Backwards Descent at 50 MPH (Balance is Key)

December 8, 2013 by Stephen Auerbach - 8 Comments

Everyone knows that balance in life is key. But this gentlemen from Norway is certainly taking this verity to extremes but in a most inspiring and beautiful and very “hard to believe” way. He’s Eskil Ronningsbakken and this short movie is of Eskil riding 50mph BACKWARDS down one of the great plummeting descents in the world: The Trollstigen Road. That’s right, Eskil is tackling this downhill monster on a bicycle BACKWARDS.

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Eskil’s motto is “Everything in life is a matter of balance,” and he has spent his entire life living on the edge creating art that makes a difference. The goal is not just to leave an imprint on the mind. The goal is to move boundaries, inspire and show humans all over the world that anything is possible.

The Trollstigen Road is a serpentine mountain road in Norway that is a popular tourist attraction due to its steep incline of 9% and eleven hairpin bends up a steep mountainside. The road is narrow with many sharp bends, and although several bends were widened during 2005 to 2012,vehicles over 41 feet long are prohibited from driving the road. Trollstigen was opened on 31 July 1936, by King Haakon VII after eight years of construction. Very cool!

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I for one completely get it, and understand Eskil’s motto about balance. My life has only begun to make sense once the different facets of who I am as a mature man began to come together when I found my soul mate/wife and we started our family. The extremes that I was pulled in for many years began to subside. I was no longer blinded by the passions and energies of youth that could only lead me to an existential cup-de-sac.

Eskil does more than ride backwards. These photos below give a glimpse into this remarkable man’s accomplishments.

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Bravo to the “Guru of Balance” Eskil Ronningsbakken!

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