Rick Ness has become a fan favorite on the hit Discovery show Gold Rush with his cool persona and signature nose ring. But eagle-eyed viewers have noticed that Rick’s nose looks a bit off-center and crooked. This has sparked rampant speculation among Gold Rush fans about how Rick broke his nose. In this in-depth article, we will separate fact from fiction and finally reveal the full story behind the damage to Rick Ness’ nose.
Rick Ness’ early life and career before joining Gold Rush
Before becoming a reality star on Gold Rush, Rick Ness lived an exciting life of adventure. He grew up in the picturesque countryside of New Zealand. There he worked as a sheep shearer, carefully trimming the wool from sheep using hand shears. This is delicate work requiring precision and skill. Slip-ups can result in cuts and injuries. During his time shearing sheep, Rick had various minor mishaps that left him with an assortment of scars.
In his free time, Rick played rugby, a popular hard-hitting sport in New Zealand. Rugby resulted in its fair share of scrapes and broken noses for Rick over the years.
Eventually, Rick decided to try his hand at gold mining. The thrill of the hunt attracted Rick to swap sheep shearing for prospecting. He traveled across the vast Tasman Sea to the rocky landscapes of Australia. There Rick cut his teeth panning and sluicing for gold and gemstones.
After honing his skills, Rick decided to take a chance on gold mining in the Yukon region of Canada. This turned out to be a wise decision, as it ultimately led to his opportunity to join the cast of the hit Discovery show Gold Rush.
Rick joins up with Parker Schnabel and Gold Rush
Eager for a new challenge, Rick joined seasoned Yukon miner Parker Schnabel’s crew up in the Klondike. Parker had taken over operations on his family’s mine, Big Nugget. This mine would be the setting for Parker’s debut on Gold Rush with his crew, including greenhorn miner Rick Ness.
At first, Rick assisted with day-to-day mining tasks under Parker’s guidance. But before long, Parker rewarded Rick’s hard work by putting him fully in charge of his own team and equipment. Rick proved to be up for the challenge. His gold mining skills and adventurous spirit made him a natural fit for the hit Discovery show.
Parker came to appreciate Rick’s outgoing personality and dogged work ethic. In the following seasons, Rick’s responsibilities and airtime grew. This Australian transplant’s profile was on the rise, much to the delight of Gold Rush fans.
When fans first noticed Rick’s crooked nose
Eagle-eyed Gold Rush fans began commenting on online forums about Rick’s nose looking off-center back in 2018 during the first few episodes he appeared in. Despite his rugged good looks, it was clear even early on that Rick Ness’ nose had a protrusion on one side, giving it a crooked appearance.
Some minor injury likely contributed to the bump on the bridge of his nose. But the full extent of the damage was revealed in later seasons as viewers got more up-close looks at Rick. Speculation ran rampant among fans about how Rick could have sustained such apparent damage. One possible explanation was revealed on an episode showing an accident at the mine site…
The injury that fueled fan theories
In Season 11, eagle-eyed fans noticed Rick get hit in the face while repairing a piece of mining equipment. He accidentally got smacked by a swinging metal part, right on the bridge of his nose.
Fans got a glimpse of blood flowing from Rick’s nose after the accident. At the time, Rick shrugged it off as a minor mishap. But after the episode aired, fans speculated that this incident was the definitive cause of Rick’s crooked nose.
It turned out this was just one of many blows that contributed to Rick’s flawed nose over his adventurous life. The metal equipment to the nose was wasn’t the sole culprit…
Rick’s cryptic responses about his crooked nose
Whenever Rick Ness was directly asked in interviews over the years about his noticeably crooked nose, he tended to be vague in his responses. Here are some of his cryptic answers when questioned about it:
- “I may have bumped it once or twice over the years.”
- “You should see the other guy!”
- “All I know is my nose has taken a beating. Part of the job when you play hard.”
Rick’s cagey answers only fueled fan speculation online about how he could have sustained such obvious damage. Wild theories ranged from bar fights, to rugby injuries, to secret bareknuckle boxing careers. But the full truth is far simpler…
The real story revealed: Numerous breaks over many years
In a 2021 interview, Rick Ness finally came clean about the full history of injuries to his nose after years of speculation. It turns out the crookedness was the result of multiple breaks over time, not one specific incident. Here is what he revealed:
“I’ve actually broken my nose about five times now. The first was back in my rugby days in New Zealand. I took a bad tackle and got a face full of someone’s knees which crunched my nose good. I’ve also broken it a few times on the job while mining over the years. You take hits with heavy gear on, accidents happen. So my nose has just taken a beating over time between sports and work. But I’m not about to have surgery to fix it – this nose has earned its character!”
So there you have it straight from the source – rugby collisions, mining accidents, and general life mishaps all contributed to Rick’s quintessential crooked nose over many years. The equipment hit fans noticed was just one of myriad breaks that added up over time.
Why Rick ultimately got his signature nose ring
After one too many hits and breaks over the years, Rick decided to lean into his flawed nose by getting a signature septum piercing. As he recounted:
“Since my nose was already crooked and misshapen, I figured why not put a ring in it? The nostril ring actually draws attention away from the weird shape and bumps. I think it gives me some personality!”
The nose ring became Rick’s signature look and personal brand. And he has grown so fond and accustomed to it that he can’t picture his face without it:
“I love my nose ring now. It’s part of who I am. I honestly can’t imagine my face without it – it would look naked!”
Rick’s septum piercing remains his trademark as he continues to mine for gold on Gold Rush alongside Parker Schnabel and the rest of the crew. His nose may bear the marks of multiple breaks from his action-packed life. But Rick has embraced this flaw and made it part of his character.
What Rick’s co-stars say about his crooked nose
Rick’s fellow Gold Rush cast mates have also weighed in on his crooked yet iconic nose:
- Parker Schnabel: “That crooked nose on Rick sure has some stories to tell. But it fits his personality.”
- Tony Beets: “Rick’s nose ain’t pretty, but I reckon it matches his unconventional style.”
- Chris Doumitt: “I think Rick should start a crooked nose piercing modeling agency. He could make it work!”
- Monica Beets: “I don’t even notice Rick’s nose is crooked anymore – the ring is what catches your eye now.”
Summary: Rick’s nose tells a story
- Rick Ness’ crooked nose was the result of multiple breaks over his life – from rugby, mining, and other accidents.
- His signature nose ring draws attention away from the crookedness and imperfections.
- Rick has fully embraced his flawed nose as part of his life story and personal image.
- The nose ring is now Rick’s signature look and a fan favorite accessory.
So there you have it – the full truth revealed on how Rick Ness broke his nose thanks to years of rough and tumble adventure. Far from detracting from his appearance, Rick’s crooked honker with its bullring punctuate his bold style and audacious spirit. His battle-scarred schnoz has only added to Rick’s quirky charm and popularity on Gold Rush. It’s part of what makes him a standout fan favorite personality on the hit show.
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