If you have been following this blog or our Facebook, Instagram or YouTube you probably noticed that lately the flow of new content has all but stopped. Well, that's because I have been working on something new. I'm ready to let you in on my most recent project. This Blog was initially launched to share the history of Chaos on Wheels, so, I think it is only right to begin this blog post about the future by taking a look at the past.
In 1996 I had this idea to open an indoor bike park where I grew up in Southern Minnesota, I spent significant time planning and dreaming, but at the end of the day nobody was willing to financially back a 20 year old with no college education, no cash and no experience. So, Chaos on Wheels developed into a touring BMX stunt team. We spent the next 10 years touring North America and doing bicycle stunt shows and sharing the Good News of Jesus at county fairs and town celebrations, in church parking lots, at music festivals and all kinds of other events. That is probably what Chaos on Wheels is most known for.
During those years of touring the desire to see spots for bike riders to hit some ramps never went away. We spent time helping ministries develop action sports programs, we helped municipalities design and build skateparks and of course there were the backyard ramps that popped up at my house every spring as well as at Frank Stewart's house. The decade of full time touring was great, but in 2006 I was invited to move the home base of Chaos on Wheels from Manly, IA to Joplin, MO and to join the team at Bridge Ministries as the director of Autumn Ramp Park.
So, in 2006 we moved to Joplin and I took over operations of Autumn Ramp Park. For the Grand Opening of Autumn Ramp Park we hosted the first JoMoPro Skate and BMX contest. Over the next few years JoMoPro would grow into one of the most anticipated BMX contests in the world. Autumn Ramp Park also grew in recognition as one of the premiere skateparks in the United States.
The opportunity to be involved with Autumn Ramp Park seemed to be the answer to the dream I had 10 years earlier in Southern Minnesota. But, then something happened that not only turned my life upside down, but really changed Joplin as a whole.
The tornado that tore through Joplin in May of 2011 was hard in so many ways for so many people. Just like most of the citizens of Joplin, life was changed forever. That season was difficult for our family for a number of reasons and by the end of 2012 it became evident that for the good of my family I need to leave my position at the Bridge Ministries and Autumn Ramp Park. I believe God told me to quit and to wait for what He had planned next.
I waited for a few months and then in early 2013 I was asked to come on as a full time staff member at the church we were attending and I accepted. That is where I have been for the past 10 years. Being on staff and eventually becoming an Elder at Christ's Church of Joplin has been good for me and our family. God has taught me all kinds of things, He has matured me and He has provided for us. I can't imagine being part of another church family. But, I do believe that God is once again calling me to take a step of faith into another season.
After the craziness that was 2020 I began feeling drawn back into the BMX world. Then slowly people from those years in the BMX scene started reaching out to me and it was good to reconnect. As those relationships have continued to grow I have felt the desire to revisit that original dream from 1996, this time with a whole lot of experience and a refined business plan. Here we are at the end of this blog post and here is the big announcement, over the next 6 weeks or so I will be finalizing a business plan, securing a location and raising the necessary startup capital to open an indoor bike park in Southwest Missouri. The details are still a little fuzzy, so I'm going to hold off on saying too much right now. What I can say is that in order for this thing to work I'm going to need your help.
If you were once impacted by a Chaos on Wheels show, if you grew up at Autumn and remember how good it was to have a place that felt like "home", if you are now wishing you had a place to ride your bike when it rains or is too cold or too hot (face it Missouri weather is crazy), or maybe you are just someone who can see value in providing safe space for young people and families to gather then I need your help.
Here are three ways you can help:
Share this news. "Follow", "Like", "Subscribe" to our social media and then share it with your friends.
Offer your feedback, suggestions and ideas. I'd love to hear what features you would want to see in an indoor action sports facility.
Support the effort. In the coming weeks there are going to opportunities to offer financial support through limited edition t-shirts, pre-sale of memberships and just straight up donations.
Thank you and stay tuned for more updates!
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