Mirra Images

From Publishers Weekly
The teenage boys who idolize extreme bicycling superstar Mirra will groove on this desultory and somewhat inarticulate photo-autobiography. Mirra's childhood obsession with bike tricks, indifference to school, unsuitedness for steady work ("by the middle of the third day I'd had enough of someone telling me how to wash cars") and miscellaneous travails ("my girlfriend and I were arguing and it was messing with my head in a big way") will resonate with adolescents. They will thrill as ESPN's decision to televise extreme bike competitions brings Mirra fame, a huge house, and a signature video game. They will thoughtfully appraise the many top five lists-of favorite bands, extreme bike stars, and movies, Schindler's List comes after Caddyshack but tops Rocky IV). And they'll probably understand the unglossed references to such extreme bike maneuvers as the "one-handed, no-footed can-can," the "X-up 180 over the spine" and the "framestand-tweaker-nosepick." (There are hundreds of photos of Mirra riding down staircase railings, pirouetting on ledges and launching off ramps.) Their parents, though, will be suspicious of all the arcana, and Mirra's "five worst injuries" list will confirm their darkest forebodings. For all its gonzo exhibitionism, extreme bicycling is not the most photogenic of sports. Static mid-trick shots of contorted bicycle and flailing rider make for an ungainly image, especially in the dank indoor practice facilities where many of the photos were taken. At their best, some of the pictures-especially the flips, where Mirra appears to be serenely pedaling along, upside-down and 20 feet in the air-have an arresting surreal quality. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Book Description

Since age ten, Dave "Miracle Boy" Mirra has been defying gravity and changing people's minds about what can and can't be done on a bike. But in 1993 he lived up to his nickname in ways that his fans could never have anticipated. Six months after he was injured by a drunk driver and told by his doctors that he would never ride again, he was back on his bike, competing in -- and winning -- high-profile BMX events. Since then he has gone on to win more X Games medals than any other competitor -- in any event -– and has inspired a devoted following always hungry for a new miracle.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Since age ten, Dave "Miracle Boy" Mirra has been defying gravity and changing people's minds about what can and can't be done on a bike. But in 1993 he lived up to his nickname in ways that his fans could never have anticipated. Six months after he was injured by a drunk driver and told by his doctors that he would never ride again, he was back on his bike, competing in — and winning — high-profile BMX events. Since then he has gone on to win more X Games medals than any other competitor — in any event -– and has inspired a devoted following always hungry for a new miracle.

Mirra Images captures all of Dave's most daring and explosive tricks — carving flairs, wallride-to-tailwhips, and his record-setting nineteen-foot air — in stunning color. In addition, Dave delves into his past and his personal photo album to shed light on his rise to the top of the action sports world and reveal a side of himself that has never before been seen. This action-packed photo-autobiography is the first ever look into the life, times, tricks, and bikes of the biggest of all BMX superstars.

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