DONALD BOWERS | GETTY IMAGES BMX rider Scotty Cranmer racked up 35,000 frequent flyer miles last year traveling to compete. That’s a lot of mileage.

At the age of 20, Scotty Cranmer already is a veteran in the sport of BMX freestyling. For the past decade, Cranmer has made a living on the BMX freestyle scene, a division in which riders perform tricks and stunts. Along the way, he has accumulated quite a few accolades, including an X Games gold medal in 2006 and silver medals in 2005 and 2007. Cranmer is bringing some friends to South Park Mall on Saturday, Sept. 29, as part of the X Games Super Freestyle Tour, an event that will feature some of the top action-sports competitors performing a variety of stunts. The stop in San Antonio will feature four 20-minute shows, with autograph sessions with the participants following the first three shows. Before he leads the tour to San Antonio, Cranmer talked about the feeling of winning an X Games gold medal, his career and the many injuries he has sustained along the way.
 

Did you ever think you'd be a veteran of any sport by the age of 20?
No, I never thought I'd be considered one of the guys in BMX by then. It's pretty crazy, but it's amazing, a dream come true. But I don't take it for granted.

When did you take a real interest in bike riding?
I was in kindergarten playing around in the neighborhood, doing stuff, jumping off curbs. I met another kid, a really cool kid, and he had a really nice bike. He had jumps set up in his backyard. He was just the man, so we started hanging out. I looked up to him, and I started racing.

What was your first stunt?
The first trick I did was in the neighborhood off the curb. I did a one-hander, and I fell doing it. But I tried it again and kept on practicing.

How did you feel when you won your X Games gold medal?
I never thought I'd get that far, and it was beyond words, really. It's the best you can do in your sport.

Is winning an X Games gold medal the pinnacle of your particular sport?
It's one of the pinnacles, you could say. To be known outside of your sport, the X Games is the biggest thing, and it's cool to be able to do that. But we're also doing parks, videos and magazines, and those are also pinnacles of our sport.

Why are X Games style sports blowing up so big?
It's just a fun thing to do. Kids are sick of playing basketball and baseball. Those are all great sports, don't get me wrong, but they're not for everybody. That's how I got into this. I had a lot more fun on my bike than I did playing baseball. At one point, my mom said I had a decision to make: football or my bike. I chose to ride my bike, and here we are now.

It seems that X Games style sports have also attracted quite a bit of corporate interest.
Definitely. I do make money off the bike, and I have a whole bunch of great sponsors. From bike companies to cell phone companies and energy drinks, it's crazy how much corporate sponsors get into it. It lets me do something I love and make money.

You were once sponsored by Tylenol. Is there a more fitting sponsor for a risky sport like BMX freestyling?
Yeah, it's the perfect sport to be sponsored by Tylenol. It makes a lot of sense.

What's the worst injury you've ever sustained?
I've been knocked about 12 or 13 times, lost four front teeth, broken my leg twice, broke my foot, hand, nose, endless stitches.

Is there any way to get used to that?
That's just a bump in the road of riding. I have fun doing it.

CLINT HALE | 210SA