Jon Guetter First to Backflips an ATV
- Updated: March 16, 2004
It’s not possible to do a back flip on a heavy and awkward ATV, at least that’s what most of the freestyle motocross world thought. On March 16, 2004, Jon Guetter, a likable 21 year old down to earth Wabasso, Minnesota turned Newport Beach, Californian proved otherwise.
In this case, seeing is believing in more ways than one because Guetter doesn’t fit the extreme-new-wave-image of today’s freestyle movement. After meeting Guetter, one might presume his sport of choice might be racket ball or tennis. While the dirt bike freestyle motocross scene is infested with tattoos, piercings and a language of their own, Guetter more likely leads the “Farmer Mulisha” if you will. Nothing is pierced, no tattoos, no hair die – he’s more of a simple, polite and humble young man who could care less about what other people think of him. Needless to say, this Midwestern son of a crop farmer just made ATV freestyle history and represents our sport with nothing but class and professionalism. With this jump, he undoubtedly proved to the world that ATVs aren’t just made for chores on the farm.
Only two days after the jump, Guetter and Mr. HBomb himself, Wes Miller, flew to the Dominican Republic for yet another video shoot. Since ATV Scene was called in to cover a big Dominican ATV TT event, we got the opportunity to sit down with Jon and talk to him about his extraordinary last few days. Here’s what he had to say.
The ramp… Freeride Technologies built the ramp for Guetter’s attempt.
ATV Scene: Where did it happen?
Guetter: Snow Valley Ski Resort near Big Bear, California.
ATV Scene: How did you pull it off?
Guetter: Well, I just concentrated on the take off because I knew the flip starts off the ramp and not in the air. I just gave the flip total commitment and stayed with it till I spotted the landing upside down.
ATV Scene: Describe the ramp and landing area.
Guetter: The ramp was built by Freeride Technologies, the same ramp company that builds the ramps for the X-Games. It was also the same ramp the bikes flip off of. The landing was a large pile of snow that our friend, Nick, built for us that works for Snow Valley. He built the landing exactly how we wanted it.
ATV Scene: What kind of ATV did you do it on?
Guetter: I was riding a Bomb Squad Yamaha YFZ 450. I basically wanted to go with a stock quad with just a few minor modifications.
The quad… Yamaha’s YFZ is the Bomb Squad flip-quad of choice.
ATV Scene: How long have you been planning on doing this?
Guetter: I originally planned on doing the flip when I first moved down here to southern California, which was almost a year ago. Things finally fell in place last Tuesday and I FINALLY pulled the flip!
ATV Scene: Have you practiced the flip on a dirt bike or bicycle?
Guetter: I’ve always been able to flip a bmx bike. I grew up riding bmx and I owe a lot of my skills that I have to that sport. Although the last time I landed a flip on a bmx bike was almost two years ago, but you just don’t forget how it feels to get inverted. Other than the bicycle, I hadn’t practiced flipping anything leading up to my attempt.
ATV Scene: Who was there with you when you landed it?
Guetter: I had my brother Dan, my cousin David, a bunch of close friends like Sean Sermini, Wes Miller, Chris Sims, Mike Deezel, Chris Hogan, Creighton Curtis, Taylor Moles, David Smith, Kory Ellis, Mike Vogt, Adam Campell and a few other photographers and a camera crew. There was a bunch of people rooting me on.
The run up… Guetter stares down the jump of all jumps, the back flip.
The approach… Notice how he begins to commit to the back flip before he even leaves the ramp.
ATV Scene: What do you think this might lead to?
Guetter: I’m not sure. I’ve always wanted to ride in the X-Games or Gravity Games but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what other people think about Quad FMX. I think a flip alone won’t get us these perks but I have a feeling with some of the new riders coming up like my younger brother Derek, we’re going to have a damn good shot of getting into something big real soon!
ATV Scene: When and where can we see video of your incredible jump?
Guetter: We currently have shots up at hbombfilms.com on the front page click on the fully story. We have some info on the flip, some shots and even a small video clip to check out.
ATV Scene: Do you think others will try to attempt this now that you proved it is possible?
Guetter: I don’t really think me doing it will change anyone’s view on whether or not they’re personally going to do it or not. I pretty much knew from the beginning that a quad could be flipped. I think if people decide to flip a quad it’s going to happen whether or not they knew someone else did it before them or not.
The jump… The biggest “Huevos” belong to Jon Guetter. And no, this is not a Photoshop creation.
The interview… Guetter tells all about it for H Bomb’s next video titled, “Huevos 7”.
ATV Scene: The Gravity Games are scheduled Sept 15-19 in Cleveland, OH, which is plenty of time for you to perfect this jump. Have you guys communicated with them about representing the ATV freestyle world by competing somehow?
Guetter: As of right now, we haven’t gotten in contact with anyone about getting into the Gravity Games. Hopefully an opportunity arises that will give Quad FMX a shot at the games but until then I’m not holding my breath.
ATV Scene: When and where can people see ATV freestyle events?
Guetter: Right now we’re working on booking shows and doing demos. We post events that the Bomb Squad Team partakes in on the HBomb forum at hbombfilms.com. Our sport isn’t quite up to par when it comes to doing contests. We just don’t have enough people to do such large venues as the X-Games or Gravity Games. Hopefully within a year that will all change.
ATV Scene: If someone insists on trying this for themselves, do you have any words for them?
Guetter: Yeah I do. Safety, Safety, Safety! Luckily I have Serm (Sean Sermini) to over see all of the safety aspects of the crazier jumps I do. I know that sounds nuts but he actually knows how to be safe. It’s very important to have somebody around that you trust and knows what’s up when it comes to ramp construction. Oh ya, lead with your head too.
ATV Scene: We understand that Wes Miller and his H-Bomb Films crew rolled video on your every move. When and where can this video be seen?
Guetter: That has yet to be decided. Wes tells me late summer of ’04. Hopefully it will be sooner then that, I’m not sure I know I can wait that long and I dont think you readers can either.
ATV Scene: How did you celebrate?
Guetter: That night Wes took the whole crew to Ruth’s Chris steak house in Irvine, CA.
ATV Scene: Traveling with Wes always leads to a story. We’re assuming you might have something to share with our readers.
Guetter: Well, we barely made it here for starters. We were warned not to even get on the plane because both of our connecting flights were about to be cancelled due to snow storms. It’s a good thing we got on though. The flights were a go and we later found out she usually works in the baggage department. So when in doubt always ask more than one person.
The celebration… After a nice dinner, it was on to business as usual. Guetter and Miller flew to the Dominican Republic to shoot scenes for “Huevos 7”. They now need full time security to stop the mobs of Huevos fans from getting too close. In all honesty, Santo Domingo Motocross officials take their security pretty seriously. Armed guards were called in to make sure the crowd behaved.
ATV Scene: How has the Dominican portion of Huevos 7 been coming?
Guetter: So far we have only shot at the Dominican race in Santo Domingo. They had a nice metal takeoff ramp but the landing was too steep for me to jump it. I felt bad letting all their spectators down by not hitting it but it was pretty sketchy. I did do a few tricks over a small tabletop. It was by far not the best show I have ever done but the people there seemed to really like what I came up with over the little jump. I’m sure we’ll gather some good video down here in the next few days and make up for it.
ATV Scene: Has anyone ever recognized you and asked for your autograph yet or anything like that?
Guetter: Besides a few girls asking me to marry them on the Internet, no one has ever recognized me.
ATV Scene: Do you think that kind of thing will happen? Can you picture yourself getting as well known and famous as a Travis Pastrana, Mike Metzger or Brian Deegan?
Guetter: If that happens it happens. To be honest, I’m enjoying the opportunity of getting our sport in the spot light more than anything.
ATV Scene: Any last words?
Guetter: Well first off I’d like to thank Wes Miller and Sean Sermini for setting things up and making this all possible. I’d also like to thank John Pellan and Ryan Barnes; I won’t forget what you guys did for me a few years ago. I think if it wasn’t’t for you two convincing Wes to let me ride in that invitational Division Four Quad FMX contest in Bardstown, KY — I probably wouldn’t’t be where I am today. Bardstown is definitely where I got noticed and got my start, and I wont forget it. Big thanks goes out to all my sponsors: H-Bomb Films, Division Four, Yamaha, IMS, Roll Design, Denton Racing, Temecula Motorsports, Giant RV, Weekend Warrior Trailers, SHIFT, Black Fly’s, DVS Shoes and Fox. Special thanks to Snow Valley for giving me a place to flip, Nick from Snow Valley for all the help, Angie for always encouraging me, Mike Deezel for keeping my ass motivated, my bro’s Derek and Dan, my sister Jamie and of course my mom and dad; Clete and Tami Guetter.
