BMX athletes bring show to Lee Intermediate School

Homepage

Related Photos

Lone Star Action Sports skater Jaren Grob clears Lee Intermediate School vice-principal John Martin and gives him a high five during an exhibition held Monday at the school. Courtesy photo
Lee students enthusiastically greet Grob during Lone Star Action Sports exhibition at Lee Intermediate School. Courtesy photo

Guest Book

October 19, 2012

BMX athletes bring show to Lee Intermediate School

By DELANIA TRIGG, Register Staff Writer Gainesville Daily Register The Daily Register Fri Oct 19, 2012, 08:39 AM CDT

Gainesville — A BMX athlete who grew up riding a bike and honing his skills on the streets of Gainesville is taking his message about drug-free living to schools across the country.

Jon Shaw of Lone Star Action Sports was in town last week to perform for students at Lee Intermediate School in Gainesville.

The thrilling BMX exhibition was designed to highlight individualism and the value of making good choices, Gainesville Independent School District spokesman Chad Henderson said.

“The team uses their talents as a way of conveying the importance of saying “no” to drugs, involving yourself in outdoor activities and making healthy decisions,” Henderson said.

This marks the tenth year Lone Star Action Sports has visited Lee Intermediate School.

“We’ve done Lee School since 2002,” Shaw — who was preparing for an upcoming show in Oklahoma — said. “Basically, we tour all over the U.S., tons of schools. We use our BMX as a tool to pretty much say, ‘Hey, you can live a drug-free lifestyle.”

Shaw said he and his team have been performing for more than 20 years.

The founder of Lone Star Action Sports said his talent for BMX helped shaped his life, and he hopes to be a positive influence on his audiences.

“There’s so many things you can do out there,” he said. “This kept me out of trouble.”

Being a devoted BMX rider in a town where football rules wasn’t easy, Shaw said.

“I was ridiculed for it,” he said. “ I had people throw bottles at me, yell at me. I was always that punk kid on a bike riding behind Geo J. Carroll Funeral Home.”

Lone Star Action Sports exhibitions include in-line skaters and bikers performing jumps and other stunts to music.

The choreographed shows feature stunning aerial work and a “good heavy metal” soundtrack. Shaw’s favorites include older songs from Metallica and selections from Pantera — a Texas heavy metal band with a large local following.

“It’s just a rock and roll show with ramps,” Shaw said.

Lone Star Action Sports also brought its popular BMX show to Depot Days Saturday in downtown Gainesville.

Shaw said in addition to encouraging kids to make good choices, he also hopes to foster tolerance.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” he said. “You can look the part without being the part. We have the long hair, the dreadlocks, the tattoos but we live clean lives.”