Mad-dison Has Vegas And Kiama Riding High

Illawarra Mercury

Friday January 2, 2009

By KATELIN McINERNEY

THE tears and champagne flowed freely at Kiama Golf Club yesterday afternoon as Robbie Maddison's friends and family celebrated the 27-year-old's death-defying leap into the history books.

Beers were stopped mid-pull, conversations halted and all eyes turned to the TV screen as Maddison leapt the seemly impossible 10-storey distance to make a perfect landing atop the replica Arc de Triomphe - then confidently jumped his bike straight onto a ramp waiting more than 30m below.

The crowd erupted and both Debbie and Peter Maddison burst into relieved tears as their son touched down.

"I had pins and needles in my hands ... I just couldn't move at all," Debbie said.

"He has been working on this jump for months, and worked it all out, where he had to land at what speed, himself ... but you just never know what is going to happen."

The Kiama Downs native phoned his parents the morning before his jump to thank them and tell them he loved them both.

"We really wanted to be over there, but we didn't want him to be worrying about where we were when he needed to focus," Debbie said.

Maddison received a deep cut to his left hand as he landed the drop from the arch and sent his home crowd into gales of laughter when he waved away medical attention with a flippant "I'm fine, I'm fine".

Debbie said broken bones and stitches were just part of life raising a professional daredevil.

"Robbie heals pretty fast," she said with a laugh.

"But I don't like all the dramatics they (the commentators) put on beforehand about what will happen if he doesn't make it ... (his fiancee) Amy (Saunders) and parents and friends don't want to have to think about that."

For Maddison's dad Peter, the tension of the days leading up to the jump had taken their toll and he was looking forward to properly welcoming in the New Year.

"As a rider myself, I'd back his skills every time, but as a dad, you worry," he said.

As proof his superstar status and high-flying achievements didn't go to his head, Maddison was quickly on the phone to his mum and his older sister Jane.

ONLINE VIDEO

Check out Robbie's history-making Las Vegas jump

illawarramercury.com.au

© 2009 Illawarra Mercury

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