Despite High Flying Stunts BMX Stunt Rider Still Has His Feet Firmly Planted On The Ground
Rider says he is living his dream being part of the team
By Robert Thomas
For 26 year old Spruce Grove, Alberta native Mark Stanway the BMX and MX stunts might look easy but they are well thought out and performed.
Each jump is different and not all of them work out.
“Every trick we do might look flawless but they’re not. We put a lot of hard work and time in learning these tricks and beautiful thing about BMX is it shows. Sometimes you watch us crash. Sometimes we don’t always land it and that shows the battle each day we go through,” Stanway said.
A stunt is being performed on a BMX bike - MJ Independent photo
Stanway is part of three BMX (Bicycle Motorcross) stunt riders who along with three MX (Motocross) stunt riders are performing with Global FMX at the 2024 Moose Jaw Hometown Fair.
“We ride BMX, mountain bike and bicycle performance. We ride all bikes. We do all kinds of stunts from the simple stunts right up to double back flip,” he said.
This isn’t a group of people out on a leisurely family Sunday afternoon bike ride.
Stanway has been doing stunt shows for the last three years in between his stunts as a red seal tradesman (insulator) working in the oil fields. He has been riding as a professional biker since he was 15.
There is lots of flying through the air without riders having their hands on the handlebars - MJ Independent photo
Stanway said he grew up on dirt bikes.
“I always road dirt bikes. I always watched it on YouTube and TV. It was always just those things where every kid rides a bike. Every kid sets up a jump at their house. It just wasn’t enough for me,” he said.
“I needed more and I needed more. Before I knew it I was hitting ramps bigger than my house.”
Although he initially rode dirt bikes Stanway said he moved to BMX bicycle for largely financial reasons.
“Dirt bikes are very expensive and it very hard to come by in Alberta a lot of compounds when I was growing up for me to actually practice. BMX spoke to me because it was easy and not expensive. I bought my first bike with my chore money.”
BMX stunt riding can have a rider literally looking at the world from a different viewpoint - MJ Independent photo
“I could just ride to the (Spruce Grove) skatepark it cost me nothing. It was just me and my bike versus the world,” he said.
From his humble beginnings at Spruce Grove’s Skatepark he ventured to nearby by community’s facilities until he ended up in Edmonton where he met the people who opened that city’s indoor skate park.
His BMX skills flourished.
“I started cycling there until the birth of my daughter which slowed me down quite a bit but I rode there all of the time.”
A sponsorship from the indoor facility allowed Stanway to ride as much as he wanted.
It lead to his going pro and later entering a travel stunt show.
Hanging on by the saddle over 30 feet in the air - MJ Independent photo
“A high flying show with a lot of action. You are going to see a lot of crazy tricks. You know what you might even see some awesome crashes. The beautiful thing about BMX it shows the battle.”
Some times things don’t go as planned and there can be crashes. Although there is a pneumatic landing ramp to absorb and cushion the riders landing injuries can still occur in the sport.
“That’s what makes mountain biking and BMX so worth it because there’s a battle. It’s not easy. If it was easy I wouldn’t do it.”
Stanway has broken bones before - both of his shoulders. He has considered quitting so he never gets injured for the sake of his two young children (a five year old daughter and a year old son).
“It crosses my mind at least once a day about the safety of myself and to provide for them. It’s the number one thing in my mind. But if I quit this what am I teaching them?” he asked.
But despite any misgivings he is living his childhood dream.
“I always dreamed about being in motocross shows. That’s my favourite thing. I actually came and watched Global FMX when I was 11 years old. I still have a signed t-shirt by all of them hanging in my room…for me it’s a dream come true.”
Being part of the team that travels to fairs and other events to perform is a real motivator. Without the entire Global FMX team the dream would not be a reality.
Upside down with no hands - MJ Independent photo
“It’s incredible how they feed off of us the tricks that they do (on motorcycles). And then a lot of tricks we do reflect off of them. We are such a close sports that when you bring us together it’s just an action sports festival,” Stanway said.
He said that people should come out take in the show, watch the stunts and learn more what’s it all about.
“People should come out because we’re just guys having fun. It’s fun to watch,” he said. “All of these kids out here, every one of them has a bike I am sure. And if they don’t have a bike there are scooters there are all kinds of things (they can ride).”
Doing a 360 - MJ Independent photo
Another reason to attend is the next budding star or at least an enthusiast “can convince their parents to buy a bike when they see how possible it is,” he said.
“I was just a kid like them at 11 (years of age) at a Global FMX event and look at me now I’m performing with Global FMX. If there’s a reason to come out the reason is to be inspired.”
Crashes do happen as a BMX rider crashes into the pneumatic landing ramp to cushion the blow - MJ Independent photo
There are six more chances to catch the MX/BMX stunt show at the Moose Jaw Home Town Fair.
Saturday - 2 pm, 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm
Sunday - 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm