Slaw Dog
I’ve you’ve been a long-time follower of Slaw (thanks to all 12 of you), you know Steward Baylor is my favorite rider ever.
Stu is a straight shooter that hauls ass in GNCC and Enduro and adds a certain flair to the series’. He likes ice cream and beer and awesomeness. All things Slaw enjoys.
I didn’t think it was possible, but ole Stu Dog went even further up my list of all-time greats this past weekend at the GNCC opener at Big Buck. Defending champion Ben Kelley won the opener, but another massive storyline was the injury to Stu.
Stu was closing in on second overall late in the race when he had a big crash and sustained broken neck (C7), a concussion, and a broken wrist. Stu even wrote that after the crash he couldn’t feel anything.
“I finally found my flow in the last 2 laps and was able to close in on second overall. A simple line change caused me to hit a hidden stump. I wrecked and immediately couldn’t feel anything… it terrified me, but then I regained consciousness and feeling in my legs.”
Luckily Stu regained feeling and the dude went on to finish the final 8 (!!!!!!!!) miles of the race. Dude is just built different.
Here is what Stu wrote on Instagram. Get well soon, Stu Dog.
I know joking about a broken neck isn’t something that most people joke about, but trying to stay light in a heavy time… I obviously won’t be on the bike for a few weeks with a broken neck (C7), a concussion, and a broken wrist… So, we might as well keep the ball rolling with some good videos!
Today was not my best riding by any means. I was really struggling to figure out half of the track, missed two markers (that I turned around to hit) which forced me to give up major positions. I finally found my flow in the last 2 laps and was able to close in on second overall. A simple line change caused me to hit a hidden stump. I wrecked and immediately couldn’t feel anything… it terrified me, but then I regained consciousness and feeling in my legs. Was able to get back on the bike to finish the final 8 miles of the race. I was definitely sore, blurry visioned, but I knew I could still salvage points and I knew I could never live with myself if I didn’t keep going. Little did I know, that decision was borderline life threatening…
Days like today remind me that God is real. My C7 vertebrae is broken near my artery, but luckily I did no damage to it, even after finishing the race. The doctors were shocked that it didn’t displace with the continued stress that I caused finishing the race. I am very lucky, but definitely still in shock of the events that unfolded in today’s final lap.
Thank you to everyone texting and calling. We can’t get to them all, but we appreciate the support and love all you guys. Huge thanks to @orthodawgsc for coming with me in the ambulance and staying extra to help out in the hospital. A HUGE thank you to our family & friends that stepped up to take care of baby Levi, Ruger, and the motorhome.
We won’t know for certain if we will need surgery until tomorrow, but I’ve been moved to a hospital with a good trauma center and they are taking care of us so far.
Main image: GNCC
