If your child comes to you with his desire to pursue a sport, would you deter him or support him? Well, if you are Marvin Padmore, you’d definitely do the latter. For the past six years Marvin has been mentoring and nurturing his son Shamario’s interest in dirt biking.
“I’ve come too far to turn back now,” says Marvin. “As a parent, seeing the enthusiasm of your children’s endeavours, you get to know what’s a one-off thing and what is something they’ll be dedicated to. So I work towards the best of my ability to keep him happy and smiling.”
Shamario has proven to his father and fans of motorcross just how dedicated he is. On any Sunday afternoon, you can spot “Air Shamario” as he’s called, tearing up a hill at more than 80mph, careening off a ramp, outrunning his competition and catching serious big air much to the delight of his fans.
While his father is present at every race, Shamario’s mum, who harbours her own fears of seeing him perform such daredevil stunts, usually opts not to attend, though she will send her support and prayers over the phone.
“She’s still nervous though she would support him,” Marvin says of his wife. “She doesn’t like to see the bikes crowding together or him flying the air. She’s of the opinion that since he’s the smallest in the pack he could get hurt. I tell her that you could get hurt just stepping off the curb or going to catch a bus.”
Marvin, who is his son’s biggest champion doesn’t really worry about Shamario getting hurt.
“Just like in other sports, you have to respect the bike or you’ll get hurt,” Marvin says. “It carries a certain amount of discipline and you can’t be reckless or wild.”
When Shamario started competing in motorcross locally, he was the only black child. But since then, it has peaked interest.
“Since he first started I’ve brought in two other guys,” says Marvin. “My dream is to see more black kids get involved so that people wouldn’t just believe it’s a Caucasian sport.”
Marvin also believes the cost of the sport and the fact that not many black children participate may deter other children from taking it up.
To see the soft-spoken student from Combermere, one wouldn’t think that he’s such an adrenalin junkie. When you see him zipping across the terrain on his bike, you know he’s in command and according to him has found his true calling.
Keeping his son in the sport and competing at the highest level is a costly endeavour. Costs for the uniforms and equipment can spiral to more than $9 000. He is even trying to seek out sponsorship to help offset the costs.
“I feel great to know that my Dad tries his best and works hard to maintain me in a sport that I love,” says Shamario.
Not only is Shamario great at motorcross, but he still makes sure to maintain his studies at school. According to his father, he is a whiz on computers.
“Right now I ride one day a week which is on Sundays,” Shamario says. “When I come home from school I revise my work.”
While Shamario is a serious student, he hopes to become the next Bubba Stewart, the motorcross champion.
“If it’s his dream, then it’s my dream as well,” says Marvin. “I’ll be helping to fulfil it.”
