Formed in 2007 by Arjun P.A., team Outlawz is a freestyle stunt riding team from Kozhikode. Within these years, they have performed at various destinations in India. And, the team that consists of six members has over 100 freestyle stunt shows to its credit. For them, their stunt is an art form. They undergo professional training prior to each performance, and have two support staff.
It is their expertise, creativity and passion for the sport have brought them this far. “Safety is the number one concern for us,” says Praneeth Ravi, a member.
Not just performance, they are also into training aspiring motorcyclists. About a year ago, they opened a training school in Bengaluru near Mysore road keeping this in mind.
“The idea behind starting the stunt school is to change public perception about stunt riding. Most people are under the impression that it is not a proper sport. So, we want to prove them wrong,” says Arjun, the founder .
In Bengaluru, they were encouraged by many. “It was also beneficial for us to move to Bengaluru as many of our members had migrated to this city for educational and career-related purposes,” says Praneeth Ravi. “We wanted to do something different, and with this kind of riding being frowned upon in Kerala, we knew the best place was Bengaluru. We didn’t have trainers when we wanted to learn. So, we decided to open this school so that we can train people to perform these stunts safely. We make sure that our riders are well trained before performances,” he adds.
They organise training camps every two-three months in their school. “Stunt riding requires a certain level of commitment and passion, without which one will not be able to feel the thrill of riding,” says Anas, a former member of the team. “I was always very fond of motorbikes and engines. Even as a child, whenever I saw any bike stunts, I would always dream of being one of those riders,” he says.
While Arjun adds, “the kinds of stunts that we perform are not yet legally recognised, so we practise in closed areas, where we do not cause disturbance to the society. However, all our shows are held after acquiring legal permission, in a controlled environment.”
Their most recent show was held last week in Kozhikode.
