Jay Quinlan
SI caught up with freestyle snowmobiling's 25-year-old Godfather, who last week dropped in on The Late Show with David Letterman, performing his trademark backflip on a New York City street. Here's the reaction of the Alaska-born, Red Bull--sponsored rider to a few topics we flipped his way.
New York City: Insane. We couldn't park the buses at the [hotel], so we had to stay on the other side of the Lincoln Tunnel. That was scary.
Letterman: Smart-ass.
Sierra Club: I won't say the first thing that comes to mind. Not helpful.
Red Bull and vodka: Excellent, even though I'm not a fan of Red Bull and vodka.
SI Swimsuit Issue: Awesome. Though I never buy it, I'll read it if it's sitting around.
The Godfather: I don't know where that s--- came from. Maybe because I hung out with motocrosser [Mike (the Godfather)] Metzger a lot.
Motocross versus snowmobile backflip: It's 180. Not even comparable.
Charles and Camilla: Skip that one.
Injuries: Sucks. I've had ongoing stupid problems with my feet. I've fractured my collarbone before, but feet--that's what you ride and walk on.
Iraqi insurgents: What are insurgents?
COLOR PHOTO
ZACK SECKLER/AP (SNOWMOBILE)
SNOW BIZ
Quinlan performed for Letterman on a mountain of powder trucked in from New Hampshire.
COLOR PHOTO
FRANCOIS PORTMANN/RED BULL (INSET)