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Akraix
/ Can-Am's Derek Guetter - ATV Freestyle
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Fort Campbell, KY (6/10/2009)
- When I left my house early Wednesday morning,
I really didn’t quite know what I was getting
into. My Agent had lined up this event for me
to perform in Fort Campbell Kentucky and told
me they we’re going to take me in Helicopters
and shoot some crazy guns.
The whole event was for the families and soldiers
that have lost their lives fighting for our
country, and it taught kids all kinds of safety
precautions and just have a fun day. I knew
this was going to be an amazing experience,
but I didn’t expect it to get this gnarly.
Now that it’s all said and done, I can
honestly say this whole experience has really
humbled me in my everyday life and after meeting
these brave men and women I feel so honored
that I was a part of it.
I first arrived at the 160th Special Operations
Aviation Regiment (airborne) Thursday around
noon, and I was a day early so they gave me
a private tour of the facilities and walked
me threw some of the helicopters they use in
the field. I was introduced to some of highest
ranking officers and it was really a pleasure
to talk with them and hear their stories. Now
these are the people that we’re in incidents
like the movie “Blackhawk Down”,
just to give you an idea how gnarly these guys
really are.
Unfortunately we were also getting pounded
with rain the entire day, so my chances of riding
were looking very slim. I guess it had been
raining there constantly the week prior so I
was kind of bummed on that.
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Derek Guetter
Meets Former Pro WCW Westler Bill Goldberg
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A handful of celebrities were on hand Friday
to show their support and sign autographs. Former
WCW wrestler Bill Goldberg, Famous car show
host and builder Lu Santiago, Winter X-Games
Gold Medalist Joe Parsons, country star Emma
Jenson, NFL’s Tennessee Titans, and myself
we’re all there to make this event a success.
Although I didn’t get to ride, I had
my ramp and tent setup with 2 display bikes
and had a very presentable autograph booth for
everyone to see. I had some really nice looking
autograph posters to hand out and signed heaps
of them for all the kids!
At 2 o’clock the event came to a close,
and it was time to fire up the massive Chinook
(heli) and take us for a ride. We headed out
over the 103,000 acres and when we arrived to
the range, it was like seeing something straight
from the movies. Blown up tanks, shredded metal,
and the aftermath of gun fire was apparent all
over this open area.
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Derek
Guetter takes flight in a Chinook helicopter
to a target range
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I fired a M4 semi auto, 9mm pistol, .50 cal
sniper rifle that was aimed at a target over
a mile away, and this INSANE mini gun that shoots
3,000 rounds per minute. I’m not really
into guns, but this was just soooo intense.
It’s not every day you get the opportunity
to fire weaponry like this, and it’s definitely
something that I will not soon ever forget.
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Derek Guetter
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There was no way I was going to leave Kentucky
without getting a good shred, so I hauled buns
a few hours north to Pro rider Zac Willetts
house. He’s been racing motocross his
whole life and now concentrates on TT and supermoto.
We found a spot for me to set up my ramp, and
I talked Zac into jumping the ramp for his first
time. He was pretty intimidated, but I was like
his Mr. Miyagi and guided him through and he
handled it like a champ!
It takes a lot of guts to jump as high as we
do, and he was stoked that he didn’t back
down. Needless to say we got an awesome ride
in and got some killer shots!
This Kentucky trip turned out to be a lot
more than I could have ever imagined. It’s
difficult to put into words the feelings and
emotions I was experiencing when meeting these
people and doing the things we did. It was surely
a big reality check for myself, getting to see
firsthand some of the things our soldiers go
through to keep our country safe and retain
our freedoms. T
hank you everyone from the 160th Special Operations
Regiment, and thank you to all men and women
in the service who risk their lives day in and
day out to keep this country safe.
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