Kriss Kyle is a professional BMX athlete from Scotland. BMX races are exciting because they take place off paved roads. The cyclists must deal with sand, rocks, and mud. That was not thrilling enough for Mr Kyle. He did not just want to ride off-road. He wanted to go off-ground.
Earlier this year, he got on a hot air balloon with his trusty BMX bike. Besides the basket that held Kyle and his crew, the giant balloon also lifted a specially made BMX bowl. At 610m above Earth and in freezing temperatures, he descended from the basket and got onto his BMX. He rode his bike in the bowl, performing his stunts flawlessly in the sky.
You would never have guessed that Mr Kyle has a fear of heights. He said, “I’ve been dreaming of this project for so long, but the height factor has always felt like a massive weight on my mind.”
“I’ve had to push past my fears several times before, but nothing has compared to this. Having to climb over the edge of the basket to get down to the skatepark underneath was such a crazy experience. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the help and encouragement of my friends.”
The photos below show Mr Kyle doing what he does best, in the sky.
— By NG SOCK LING
VOCAB BUILDER
flawlessly (say “floh-les-lee”; adverb) = perfectly.
aerodynamic (say “ae-ro-dai-nae-mik”; adjective) = having a shape that reduces drag when moving
through air.
FALLEN LETTERS PUZZLE
On the left is a phrase with six words. The letters fell from their boxes. Fortunately, the letters landed directly below their boxes. Put the letters back on the board in the correct order to rebuild the phrase. One word has already been done for you.
Another hint: the literal meaning of the phrase refers to something that Kriss Kyle does not like to do.
Metaphorically, it means being realistic and practical. This is how the expression is used: “Your dream of winning the World Cup is completely unrealistic! ______ ______ ______ ______ THE ______!”
Good luck! (The answer is on the back page.)