Now the stunt-junkie is doing just that, performing to thousands a night in China.
Hunter will return to Zhuhai next week, an hour’s boat ride west of Hong Kong, to perform flips and tricks at the Chime Long International Circus.
"You’re there with Russians, Ukrainians, French people. It holds six to seven thousand people, so it goes to show how big China is to maintain that."
Spectators there watch animal performances involving the likes of lions, monkeys, penguins, horses and goats, no longer used in New Zealand circuses.
His involvement in the show is through Australia-based Freestyle Kings, which is contracted by the circus to provide a squad of motorbike daredevils. Hunter, who took up freestyle motocross when he was 20, said it was a "dream job".
"It’s a passion. I’ll keep doing it until I can’t any more. I never thought I’d be actually running away and joining the circus."
He began at the Chinese circus in October and performed for three and a-half months, before injuring himself during a jump.
"I blew my ankle to bits. I went a little bit long on the last jump one night. But that’s a learning experience and I won’t do that again."
His injury healed and he then spent five weeks travelling the North Island with the Weber Bros Circus, from which he returned this week. The lifestyle meant living in close proximity to others, but it was "what you make it".
Crashes were "just a part of it".
"I don’t know anyone who’s ridden freestyle for their whole career and never had an accident."
Before he left for China, Hunter was a mechanic in Clyde, which is a useful skill in his profession.
He attracted the attention of Freestyle Kings through riding in motocross events, such as the Farm Jam at Otapiri, Southland.
Mother Katy Hunter said it took her time to gather the courage to watch her son ride, but she supported him fully.
"I wasn’t going to be able to stop him.
"I take pictures of him riding. I find it a bit easier to watch through a lens."
