2009 Gear Fest

Everything from tattoo booths to mini bike demo rides and paddleboats were offered, but the main attraction was the stunt competition. Hyped over loudspeakers from an enormous stage at the center of the action, the riders did their thing-and the crowd never sat down.

Ohio's Starboyz stunt team was hired to coordinate and run the competitions, and they brought along something special-stunt racing. The Stunt Course was a timed event where competitors had to navigate through a series of obstacles, most notably a balance beam and a finish line jump. Some of the riders seemed almost bewildered at the course, but the crowd loved every minute. The high speeds and demanding features of the course got the riders as excited as the audience.

Another innovative competition put a new spin on standard stoppie contests. Instead of the typical event that measures distance from a limited approach, the Starboyz introduced the "Target Stoppie" event; riders had to land their back wheel on a series of marked spots throughout the course. The extra pressure for the riders and increased suspense for spectators guaranteed that Target Stoppie will appear again.

At the conclusion of what seemed to be a successful three-day bike extravaganza it all came crumbling down however. None of the rider payouts were fully awarded, and those crucial to Gear Fest's production were also left empty handed. The promoter claimed that a lower than expected spectator turnout justified his inability to honor the payouts, but that simply resulted in a mob of tattoo artists, riders, DJs and vendors pounding on his office door demanding payment.

Gear Fest seemed like the ideal show; it had a broad appeal to motorcyclists and the general public alike thanks to its numerous amusements and family-friendly atmosphere. It's sad to see a potentially huge step forward for bike shows and the stunt community lose momentum due to greed and poor planning.

Brian Bubash
Pro Freestyle Event Winner
"Gear Fest was a great time. The Starboyz put together a great stunt course that was fast and exciting, as well as a new twist on the stoppie competition that tested all aspects of your game and made it possible for anyone to win.

I had a good time but the promoters burned all the riders on some level, as well as all the other vendors and entertainment."

Scott Caraboolad, Starboyz
Stunt Event Coordinator
"This was one of the best events we've ever put on, but it was all for nothing. There's always drama to ruin the progression..."