T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY Marshalltown High School junior to be Desean Clark pops a wheelie during the Shredder Series BMX event hosted by the nonprofit group Share the Stoke at the 6th Street Skatepark on Sunday afternoon.

The Marshalltown Skatepark just south of the 6th Street Kwik Star filled up with both competitors and spectators on Sunday afternoon as the Iowa-based nonprofit organization Share the Stoke hosted a “Shredder Series” event for BMX bikers looking to pop a wheelie, ride a rail or hit a 360 in the air.

Matt Gerstandt, the owner of Black Tire Bike Company in Marshalltown, served as the announcer, and Sno 2 Go was on hand with cold drinks and cones for the crowd of approximately 30 people.

“We’ve been on a break for a few years on what we called the Skatepark Fest. These guys (Share the Stoke), this is their jam. We are just here, as Black Tire, supporting it, so it’s their organization giving away bikes, supporting some of the kids that may not have bikes and we donated prizes from Black Tire, and we also just support some of the equipment to make this a good, successful event, which I think the turnout’s been great,” Gerstandt said.

Robert Irk serves as the president of Share the Stoke, which was established in 2024 and is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Sunday was his second time visiting Marshalltown after previously visiting to meet some local riders and donate bikes. Like Gerstandt, he was pleasantly surprised by the attendance on Sunday.

“We set goals every year to do more. It all started out in Cedar Falls. They gave us access to a bike park that we built and just moved on from there. Now we just want to hit almost every city we can. Each year, we’re gonna pick more towns to go to and give away more bikes to kids that are in need and raise as much funds as we can and awareness and support of BMX and the next generation by motivating them.”

Competitors came from all over the state, but a few, like MHS junior-to-be Desean Clark, were homegrown talents. Clark said he’s been riding for a little over a year and has become passionate about BMX since then.

“I was on a scooter riding around Marshalltown, and all my friends had bikes. So then I got a bike. And I didn’t really plan to do all this stuff. I was gonna ride around on it, but I don’t know, it kind of just grew on me. I started loving it — the adrenaline, the tricks,” he said.

In one of his final runs on Sunday, Clark, with support from the crowd, unsuccessfully attempted a bar spin, which he hasn’t been able to land yet. But in reflecting on his performance and the event itself afterward, Clark expressed simple gratitude.

“It’s just awesome that they bring events to Marshalltown because I don’t even know how long ago the last event was. It was long. It really just, like, brings everybody together,” he said.

Nick DenHartog, the vice president of Share the Stoke, explained the concept of the Shredder Series and the overriding principle — it’s all about having fun.

“From where we started to where we’re at now, we’re definitely growing in a positive direction. The goal isn’t to become the biggest organization. It’s just to have the most impact for younger kids to get out, be active, have a safe place to ride, and some of these kids don’t have bikes. So what we’re trying to do is give back to those kids in the community,” he said. “Any donations we get stay within the nonprofit, and we use that to buy parts, fix bikes (and) host events like this.”

To learn more about Share the Stoke, visit https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564638511603.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.