Nicest Guy on the Planet?

Mlandeli, quite possibly the nicest Guy on the planet.

Mlandeli Nblela is a pro tennis player from Zimbabwe.  Great guy, great shoot.

Mlandeli Ndlela tennis pro from Zimbabwe.

Mlandeli Ndlela tennis pro from Zimbabwe.

Adaptive X in 2 weeks!

It’s time again for Adaptive X at the summer X Games 16.  Can’t believe it’s already been a year since the last ones.

This year motor sports will take place at the LA Coliseum which should be epic!  I’m hoping that this will harken back to the days of glory when supercross legend Ricky Johnson  reigned supreme and hucked his big red machine off the incredible Parastyle jump at the LA Coliseum.

Hoping to make it to some of the Big Air events this year too!

Aaron Fotheringham drops in off a 10ft ledge at X games 15.

Chris Ridgway wins second year in a row. Adaptive motocross, X games 15.

Adaptive X practice at the 2009 X games skate park.

Aaron Fotheringham wins the Adaptvie Skate comptition at X games 15.

Amy Purdy director and founder of Adaptive Action Sports. 'AAS'

Big Air Rider Kevin Robinson

Kevin Robinson, Red Bull Rider

Kevin Robinson, Red Bull Rider is a big air specialist.  This shot is part of a new big air personal series.  Riders were shot at the Summer Xgames, Home Depot Center, SoCal  July 2009.  The idea is to convey how extreme these athletes really are.  Normal pics can’t do their talent justice.  So this series pays homage to true big air and the reality of extreme sports.

Michael kills it at the LA Triathalon

Michael Crook Podiums at the 2009 Los Angeles Triathalon

Michael Crook is my diehard assistant and someone I can rely on no matter what the situation.  Yesterday she proved herself dominant in another realm of her life.  She competed in the LA Triathalon and finished on the podium, 3rd.

This is Michael’s first year of competing in Tri’s.  Amazing work Michael!!!  She e-mailed me after the event and here’s a snippet of her own words, “one of the craziest oceans i have ever seen. the waves were relentless! and and swells were insane..Super strong south current and the swells were 10-12 feet at times..a bunch of people had to b rescued..a bunch of people never even got through the surf.”

WOW!!!

Aaron Fotheringham at the X Games

Aaron Fotheringham at the X Games

Aaron Fotheringham is the worlds greatest extreme sitter.  I photographed Aaron at X Games 15, Home Depot Center in SoCal.  Aaron and his friends are amazing Adaptive athletes.  I’ll have an additional post about Adaptive X in the next couple weeks.

Soccer Diva

Female High School Soccer Player, originally uploaded by Planetmoore.

High School soccer player. AKA Soccer Diva! First image from a recent shoot promoting high school level athletics.

Ashley Fiolek Takes the 2009 WMA Title

Ashley_Fiolek_Glen_Helen_2, originally uploaded by Planetmoore.

Ashley Fiolek is a phenomenon. She destroys her competition most of the time. I say most of the time because in the season closer at Steel City she demonstrated another of her many strengths. Courage!
After crashing out and breaking her collar bone she picked herself up, climbed back on her bike and finished 7th. She had to place 11th or better to clinch the WMA 2009 title. That’s TOUGH!

Not Good. GREAT!

This is Michael.  She’s not only a ‘super assistant’ but she’s also an emerging triathlete.

I like to work with kick-ass people.  I don’t want someone who can show up and haul sandbags like a mule all day long but be as dormant as the center of a glacier.  I want someone with fire and passion.  They have to haul sandbags like a mule and be GREAT!  Michael’s a wealth of enthusiasm, witty and a pleasure to work with.  She’s a handy model to have on standby too!

Michael is a killer assistant and emerging triathlete.

Inspiration

Inspiration can be something different for everyone.  I love motorcycles and riding.  I thought, ‘cool I get to shoot the Jager Freestyle Team, this will be fun!’  I shot them practicing for the next nights event.  It was pretty much business as usual.  The guys pump each other up, do some wheelies, test jumps and then they begin rolling out the bigger tricks.  One of the guys (won’t mention names…) jumped short and bounced off the top of the ramp and endowed into the dirt about 12 feet below.  Everyone raced over to check on him and of course in badass style he swaggered to his feet and brushed it off like no big deal.  What inspired me about this was the team manager rushing his bike off to be repaired so that the rider could hop back on and do it again.  He had over-reved on take off for his back flip, or something like that?  Anyways long story short the team picked him back up, recharged his confidence and sent him on his way.  This guy at that moment was pure inspiration.  Of course he hit it again and nailed it!

Eric, Cowboy Kenny, Thomas and Dan