Interview with Jez Avery
Mountain Bike Champion and Motorbike Stuntman Jez Avery has been in the cycling business for more than 25 years, and headlined the evening entertainment on Tuesday. The Daily Joust caught up with him before his performance to talk about his career so far.
As we sat down to chat in the staff canteen, the first thing he did was take a picture of his food. “It’s to remind me to eat better,” he said. “During the season, it seems with every meal I put on weight – so this photo is to force me to think about my food!”
Daily Joust: So how long does the season last then?
Jez Avery: It starts in Easter and lasts until around September. I do about 50 stunt shows in one season, in a variety of places – Skegness, Whitby Regatta most recently – I find that these seaside resorts, when I do my countdowns and whip the crowd up, I just find they shout well.
DJ: So how did you get into this? I mean, when did you start?
JA: I started when I was 11 years old. From 11 to 15, I was a BMX rider. From 20 to 29, I was a professional Mountain Bike Downhill Racer. I got into the stunt business in 1998 when I was approached by the BBC’s “Record Breakers” programme. They asked me to see how far I could go on a mountain bike between two jumps, jump to jump. So, I go down to the studio and it turns out Fiat have provided 5 cars. So I jump 1 car, they set it up again, I jump two, then three, four, five and then 6 cars. I said to the guys, I can probably jump seven cars. So they found from somewhere, I don’t know, a seventh car. And I jumped it. That was a world record and it stands to this day. Seven cars, I was going 30.1 mph. With a 200ft run-up and only my two legs to power me, I’m still quite proud of that.
But those were the days when I looked good in lycra! Now, I’m getting a bit old – greying and putting on weight. So the guys on the cycling circuit, they’ve got a few nicknames for me – “Big Jez” or “Fatboy Avery”. But you know, the big thing isn’t that – it’s that your injuries rise! I’ve got some real lower back problems – I’m not a real stuntman, but not many people can do my jumps.
DJ: What’s the biggest crowd you’ve performed in front of?
JA: Hmm… The biggest crowd would have to be … Bradford’s Odsal Stadium, that was my most recent 10,000 crowd – that was Nov 6 2009. But I’ve just been to Dubai, I spent seven weeks there – 48 shows in 26 days!
DJ: So do you invent any of your own tricks?
JA: About one or two of my stunts are my own creation – I’ve got the “Switzerland Squeaker” – you do a front wheelie backwards, using your left foot on the tyre and applying the front brake.
DJ: Have you done any weird stunts – you know, something out of the ordinary?
JA: Well, nothing too unusual. I’d probably say – I did a stunt for a TV programme called “You Bet”, and we were on the Women’s Olympic ski jump course in Lillehammer in the snow. I raced a skier down the course – I was winning up until the end climb, and then he just came through. But I got beaten by only 4.5 seconds – over a mile course, that’s barely anything.
DJ: So how many bones have you broken? What’s your longest hospital stint?
JA: Let’s see, my right collarbone, four ribs, both wrists, my left ankle – twice – I’ve had concussion three times and I have no memories whatsoever of 2002. People come up to me and say “that show you did back in 2002 was amazing at such and such” and I just have to take their word for it. But as for the hospital stint, well, I went in at 1pm for an operation and was discharged about the same time next day – so that’s 24 hours. Suprisingly short, I guess.
DJ: Do you have a hero or some sort of inspiration as a kid?
JA: In the 1980s, when I was a kid, I watched loads of Evel Knievel – what he did on such big, heavy motorbikes, on such dodgy ramps – when he pulled them off, no-one could touch him. Also Eddie Kidd – he’s in a wheelchair now, with brain damage, very slow speaker, like he’s had a stroke, but he was a real pioneer in motorbiking, so I look up to him and respect him enormously. The other one I would say is Burt Reynolds, and his film stunts. Movies like “Smokie and the Bandit” or “Hooper” – I’m not sure those are around any more – but when I do my shows, I try to replicate his style. You know, he’d have a laugh after the show, take the mick out of himself, have a laugh with his mates down the bar – stay human.
DJ: You mentioned the BBC chose you because of your downhill achievements – what would you say are your highlights?
JA: In 1998, when I walked away from my downhill career, I was the reigning UK Downhill Slalom Champion, I’d won some MBUK awards for Lake-Jumping, and also I had been voted Mountain Bike Personality of the Year by my peers.
DJ: Do you have any advice for the next Jez Avery?
JA: Always practice lots, start on small jumps and work your way up. Don’t go past your limits, and listen to your doctors – they do know best. Also when you go on your bike wear a helmet and visible gear. When you’re young you think you’ll live forever – but you don’t, and if you don’t play smart, you just won’t last that long. I know that!
