News / People
Jake Brown Recovering after 50-Foot Fall at X Games
Within seconds Jake Brown went from pure elation to near death and now he has no memory of either experience. Brown had just completed a 720 over a 70-foot gap after barreling down an 80-foot ramp, a monumental accomplishment on a skateboard, when he proceeded up the 27-foot quarterpipe to attempt his final trick. What happened next left many thinking the Australian skater was dead.
Rising 15-feet into the air Brown lost control of his board and fell approximately 50-feet straight down to the base of the ramp, slamming his body so hard against the frame that his shoes were knocked from his feet. Brown lay motionless for several minutes while those watching stood in disbelief, wondering if they had just seen X Games’ first casualty.
Fellow skater Pierre-Luc Gagnon said, “I seriously thought he was dead, broke his back or broke both legs. That was the gnarliest slam I've ever seen in my life.” Those sentiments were felt by Jason Ellis as well. Ellis immediately approached Brown after the fall and noted “That's the most terrifying thing I've seen in my life, in the history of skateboarding. His eyes were open and he wasn't breathing. I thought he was . . . dead.”
After nearly ten minutes of remaining motionless Brown was able to get to his feet and staggered to the side. Brown asked Ellis “'Do I have another ride?' 'What'd I do?' 'Did I try the 720?'”. Ellis told him “You made the 720” but when Brown asked “What’s I do on the quarter?” Gagnon responded “Nothing, dude, you did nothing on the quarterpipe.”
Brown was taken from the Staple Center, site of the X Games 13 Skateboard Big Air event in a wheelchair but is believed to recovering nicely.
