Top 10 Rad Riders of all time

Over the years here at RidersWest, we’ve had the chance to chat with some substantial Rad Riders. We’ve covered everything from dads teaching their kids how to ride, resilient riders overcoming the odds, and even mega stars like Keanu Reeves and Al McBeth—amazingly talented guys fulfilling their need for speed.

So how do we decide which Rad Riders are the best? You already did! These are our most popular and most-read Rad Rider articles that we’ve ever produced. That means you must like ‘em. A lot. So here they are, all in one place. Enjoy!

Nothing bonds father and son like four wheels and a mud puddle

David Lawrence and his son Aiden are mucking it up in Canadian Championship Mud Racing

 

Raising kids is tricky business. Do we push our interests and hobbies on our children or let them figure it out on their own? Perhaps they just need a nudge and they’ll show us which way they want to go. For David Lawrence, introducing his son Aiden to ATVs at a young age has been a wise decision.

This American Rad Rider instructs newbies and performs stunts for leading ladies

RidersEast? Here’s what to expect when motorcycling in America’s Northeast

 

This state-hopping, trail-blazing motorcycle riding instructor didn’t even grow up around motorsports, but that hardly prevented her from her calling.

What is it like to be a powersports dealer?

“I bleed motorsports and enjoy getting others into the fun.” — Dan Militere

 

For many diehard ATVers and snowmobilers, working within the powersports business is an illusive pipe dream. But, for a fortunate few, that aspiration has become a reality.

UTV superstar Al McBeth knows how to hop, skip and jump his Polaris RZR into the record books

Al McBeth sets the bar for reliable UTV products and distance-jumping world records

 

Many extreme riders live life on a razor’s edge. Sometimes, it’s the razor itself that can change a life’s course. For Al McBeth, four-time distance-jumping world record holder from Abbotsford, B.C., the release of the Polaris RZR in 2008 changed everything.

Social media stars Kyle and Cassandra Mainville chronicle their powersports escapades

“I love spending time on the trails with my husband, who very much shares my passion with the sport.” — Cassandra Mainville

 

Many couples have aspirations of outdoor adventures on their powersports together, but the reality doesn’t always match the dream. That’s not the case for Kyle and Cassandra Mainville, however. This husband and wife duo do all things all terrain all together. The Mainvillles have their own website and business, Mainville ATV and Outdoors, and a plethora of social media profiles where they chronicle their escapades.

Disability can’t restrain this axe swinging, derby pounding, dirt bike jumping, snowmobile rescuer

“Motorsports fuel my soul. I don’t often think about the pain I’m in while riding.” — Alysha “Axxe” Vlahovich

 

There aren’t many women who can hit a bullseye with an ax, knock around the competition in roller derby, jump a dirt bike, or rescue injured skiers on a snowmobile. Indeed, Alysha “Axxe” Vlahovich is an exceptional talent.

Raising the next wave of watercross racers

This man is one of the best at his sport, president of the WCWA and his kids are following in his footsteps

 

What do you do once you’ve proven you’re an elite performer at a sport? Most of us will never have a need to answer that question, but for Steve Chestolowski—winner of five Canadian championships in watercross racing—it’s all about passing his skills on to his kids.

Craig Oldfield is Ridin’ Alberta, highlighting which routes to take and essential pit stops to make

“I call this ride and the blog Ridin' Alberta since that is what I set out to do.” — Craig Oldfield

 

When the world shut down in March 2020, many individuals like Craig Oldfield found themselves out of work. Having suddenly lost his contract as a tour guide in the Canadian Rockies because of the pandemic, Oldfield found himself with spare time and an urge to go riding. That’s when he came up with Ridin’ Alberta, a business, Facebook blog and riding group.

Keanu Reeves and his love of motorcycles

Hollywood star Keanu Reeves is a crazy two-wheeled enthusiast who has started up his own motorcycle company

 

If you’re a fan of the movie Speed or The Matrix, it’s quite possible that you are also a fan of Keanu Reeves. This Lebanese-born Canadian actor is also known for his starring roles in Point Break, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and the more recent John Wick.

But what does Keanu Reeves have to do with motorcycles?

A lot, actually. The action hero is an avid rider who’s logged thousands of kilometres behind the bars of his favourite bike, the Norton Commando.

“Riding your bike is one of the greatest things you can do to clear your head and just feel the speed and the motion,” said Reeves.

Quit your job, modify your ride and start a YouTube channel—you can do it!

These two guys combine crazy off-road creations to make a living on YouTube

You know how sometimes you get together with your buddies and say something along the lines of, “Wouldn’t it be crazy if we quit our jobs and did _________ together for a living?” Edwin Olding and Ethan Schlussler followed that thought through to completion by creating their own business. Grind Hard Plumbing Co is a YouTube channel that showcases the wacky, mismatched off-road creations of Olding and Schlussler. A few of their inventions involve putting a Honda dirt bike engine in a toy Power Wheels Ford Mustang Barbie car, chopping up a dirt bike frame to build a snowmobile engine powered off-road scooter and hotwiring an abandoned Toyota Tacoma and turning it into a rock crawler.

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Are you a Rad Rider—someone who shows off their love of riding in a fun, positive way? Do you have photos of you and your buddies riding trails and splashing through mud? Tell us about it! We’d love to hear about your awesome adventures.