Scot-Breithaupt-Obituary

Scot Breithaupt

1957 - 2015 (Age 57)

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AGE
57

Obituary

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Scot Alexander Breithaupt, who helped turn BMX bike racing from a backyard backwater into an international action sport, has died, authorities said.

Breithaupt was among the first to organize bicycle races on dirt motorcycle courses in the early 1970s, becoming first a founder of BMX — or bicycle motocross — then a champion, then one of its first famous faces.

"Scot was one of the key figures in making BMX become what it is today. He would say he was the key figure, because that was the kind of guy he was," said Craig Barrette, spokesman for USA BMX, which runs the sport's Hall of Fame, where Breithaupt is enshrined. "He was involved in every aspect of BMX."

The sport, which later took on some of the same high-flying freestyle features as skateboarding, now draws crowds of thousands, fueled by energy-drink company sponsors and featured on ESPN's X Games.

Among its biggest current stars is Jamie Bestwick, a 13-time X Games BMX gold medalist, who was part of a social media outpouring in the action sports world for Breithaupt.

"Sad to read about the passing of one of the all-time greats," Bestwick said on his Twitter and Facebook pages. "Scot Breithaupt thank you for your amazing contributions and dedication to BMX."

Another BMX Hall-of-Famer, Mike King, tweeted that it's a "very sad day in the BMX world."

Breithaupt's death was unexpected, and the circumstances are murky.

Police responding to reports of a body near a shopping center in the desert city of Indio found him dead in a tent at a vacant lot, Sgt. Dan Marshall said Monday. Breithaupt, who was 57 and lived in neighboring La Quinta, had been dead for an unknown time, and there were no obvious signs of foul play, Marshall said. A cause of death had not been determined Monday.

Breithaupt was a teenager and a competitive motocross rider when one day he saw a group of kids riding their bicycles in a dirt lot near his home in Long Beach, Calif. He was inspired to organize bicycle races on a dirt track similar to those used by motocross riders.

"Those were some of the first BMX races ever," Barrette said.

Breithaupt became a BMX rider, winning several championships.

He also became an early voice for the sport, introducing it to the nation as a color commentator in the early 1980s when it was televised on ESPN at a time when the network itself was new and specialized in novelties.

Later, he started manufacturing bikes, founding the company SE Racing and creating several innovative frame designs, Barrette said.

After retiring from active racing, he sold SE and started LM Productions, producing BMX and extreme-sport shows for ESPN and Fox.

___

CHRISTOPHER WEBER, Associated Press


Copyright © 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Guest Book

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Miss you my friend

To one of the true greats, you will be missed. RIP Scot.

It is never easy to lose a love one, I pray you find comfort in God's promise found at John 6:40 which says that soon we will all see our loved ones again. My deepest condolences to your family and friends.

Marlene

Scot was highly valued, greatly admired, and a true inspiration to many. He will be fondly missed, but very much remembered for times to come. Loved ones, please allow the God of comfort to strengthen you during the difficult times ahead. My heartfelt condolences!

One summer,I believe it was in 1969, I visited Scot's family in the Long Beach area for a couple of weeks. Scot was building this mini sized bike. He asked me if I wanted to go for a ride. He wanted to show me how his bike worked. I rode his normarl sized bike. Everything was going well. As we zipped around, I just tried to keep up and do what he was doing. That's when he crossed a street and somehow crouched low and then sailed up and over the curb, landing safe and secure. Not to shy away...

My youngest son who is no longer with us also was a part of the BMX culture, and I saw how he enjoyed it.
My sincere condolence to family and friends. May the promise at psalms 37:9,29 bring comfort to all, knowing that these words will be fulfilled.

a great day with Scot

Goodbye my freind...I will "C YA" on the flipside! Scot will always be remebered by most of us for his generousity, freindship, supportive nature and always treating people as equals! I always looked at him as a genious with a heart of gold. RIP my friend!

My sincere sympathy for your loss. May our Loving Heavenly Father heal your broken heart and be a source of strength and comfort to you during this difficult times.