Ex-professional Supercross Rider and daredevil, Brad O’Neal, has been dreaming of performing a motor base jump since the age of 12. That’s why you might be a little surprised to find out that he still feels a sense of overwhelming fear whenever he sets out to perform a huge stunt. Many people would freeze under that kind of pressure. But Brad O’Neal doesn’t let his fear overtake him. Instead, he focuses on accomplishing his ultimate goal and lives for the adventure. How does he manage to do this? Brad has a few tips:
- You’ve tried numerous times to get major action sports companies to sponsor your base jump and have been turned down. What is the best way to overcome obstacles like that?
I can’t say how to over come those obstacles because I didn’t really do that, but I did just kinda make my own path of how to do things and made it happen. Anything and everything is possible and it’s a shame that people leave it up to major corporations to decide what is and isn’t possible or worth trying. I didn’t do this for anyone but myself. I wanted to know that I could make anything happen as long as I was willing to do whatever it took and that’s what you have to do…
- What is your worst fear? Did you overcome it? – and if so, how did you do it?My worst fear is rock climbing and spiders lol. I don’t plan on ever conquering either of those because I despise them.
- How do you mentally prepare yourself for your stunts? I try to come at all of my stunts in a very logical way. People think I’m reckless and crazy or have a death wish but that’s not the case. I plan everything out and double check everything to give me peace of mind about it. As soon as I know I have done everything in my power to make it successful and safe, then I do it. It’s easier to over come fear when you feel like you have a handle on things. But once I’ve made my mind up about something and feel confident about it, it’s game on. I pride myself in being someone who says they are going to do something and people pull up a chair and wait because they know it’s gonna happen.
- What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received from someone?Honestly, I’m not super religious or anything but I do have faith and I feel like one of the best quotes I’ve ever heard is actually from the Bible. I don’t know exactly where or who said it, but I love the quote “for every man is right in his own eyes, for the Lord ponders the heart”. To me that says be easy about judging peoples ideas or actions because somewhere somehow that is right to them and they have a reason. Even if it doesn’t make since to you or seems wrong to you, that doesn’t necessarily make it wrong. There’s more that one way to do things. Keep an open mind.
Thanks Brad for teaching us to follow our hearts. We also take comfort in the fact that a professional daredevil’s biggest fear is spiders. Eight legs are just too many legs to have.
