That is correct folks, I went on probably the best trip of my life at the end of October. Myself, along with Ian Crocker (swimmer), Megan Jendrick (swimmer), Dave Durante (gymnast) and our lovely friend Michael Fudzinsky (from Octagon) went to Cuba to visit with the troops and do many "firsts" in our lives. First off, the only person I had ever even met before was Dave, but by the time we left our 4 day trip, I considered them all good friends. We had an amazing time snorkling, riding on the "Viper" Coast Guard boat, visiting the "fenceline," and seeing the detainees at the detention center. Seriously, I cannot say all the rad things we did and keep this report short. Most importantly, everyone needs to know that Guantanamo Bay is not even close to what the media portrays it as. There is a whole town, with families and kids and every possible activity you can think of there. And the detainees (who are held aways from the actual city center) are treated way better than most may think they deserve. Great people are protecting our country and handling business in the most humane way possible. One more thing I want to add is I can officially say I've flown an aircraft. Yes ma'am I flew a C-12 Navy aircraft for 10 minutes on the way home from Cuba. I had the headpiece on, sittin' in the cockpit and all that jazz. By the way, the C-12 is like an 8 seater aircraft with no cockpit door and a curtain that hides the hole you poop in. Chill out there are pictures below.
Before I went to Cuba I did a few TV interviews. One of them was for Forbes Sports Money and I guess Shaun White will be on the same episode which is cool and I can't wait to see it. And another I did was for a show called The Real Winning Edge. Such a rad concept of a show
The Real Winning Edge and I believe my episode will air Feb. 21-22 2009.
November 4th I went to the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame banquet in Davis, CA. Got to see BMX's Cheri Elliott get inducted and listened to Levi Leipheimer's key note speech. Thanks to ABA's BA Anderson for that night- we had a good time. A.E.G!
On November 5th I went to visit my old elementary school. I came for the Student of the Month ceremony and it was crazy. Many of these kids wrote me congratulatory letters after the Olympics and I have the letters sitting in my room so when I surprised them last week by visiting it was awesome. I hung out for a bit in their classes and couple hundred of them chased me around the playground on my bike.
Also on Nov. 5th I headed to Vegas for the SEMA auto show. Well, not so much for SEMA as much as it was to hang out with Jason Jones and Kicker Audio. Kicker rocks so much. They put on their Big Air Bash every year during SEMA and this year it was at The Palms and was my first year attending. Monster Energy was present, Travis Pastrana was there, music, FMX riders, it was a kick butt party and I for sure want to attend next year. Oh, and as I was walking in to the Kicker compound, UFC fighter Keith Jardin was standing right next to me. I was psyched enough to introduce myself and we talked for a second. They even had a body guard there for Keith and myself (since I had my medal on me), I politely declined and just told Keith I would just follow him around haha. So I told you how much Kicker rocks right? It's mostly because of their Sports Marketing man Jason Jones. I am so psyched on what he did for me and my girlfriend. He took us to hang out with Travis Pastrana. We saw Travis base jump off the 53th floor of The Palms Place. We stood two feet away as he jumped off the balcony. Not only that, I had a 20 minute convo with Travis about base jumping before that. Seriously, the kid is exactly like you'd think he is. He's goofy, but genuinely nice and I appreciated that. So the following day I had another great day because I went to go see the Blue Man Group (whom ex-Powerlite racer Corky Gainsford is a part of) with Jason and Kenny Bartram! Yes, correct again, that's "Cowboy" Kenny Bartram. Now, that guy is a character, but it's sweet hanging around down-to-earth athletes. Listen for a new Kicker product that'll be hitting Target stores soon.
Next up is the ABA Grands in Tulsa, OK over Thanksgiving then on to 2009 and beyond.
PICTURES BELOW!
Thanks
Donny Robinson
*Overall podium in Frejus, France from 2008 Supercross World Cups. USA SWEEP!*
*First picture in Cuba. They captured me, I'm asking for help. Behind me is an old
camp that's long since been abandoned.*
*That's the gate to Cuba, and here's the crew.*
*I see someone in the distance. I will protect us!*
*Whelp, they drafted us. See you guys in about 4 years.*
*Semi-sexy, poser troop.*
*He told us all the secrets.*
*Hangin' with the boys that do us proud.*
*These were actual boats Cubans used to try and get on the base.*
*Besties.*
*Weapons the detainees made.*
*I told you I flew the plane! We are cruising at 26,000 ft.*
*Go NAVY.*
*I'm tellin' ya that's Cuba. Don't go past that fence.*
*How many carry-ons we get? *
*That's Cuba. That's a minefield. Cubans forgot where they placed the mines, so
don't go out there.*
*Viper boat. Bad boys bad boys whatchya gonna do?...*
*Would you feel protected with us 4 rejects?*
*My elementary school. I ran in the halls, I didn't even care!*
*And this is the beginning of them chasing me.*
*And chasing.*
*Still chasing.*
*And they caught me.*
*Starting to feel claustrophobic guys.*
*My old 5th grade classroom.*
*SEMA.*
*And this is where Pastrana jumped from.*
