Hopmaster Martin has still got it at almost 54 - shocked kids can’t believe BMX stuntman’s tricks

Newtownards man Martin Tuson’s wife Margaret thought he was having a mid-life crisis when he took up BMX stunt riding in his late forties.
By Philip Bradfield
Published 27th Mar 2021, 08:00 BST

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But now almost 54 and with some 13 world records under his belt, she realises he is in the sport for the long haul.

Now the fittest and strongest he has ever been, Martin thinks he may retire when he hits 60.

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“But then,” he laughs, “I also thought that I would give it up when I hit 50!”

Martin Tuson, aged 53, travels around schools and youth groups to give demonstrations of his skills. He took the sport up again in 2014 after a 30-year lay off.Martin Tuson, aged 53, travels around schools and youth groups to give demonstrations of his skills. He took the sport up again in 2014 after a 30-year lay off.
Martin Tuson, aged 53, travels around schools and youth groups to give demonstrations of his skills. He took the sport up again in 2014 after a 30-year lay off.

Like may others of his generation, Martin got his first BMX in the 1980s, then aged 15. However, he had not used one for 30 years when he picked it up again in May 2014.

“I had no interest until I saw a guy on television who had been taken into casualty after falling off a BMX. His lung had collapsed and the nurse asked him what he was doing. And he said he fell off his BMX. I looked at my wife and said - that man is crazy at his age riding a BMX.”

In fact the man was the same age as Martin who was almost 47.

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“But then it turned out he was the over-40s British BMX racing champion. And that is how it started, I just couldn’t get it out of my head.”

Ards BMX stuntman Martin Tuson, aged 53, shows off 'The Spiderman' move.Ards BMX stuntman Martin Tuson, aged 53, shows off 'The Spiderman' move.
Ards BMX stuntman Martin Tuson, aged 53, shows off 'The Spiderman' move.

Martin’s day job is a machinist at an aerospace manufacturing company. 

“At first I suffered pain in my wrists as I broke myself in, but my body has adjusted and I am now as fit and strong as I have ever been.”

The only training Martin does is on his bike, usually for two sessions of an hour each.

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He has difficulty remembering all the world records he holds: The most front hops; most back hops; the most front hops on the front pegs, the quickest time to backhop 100 feet; one legged front hops; front hops standing on the frame; the most front hops in 10 seconds (about 48); the most endos in 60 seconds.

BMX stuntman Martin Tuson, aged 53, shows off 'The Spiderman' move. In this photograph he is actually doing a handstand against a wall while using his bike - which is on the ground - for support.BMX stuntman Martin Tuson, aged 53, shows off 'The Spiderman' move. In this photograph he is actually doing a handstand against a wall while using his bike - which is on the ground - for support.
BMX stuntman Martin Tuson, aged 53, shows off 'The Spiderman' move. In this photograph he is actually doing a handstand against a wall while using his bike - which is on the ground - for support.

“It is all basically to do with bouncing tricks.”

One US BMX veteran called him ‘The Hopmaster’ and the nickname has stuck. But that is only half of Martin’s story. Looking back he sees divine inspiration in taking up the sport in his late forties.

“That is the only explanation for being able to do this at my age. I am the fittest and strongest I have ever been.”

One of his records is some 2,000 hops in 48 minutes.

”I use all the different parts of my bike to tell about my faith in my demos - to church youth groups, schools and mens’ groups,” he says. “I have had a lot of parents contacting me asking where to buy bikes and how to get started. Kids are really excited to get involved after seeing me, even kids who might be a bit overweight and have otherwise no interest in exercising.”

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His dream is to start up a school to teach kids. “All I need is a large indoor space”.

Martin is available for bookings via Rock BMX Ministry on Facebook.

:: See Martin in action with his world records by clicking here.

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