Ron Stebenne’s 6th grade students, Dennis Langlais and Darren Prescott, introduced him to bicycle freestyle. This introduction became a 40+ year journey into private business and social service. Because of action sports, he created Freestyle promotions and promoted/managed BMX Freestyle athletes for various brands like Mt. Dew/Pepsi, GT, Hutch, Haro Bikes, Converse and more. He connected these athletes to opportunities in regional and national events, TV commercials/shows, and live shows with Ringling Brothers, Sea World, Vegas venues, and shows overseas. He, himself, has appeared on regional and national TV shows in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Ron became the U.S. voice at the BMX Beat TV shows, hosting and commentating with Andy Ruffle for the prestigious 1987 BMX Beat Tizer World Freestyle Championships—a landmark four-part television series that brought British freestyle action to audiences worldwide. His knack for capturing the energy and artistry of the sport, combined with his deep understanding of team dynamics and athlete development, set him apart as more than just a promoter. He understood the brotherhood underneath the tricks, the discipline beneath the style.
He became instrumental in organizing some of the decade's most pivotal competitions, including AFA Masters in Fitchburg MA and Manchester NH in in the mid/late 80's—such events helped crystallize freestyle as a legitimate competitive discipline for youth, their parents, and brands. His work with the Mountain Dew and GT Trick Teams positioned him at the center of the scene during a transformative moment, giving him ringside access to legends like Dennis McCoy, Mike Dominguez, and Hugo Gonzales as they pushed the boundaries of what was possible on two wheels.
While living in California, Ron used his action sports background experience to create a powerful outreach in youth ministry by building a skatepark at a San Diego church resulting in expanding this church’s youth ministry with over 1000 skaters becoming members of the ‘Holy Chaos Skate Club’. This skate ministry led to an opportunity for him to co-found a skateboard company based in southern California that specializes in eco-friendly materials. His skateboarding background led to a contract with the City of Kennesaw GA, his current home, to successfully create a world class skatepark in coordination with skate pro/celebrity, Rob Dyrdek.
Today, Ron continues to have a strong interest in action sports, but his passion is working with underserved teens and young adults in a group foster home in Georgia where he is the Secondary Education and Careers/Employment Specialist.
Alongside this career and under Freestyle Promotions Inc., he works nationally and internationally as a Strategic Partnership Consultant in the areas of esports, film, action sports, youth sports, motorsports, golf, youth program and nonprofit development, and more. Ron is a self-proclaimed ‘puzzle-builder’ and enjoys connecting resources to create win-win situations that have social value and improve the lives of others.
More information about Ron’s action sports history may be found in The Birth of the BMX Freestyle Movement – The Global Edition by Dominic Phipps or the film A Wicked Ride by Scott Moroney as well as various YouTube shows. Freestyle Promotions Inc. - Consulting, Program Development - Ron Stebenne | LinkedIn