Steve Smith is Big in Japan - Video

Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire accounting for 10% of all active volcanoes around the world. Holding the record for the highest number of historically documented eruptions, Japan surely is the Land of Volcanoes where Japanese people have revered, cherished, and lived side-by-side with the volcanoes throughout its history.





The RING OF FIRE project sheds light onto Japan’s unique landscape with the international mountain biker, Steve Smith riding down on the untouched lava dirt of Miyake Island. This was the very first time any public camera has set foot on the volcano after its eruption in 2000.











Created by internationally renowned, downhill mountain biking filmmaker, Clay Porter, the riding clip on Miyake Island unifies the vast beauty and mystique of Miyake Island volcano and the dynamic but meticulous riding of Stevie. The story clip will further dive into Stevie’s adventure in Japan where he meets the far-east on his wheels.

---

Facts on Miyake-jima (Miyake Island)

Of the over 100 active volcanoes across Japan, 13 are considered to have a high possibility of erupting again and are “A rank” volcanoes. One of these is Miyake-jima.

When the volcano on Miyake-jima erupted in the year 2000, the entire population of the island was evacuated and forced to live off-island for 4 and a half years until 2005. Approximately 3000 people have since returned to live on the island and celebrate the 10th anniversary of the lifting of the evacuation order this year. Through steady recovery over the past 10 years, life on Miyake-jima has returned to as it was before the eruption and authorization for the filming of this project was given as part of the local government’s continuing tourism initiatives. This is a record of the first successful summit and filming of the peak approved by Miyake Village since the eruption in 2000.

Miyake-jima is essentially the mouth of a volcano that is 8 kilometers across and begins 400 meters below the surface of the sea. Creating a new caldera for the first time in 2500 years - scars from the powerful 2000 eruption such as masses of lava that reached the coastline and a shrine buried in ash and mud can still easily be found around the island. Even so, surrounded by the ocean and known for its abundant seafood, the island overflows with powerful natural beauty and was once known as the “Hawaii of Japan”.

Stay tuned for more on Stevie's experience at www.redbull.com/ringoffire

#MTB_RINGOFFIRE

---

MENTIONS: @redbullbike / @ClayPorter / @StevieSmithDH / @devinci

---

Posted In:
Videos Red Bull