Monterey High grad Nick Cunningham has barreled down icy Olympic bobsled runs at speeds that would give Braveheart heartburn.
Ruben Pizzaro has faced down a relentless series of sky-high barriers at Alisal High School to inspire his students to dream—and achieve—big.
(Check out more about the innovative-connective ways of the Salinas Valley Dream Academy with Arvin Temkar's piece, "Alisal High Students Take a Day in Parents’ Shoes.")
Their brave undertakings have earned them a chance for another unique adventure.
Cunningham will blow past his previous speeds in lifting off with the United States Air Force Thunderbirds for a stunt run above Salinas Valley.
Pizzaro, who founded will test all sorts of boundaries of gravity and aerobatics on board with Oracle Challenge pilot/sensei Sean Tucker, a man without peer in the air show community.
The trips come as part of the run-up to this weekend's California International Airshow Salinas.
The general audience airborne action starts at 11am both Saturday and Sunday at Salinas Municipal Airport, 30 Mortensen Ave., Salinas. Tickets run $10-$30.
Also on the bill: Metal Mulisha, C-47 Normandy 70th Anniversary, Liberty Jump Team, Clay Lacy Lear Jet Aerobatics and Vicky Benzing Aerosports.
While Cunningham, himself a sergeant in the New York National Guard and national champion bobsledder, can expect some absurdly fast and close formations from his ride, Pizarro is in for the more rarified treat.
Salinas' own Tucker practices moves others haven't even considered, let alone attempted, and runs through them hundreds of times before he plans on deploying them in front of crowds.
Joel Ede and I learned as much two air shows back: