The Ultimate Ride: Monster Jam Vancouver

Imagine sitting in an arena eating your cotton candy, watching spellbound as 12,000 pound trucks soar in the air performing backflips and nose wheelers, while you smell the dirt and hear the mammoth engines roar to life. 

Welcome to Monster Jam Vancouver – a roller coaster of a show that engages all of your senses. This Sept. 28 and 29th at the Pacific Coliseum (PNE), be dazzled as shark-finned and dog-eared and zombie-limbed monster trucks careened around a stadium as they soar through the air and crash onto the ground. 

I recently spoke to professional drag racer, Bryce Kenny, aka Great Clips Mohawk Warrior, about his journey into the wild world of Monster Jam.

“Fans love these shows, they go crazy because what we are doing with our trucks really defies the law of physics,” says the 36-year-old married father of three. “They especially love the backflips and nose wheelers, which is when we balance our trucks in the air for 15 to 20 seconds with our back tires right off the ground.”

Ok, so the question begs to be asked … how  does one get into this type of career?

As Kenny laughs, he replies: “I grew up around motorsports and I always loved hearing the fans cheer and driving these huge trucks.” 

In 2016, Kenny ditched his business suit for a custom-fitted fire-resistant protective body suit. After attending Monster Jam University in Chicago … yes, that is a thing … in 2015, he started competing full-time with Monster Jam.

“I was a private equity recruiter but I was driving monster trucks part-time,” Kenny says. “When I was approached by Great Clips to ride professionally,  I didn’t hesistate. It’s the best job in the world.”   

Each time before strapping himself in his monster truck prior to a show, Kenny gives his crew chief a fist-bump, gets down on one knee to pray, before tapping on the truck body twice. 

“The idea of “taming the bull” is very real. When you’re trying to control a truck weighing 12,000 pounds, anything can happen,” says Kenny,, who describes his riding style as “Controlled chaos”. “The feeling after you pull off a stunt that defies physics is unmatched.” 

Since then, he has amassed many accolades, most notably the Guinness World Record title holder and 2024 Extreme Air of the Year award winner. However, Kenny is most proud of winning the 2019 Monster Jam Save of the Year Award.

“It was so incredibly special,” he says. “To pull off the save in Houston that won our team that award was such a combination of luck and skill.”

Catch Kenny and a host of talented, brave drivers Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28 and 29th at the Pacific Coliseum (PNE). Don’t be disappointed, purchase your tickets online at TicketLeader.ca or in-person at the PNE Box Office, 2901 East Hastings St. , Vancouver. For more information, visit MonsterJam.com.