Jeremy VanSchoonhoven

Stunt Bike Rider

Talent, Oregon

BIO

Jeremy was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1982. While growing up, Jeremy's parents were on the road a lot. They lived out of a van and travel trailer. In 1989, Jeremy and his parents finally ended up in Southern Oregon, where they lived in an army tent for a little over three years. Jeremy and his brother were home schooled. To ensure that they had a P.E. class, they both started riding bikes. Jeremy and his brother both started racing, and did very well. He started his Bike Trials career in 1996, attending two or three competitions. In 1997, Jeremy rode in the expert division, attended the National Championship Series, and won the amateur division. He was asked to move up to the pro division, thus becoming the youngest professional trials rider in the history of U.S. cycling. In 1998/1999, he won the Junior National Championship and took third in the Professional Men's National Championship. He attended the 1999 World Championship, took 10th place, and was the top American rider. Since then, Jeremy has attended six World Championships and won five National Championships. Sadly, Observed Trials riding does not pay like other sports. Even as the top rider in the U.S., there's no compensation for competing. Jeremy quit riding for two years and took a job at a machine shop, also shoeing horses on the side. Today he's a full-time horseshoer, having quit his machine shop job to train for America's Got Talent.