Outdoor Outreach/Metal Mulisha Collaboration

Thirty youth from Outdoor Outreach San Diego recently enjoyed an once-in-a-lifetime experience when they were invited to a private one-hour freestyle motocross (FMX) show featuring Metal Mulisha founder and professional FMX rider Larry Linkogle, Jeremy “Twitch” Steinberg, Bobby Lee, Sean Fogle and Destin Cantrell.

 

“These kids are dealing with some pretty serious hardships and it’s easy to take the wrong path when everything around you seems to be falling apart,” Linkogle says. “I can relate to them as I have dealt with my own struggles. It’s through my experience that I hope I’m able to give back something and give these kids something to look forward to. None of us are perfect. Many of us have been at the lowest of the low and had rough times, so if we can do it, they can do it.”

 

All of the riders performed tricks and flips for the kids at MDP Block, a FMX track built at Linkogle’s home in Temecula. The compound serves as a training ground for young and up and coming FMX riders.  

 

“The kids that came up here to Larry’s compound would have never had this opportunity without his generous support,” notes Joe McLeod, director of operations for Outdoor Outreach. “So what this means to the kids is an opportunity to further reach outside their neighborhoods, outside of their comfort zone, and really experience something that they never have before; something they only get to see on television. This was made possible obviously by Larry and Metal Mulisha and we’re excited to have this opportunity.”

 

After the show, Linkogle and the other riders visited with the kids and posed for autographs while they enjoyed their pizza lunch.  ollowing lunch, Linkogle spoke to the kids about the struggles he and his fellow riders have faced and emphasized the importance to work hard to better their life.  Each child also received a Famous backpack and Metal Mulisha gear.

 

“The kids got to experience things outside of their norm,” McLeod says. “I think what they can take away from an opportunity like this is seeing people who are living their dreams and passions and really following what they want to do and kind of writing their own stories in life. I hope the kids who came out today can take that away from the experience and recognize that they can do anything they want to if they put their minds to it.”

 

Outdoor Outreach empowers at-risk and underprivileged youth to make positive lasting changes in their lives through outdoor activities. Their programs support underserved youth in San Diego County who are at risk for school dropout, substance abuse, violence and unintended pregnancy. It is the only agency in San Diego, and one of just a few in the country, to utilize outdoor physical experiences to provide youth with the support, relationships, resources and opportunities they need to become successful adults. (www.outdooroutreach.org)