Kids meet their Nitro Circus BMX idol

Young fans: Cooper Jackson-Rowe, Flynn Whitaker, Deacon Cox, Dexter Lock, Jed Mildon, Kyan Cox and Jackson Hawson-Baldwin.

Nitro Circus BMZ star Jed "The Warrior" Mildon performed the world's first quadruple backflip in 2015, and he was in New Plymouth last week to talk to some young fans and show off his skills ahead of Nitro Circus' visit to the region next month.

Jed spent time at the East End Skate Park showing youngsters some tricks and signing plenty of autographs.

"I like watching him do tricks and think he is the best in New Zealand," nine-year-old Jackson Hawson-Baldwin says. Meeting Jed was a great chance to learn from the best. Jed himself wasn't into BMZ bikes as young as Jackson.

Jed "The Warrior" Mildon shows a trick to some young fans.

"I actually didn't get into it until I was 14. I had a mountain bike before then but didn't know BMX was a sport before. I started pursuing it properly when I was 15."

I never thought I would be able to make an entire career out of doing what I love.

As the eldest of six, Jed says his mother didn't have time to worry about him getting hurt on his bike.

"Nowadays I tend not tell Mum about ticks I am trying. I did call her once I did the quad backflip though."

He had already told her he was planning it "and she told me she didn't want to hear about it, so the next time we talked about it was when I called to say I had been successful". Touring with Nitro Circus is an absolute dream come true says Jed.

"I never thought I would be able to make an entire career out of doing what I love. Originally I worked for nine months each year to get enough money to take three months off and spend it on BMX stuff. Now I am working all year, doing what I used to do for my holiday." Getting more kids into the sport is something Jed is passionate about.

Find your passion and find a way to bring that into your everyday life, make life and work fun for yourself. Don't let someone tell you you can't do something - get out there and do it.

"I'm not saying it has to be a career choice for everyone, but give it a go. It's a great sport, whether you do it on weekends and just for fun, or end up touring the world with it."

Whatever kids end up doing, Jed wants them to find something they are passionate about.

"Find your passion and find a way to bring that into your everyday life, make life and work fun for yourself. Don't let someone tell you you can't do something - get out there and do it."

About 6000 tickets have been sold for the Nitro Circus event at Yarrow Stadium and New Plymouth District Council event venues manager Ron Murray says the fixture helped attract visitors to the city.

"We know this event is going to bring a lot of action, excitement and thrill for the community, which we can't wait to be a part of. The positive economic impact of events is huge, especially international events with the profile of Nitro Circus."

Jed and the Nitro Circus crew will be at Yarrow Stadium on Sunday, February 12 at 6pm. (Gates open 5pm). Tickets from www.ticketek.co.nz
See the print edition of this week's Stratford Press for details on how to enter to win a double pass to the show.