered Skateboarding
1986: Discovered Metal
1993: Discovered Punk Rock
1995: Lost Virginity While Watching Gleaming the Cube
1996: Discovered Snowboarding
1999: Got First Car & Drove Too Fast
2000: Crashed Hard, Ended Up Severely Broken
2001: Began Life on a Steelhorse
2001 - Present: Destroyed Every Obstacle Life Has Thrown My Way on My Steelhorse ie: Extreme Wheelchairage, Handcycling, Wheelchair Bungee, ATVing, Snowmobiling, Sitboarding, Wheelchair Crowdsurf. Wheelchair Jousting... Etc
2002: Began Public Speaking and Motivating Others
2011: Joined Wildcats and Began Next Journey in Life "Pushing the Knar' Factor on a Steelhorse to All New Highs"
KevyMetal is not your ordinary wheeler! Wherever possible, this horned cat defies the image of the "wheelchair norm" through the gift of the gab and the attitude to back it up. His presence can be felt throughout the room as he chooses the stairwell over the easy access ramp. One hand dedicated to the push of the wheel, while the other raises the horns \m/
We had the privilege to meet KevyMetal on our very first adrenalin tour with 9Lives. An automatic connection was made as he started the trend of the first 'wheelchair backflip bungee'. It was an image we wildcats will look up to and look back at. History will be made with the assistance of our newest Wildcat. KevyMetal.
Lonnie 'THE LONSTER' Bissonnette
Wildcat Name: THE LONSTER
Alley: St Catharines, Ontario
Heat Status: Single with 2 litter
Wildcat Adaptation: ... BASE JUMPING!
Favorite Roar: "C'YA!"
TIMELINE:
1985: Lived and grew up on the streets.
1990: First son, First skydive ever. (addicted)
1994: First BASE jump. (addicted)
1995: Second son was born.
2004: BASE jump #1100-> quadruple gainer BASE accident resulting in paralysis.
2005: ALREADY BACK?!-> First time back in the sky since the accident, along side/ teaching his eldest son to jump. (sons first skydive ever)
2010: All three wildcats (Lonster and two sons) jump from the same plane.. a legacy.
BIO: YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS -> http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi1677328921/
Oh maaaan what a LONSTER! We are proud to kick off a new year with a new standard to the WILDCAT STATUS. Aspiring wildcats, feast your eyes on, officially, the only para to ever jump from all four objects in BASE:
Building
Antenna
Span
Earth
***
WAIT WAIT WAIT! HOLD THA PHONE! Did we seriously just write that? Everyone now, scroll back up to the top and read this over again. But slower: THE ONLY.. PARA..TO EVER JUMP... FROM ALL 4 OBJECTS OF BASE.
These are the moments I look at myself in the mirror and say, MAN UP! As I research our newest wildcat I find myself realizing that we are highlighting living proof of SCI evolution.. Its happening.. Right here, right now. We are officially next level.
***
LONSTER! You animal! Explain yourself! Why are YOU here?
"I don't know man! To be honest, I'm not sure I deserve the spot. I'm no different than anybody else, I just have a REAL passion for something, and that something happens to be BASE jumping and skydiving. No different than a dude who has a passion for golf. I'm just a normal dude doin something that isn't quite normal to most people. As for the accident,.....my parachute got wrapped around my foot (my fault) after doing a quadruple gainer off a 486ft bridge. It couldn't open properly and I was hanging upside down by my foot. I hit the water doing about 70-80mph. I broke C3, C4, C6, C7, burst fracture@T2, broke T4, T6, a few ribs my shoulder blade into 3 pieces, shattered my femur, collapsed my lungs, all that and the Dr's were amazed that I had no head injuries! Especially since I wasn't wearing a helmet. They [doctors] told me I would NEVER be able to jump again! I told THEM...JUST WATCH ME!! HAHA! Took my video of my first BASE jump back into the Dr's office less than a year later and said... I told ya!"
You are a MADMAN! but we like it.. What made you want to get back in the sky anyways?
"It never felt like it was something I wanted to do... It was something I ABSOLUTELY HAD TO DO!! The only way I can explain it... was like a hunger. People don't choose to be hungry, they just are. For me to get back in the air, to get out there and make another jump was like a hunger that wouldn't go away until I did just that...JUMP!
Well obviously you have played the field with a variety of jumps. If you could jump anywhere now, where would it be?
I have many objects I'd love to jump, which maybe is why I haven't quit yet. In no particular order Burj Khalifa -Dubai, because it's the tallest building in the world. CN Tower, and a Canadian icon. Cave of Swallows-Mexico, it's been a dream to do that one for a LONG time, I have always imagined it to be a very spiritual place for me, like Angel Falls was. Baffin Island-Canada, the Arctic, the expedition it would take to get there, and some of the biggest walls in the world. The Eiger Mushroom-Switzerland, just a SUPER cool looking rock! There seems to be some really cool and big walls in [top secret spot] that as far as I know, nobody has jumped yet. I would love to be the first person to jump off of one of those walls."
Scenario: You have just jumped off the Cave of Swallows, Mexico. You forgot to pack a canopy.. What would you leave us with?
"My philosophy is to just enjoy. Enjoy the experience. You know, it's not... I don't think BASE jumping is about numbers. It should be about the experiences and the friendships you make. You know there are a lot of jumps I don't remember and those are just number jumps. Then there are tons of memories and stories that are more important then the numbers. I think you should just try and get the most out of every jump that you do."
***
Deep Breath*
Lets take a second and reflect on this story. Look around your own circle of friends, as well as yourself, and realize the potential that each one has, and may not have found. Sometimes it takes those extreme experiences to find out exactly what your body and mind are capable of.. And sometimes it comes from someone else's extreme experience.. now go FIND IT!
Join us as we salute one of the wildest cats in the world... THE LONSTER!
