FORT WALTON BEACH — Texas resident Kevin Briggs has spent the last several months gearing up for this weekend’s Emerald Coast Motorcycle Challenge Rodeo and Skills Training.
Briggs says the passion for riding made the trip to Florida worth it.
“You can have the absolute worst day and when you get on the bike, and even if there’s nuclear bombs going off I don’t care,” Briggs said Friday morning at Choctawhatchee High School. “With this, there’s really a lot of effort into trying to move a 900-pound motorcycle around tight corners. It shows skills.”
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Briggs was one of a number of motorcyclists who traveled to the Emerald Coast for the rodeo. They included civilians as well as representatives from several law enforcement agencies from across the country.
The rodeo is a two-day event hosted by the Emerald Coast Blue Nights, a motorcycle club made up of local law officers. It is designed as a public service to promote motorcycle safety.
“This group promotes community relations through motorcycle riding,” said Fred Lithgow, organizer of the event. “Riding is hard to describe. It’s like the ultimate convertible.”
Proceeds from the rodeo will benefit the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center.
Cyclists took turns testing their riding precision during Friday morning’s competition. Orange cones were set up with cut tennis balls sitting on top of them so judges could tell whether a rider hit the cones.
But riding is about more than negotiating a course.
“We promote riding as hard and safe as we can,” said Scott Overstreet, a trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol. “When you’re on your bike you forget about everything but the beautiful scenery.
“There’s a sense of freedom that it brings, and everyone here has that same passion.”
CHECK IT OUT: The Motorcycle Challenge Rodeo and Skills Training continues from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Choctawhatchee High School.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.