It’s 11 pm on a Thursday, the blue BMW Pitufo 240i is flying down Via Las Palmas at 160 km/h along with other high-speed cars. Suddenly, the back wheels lose traction in a sharp curve and slide sideways. The adrenaline was incredible, something most of us might never experience. But for some TCS students, it is just another night of tostadas, drifting on Palmas.

Many students have uncommon hobbies that many people do not know about or even want to try. Three of them are Maximiliano Lopez, Manuel Torres, and Joaquin Jaramillo. These hobbies are either new or sports their parents have taught them since childhood.

Dirt Bike Mania

Joaquin Jaramillo, Grade 10, enjoys mountain hill climbs on dirt bikes. This hobby is not the usual MX motocross riding but is much more difficult and dangerous. This hobby consists of trying to climb a very steep hill full of rocks, dirt, branches, and all types of natural objects; on a dirtbike.

His father has ridden bikes all his life and since Jaramillo was little his dad has supported him in riding dirt bikes and teaching him. Jaramillo started riding when he was 7 years old and has had many accidents. Even though he has broken some bones, he says he wouldn’t change his sport for anything. The adrenaline rush is unique and gives him that excitement.

Jaramillo has a hard time finding places where he can practice his hobby, as he only trains on his farm in Manizales which he only goes to twice a month, and where there are tons of hills he can climb. Jaramillo also rides his dirtbike in Medellin at motocross tracks, but he argues that this is nothing like his farm, although it helps him to get more used to his bike and get a better grip on it.

“I have broke two ribs, the collar bone three times, and my leg. but I will never leave this sport behind,” Jaramillo said.

Riding the Waves

Another student with a unique hobby is Manuel Torres, Grade 10. While this hobby is not as dangerous, wake surfing is a quite new sport. Torres has become an incredible wake surfer and has competed in the Junior World Cup in Dubai. He started 8 years ago during a summer break with some friends after watching another rider make a huge jump, and after that, he decided that he liked it. He started practicing every weekday for 4  years and a coach told him he was doing great and had to do more tournaments. After some contests, he qualified for the Junior World Cup. He finished 13th place out of 30 other athletes.

“I haven’t practiced for a while now because of the pandemic and school but I’m planning to resume and train every day again so I can participate in the World Cup again,” Torres said.

Not just drifting along

Maximiliano Lopez, Grade 11, has entered the drifting world. He is the only student in TCS known to practice this hobby or sport. 6 months ago his dad bought a new car, a blue BMW 240i. Maxi became interested in drifting after watching his idol, Gregorio Betancur, a well-known drifter, in YouTube videos. He has already had 2 minor crashes,  but this has not stopped him from going for his dream of becoming a professional drifter.

It takes a lot to practice drifting. First of all, you need a rear-wheel drive car and a fearless heart. Once you have both, be sure to turn off the traction control if you have one. Then when approaching a turn, make a very intense turn making the rear wheels lose traction and rapidly turn again the other way so you can control the car. After that, to maintain the drift,  use the gas pedal to make the rear wheels spin more and have less traction.

“Tuesdays and Thursdays I go out during the night at approximately 10 p.m so there are not so many cars and I can learn without putting anyone else in danger. It helps me forget all my problems and it’s the adrenaline that nothing else gives me. So I hope I get better with time and hope I get my parents to look after me and help me get deeper in the drifting world,” Lopez said.

All three of these extraordinary hobbies contain an element of danger. These three daredevils and trying new things, always searching to push the envelope and themselves but always in a safe way.

“I have always been a person who likes extraordinary things. I don’t like being ordinary and doing simple things, and that is why extreme sports have been a very big part of my life,” Torres said.