“They set up a viewing area in the grass for the children who were able to come outside and a viewing area inside…and then after the show, the kids went back into the hospital, and we did a tour,” Tilton told Maxxis.

Together with other freestyle motocross riders, Tilton and Clowers showed off cool tricks, signed pictures, and gave away lots of great gifts, including lunch pails, DVDs, hats, t-shirts, and stickers. In addition to the swag, what did the children take away from their appearance? “There’s one level of kids who knew who we were, so it was a big day for them. On the other hand, you had kids who weren’t familiar with it, so it was something different for them.”

The two riders are accustomed to staying busy. Through the TNT brand, they perform in around 70 shows per year, all across the country. Their packed schedule includes touring with Red Bull and jumping at national events like the US Open of Surfing. Both riders have impressive records: Clowers took his fourth gold medal in Moto X Step Up at last year’s X Games, and Tilton has numerous podiums to his credit.

While the trip to Loma Linda didn’t net the pair any medals, there were other rewards: “We weren’t there for any other purpose but to put a smile on their face,” Tilton commented afterwards.