Cochrane’s own Cody Matechuk was back in action at this year’s Calgary Stampede, performing jaw-dropping motocross stunts for tens of thousands of fans, but this time, with a brand-new twist.
Matechuk, a seasoned freestyle motocross rider, returned to the Stampede for his third year, pulling double duty across both the Midway and the Grandstand shows. He estimates he took part in around 45 Midway shows over the course of the 10-day event, in addition to nightly performances at the Grandstand.
“It’s a lot of riding,” said Matechuk. “But it’s great coming in with some experience. We had five riders at the Midway, and two of us were also bouncing back and forth to the Grandstand.”
What made this year stand out was Matechuk’s debut on a quad, a completely new challenge for the motocross veteran. Until this spring, he had never performed a quad freestyle show.
“There really aren’t many quad riders in North America,” he said. “My boss asked around if anyone wanted to learn, and I put my hand up. I just started riding one in April.”
Performing tricks on four wheels instead of two meant starting nearly from scratch, but Matechuk embraced the challenge. He said the key was adapting his body positioning and learning the unique characteristics of the machine, which is heavier and less powerful than his usual dirt bike.
After weeks of preparation, including four rounds of suspension tuning, Matechuk debuted his new skills in front of nearly 20,000 spectators at the Grandstand show.
Despite the massive crowds, nerves don’t usually hit him because of the audience.
“It’s more about the activity itself. We’re so focused on what we’re doing that the crowd kind of disappears. But being able to ride in front of that many people is such a cool opportunity. We got standing ovations most nights, which was really special.”
With Stampede wrapped up, there’s no slowing down. Matechuk is jumping straight into a busy summer schedule that includes filming a commercial for Alberta Tourism and upcoming shows in Edmonton and Calgary with Monster Jam. He also plans to continue traveling throughout the U.S. for additional events.
As for the quad? He’s hoping it becomes a regular part of his show lineup.
“It’s kind of a new available option,” he said. “When the opportunity comes up, I’ll have it ready.”
RELATED STORIES:
- Cochrane's Cody Matechuk soars to new heights at Calgary Stampede
- Cochrane Snow BikeCross athlete wins gold at X Games
- Cochrane's Cody Matechuk Takes Gold
Though he’s conquered tricks on dirt bikes and now quads, don’t expect to see him trying to add snowmobiles or bulls to his résumé anytime soon, although he did admit to riding bulls back in high school.
“I respect the heck out of the rodeo guys,” he said. “That’s their sandbox. I’m happy staying in mine.”
With another Stampede under his belt and a full calendar ahead, Matechuk is still catching his breath, but grateful for the ride.