Spazmanian Stuntz- Stunt Riding Passion (Stunt Rider, Model & Actor) (August 2021)

Issue Six- August 2021:

By Mercedes Barreto

The sense of danger is a serious emotion and a real push for many. What defines danger, may it be a bad or good thing? Alex Smith (Spazmanian Stuntz) shows us that you can work in a profession that you love, even if that passion is a dangerous one. We go over his career as a stunt rider, amongst other things, in this guided article.

What was the overall push that drove you into starting a career in stunt riding? What motivated, or motivates, this thrilling profession?

“I started stunt riding a few years ago, but didn’t turn it into a career until I hit a rough patch with family, and decided to pursue an out-of-the-box career matched with something I love doing. The main things that motivate me to do this profession are goals, the endless doors that can open, and the insane adrenaline rush.

How do I see it? I don’t see it as just doing stoppies, wheelies, or even drifting. I see an outlet to let everything else in life go out the window. For just those few hours, I’m in my paradise.”

If you could describe the daily routine for a stunt rider, what are the types of unseen maneuvers or work tasks, which someone might or might not expect in that line of work? Maybe even in an average working day or environment?

“Every stunt rider is different for routines on a day to day basis; the weather plays a huge factor, but the unseen work tasks, at least for me, would be doing a lot of inspection prior to stunting in the lot or getting permission to stunt on specific lots, and checking for nails, sand, rocks, debris, trash, etc. Pre-trip and post-trip inspections on the bike checking fluids, looking for leaks, checking brakes, tire pressure, etc. Reviewing footage of the stunt session to view my footwork, braking, throttle control, and balance to see where I need to improve on.”

What are the top three craziest or most unusual sets or scenes you have had the privilege of working on as a stunt rider, regardless of the role within the project you played?

“The one that tops the crazy list in my experience is the Hallowheelie ride of 2020. It was maybe 10 degrees outside, sleeting, then started snowing during the stunt session. We all could barely feel our hands, or visors on our helmets kept fogging, including eyeglasses, and it was brutally cold. Now imagine trying to keep balance with your hand on the throttle and your foot on the brake shivering with a bike, while moving and standing in the air.

The second craziest one was my recent trip to Florida, where we did wheelies right next to and over the ocean. One false move and you and the bike are in the water. But the scenery is an amazing sight like no other. You have the palm trees whispering in the shallow wind from the ocean waves, you can smell the saltwater in the air, and hear the waves crashing.

The third would be the time I went to Fort Worth, Texas to stunt ride. There must’ve been easily 300 bikes that showed, but the wildest part was that the people who brought their horses to the ride and actually rode them. That was the very last thing that I expected to see.”