Freestyle Motorcross rider Jim Bartle has setup camp on Tamborine Mountain - determined to spread the message that changed his life.
When you think of extreme sports like freestyle motocross and freestyle BMX, one of the last things you tend to consider is Christianity.
But to the sportsmen and women who put their life on the line while racing and performing throughout the country, it’s surprising how many say a little faith in God is all they need.
Jim Bartle is the freestyle motocross rider who married these concepts together into JC Epidemic – a Christian organisation that uses freestyle extreme sports to emulate the message of Christ and impact the lives of our nation’s youth.
“This business is the best way to actually get kids to sit down and listen, sometimes we may be representing a Christian message but 80 per cent of the time we are in schools talking about bullying and issues surrounding drug and alcohol abuse,” said Jim.
Through JC Epidemic, Jim takes some of the best riders in the world and stands them in front of kids in a confrontational setting to communicate the effects bullying and the importance of making positive decisions.
Jumping on his first set of wheels at the age of four, Jim was quick to develop an intense passion for motocross entering his first competition in Year 8.
Today, Jim is still a rider on the FMX team but has taken to his new role in management wholeheartedly saying it is now his goal to help pave the pathway for younger riders.
“To get to that next level you have to make the bigger competitions around Australia and internationally so money is a major problem standing in the road of young riders,” he said.
Initially raising funds by selling merchandise during their school-based programs and tours, Jim was quick to seize the opportunity to take the company to the next level by launching the JC Clothing Co.
“It’s amazing you will see guys like Andrew Ahumada from the Nitro Surfers tour wearing our gear, Vince Byron who just won X Games Asia and Tyrone Gilks, one of our FMX riders who just won New Zealand Farm Jam,” he said.
“We’ve just recently set up JC Action Sports which is purely event entertainment,” he said.
Featuring the talents of some of Australia’s most reputable riders, JC Action Sports will be performing freestyle motocross at Mega Church – a citywide event at the Gold Coast Convention Centre on Saturday 21, July.
“It doesn’t matter how naturally talented you are, you will have to experience knock backs, blows and unsuccessful times…getting smashed on the weekend, doing drugs and seeing how many girls you can sleep with doesn’t lead to anything but heartache and heartbreak.”
It seems the message is simple: make the right choices and live the life you deserve.