A day at the Ex is more than just rides and waffle ice cream sandwiches. It’s a carnival complete with kooky characters and awe-inspiring stunt teams. These five authentic performers are bringing back that daredevil edge to the fair this Aug. 19 to Sept. 5.

Parkour
Dan Iaboni, stunt co-ordinator

When did you first try parkour?
Fifteen years ago. In 2001 I saw a video and it inspired me to start. First time at the CNE? Second time. It was a blast last year. The stage was one of the biggest we’ve had.

What is the craziest jump you’ve ever attempted?
For a television show, I got to use my parkour skills to jump off a three-storey building into some boxes.

Any parkour-related injuries?
Broke my baby toe. That’s it! Not bad for the only injury in 15 years.

Tree of Life
Michael Shaffer, performer

Do you ever speak to the passersby?
While in the presence of a huge walking, talking tree, some of my audience will struggle with fight or flight feelings. To address this issue, a voice has developed to assuage this concern. I speak as a tree would if trees could speak a recognized language.

How large is the costume?
From the ground, it is 11 feet, five inches. The canopy diameter is seven feet.

What to expect:
Slow cadence of speech and movement that will seem almost … tree-like.

Xpogo
Michael Mena, athlete

What is extreme pogo?
It is the act of doing stunts and tricks on all kinds of pogo sticks.

How high can you jump?
My personal high jump record is over a 10-foot-high bar, and I hold the world record for the highest front flip by clearing a nine-foot-three-inch-high bar.

What to expect:
People can expect to see us jumping an average of about seven feet in the air doing backflips, front flips, tricks and really anything they can imagine happening on a pogo stick.

Great Canadian Water Skier
Jeffrey Knight, show director, announcer and performer

How many people are involved in the show?
This summer, we’ll have upwards of 20 people involved for any given day at the show. This includes stunt skiers (pictured), boat drivers, spotters, sound tech, etc.

What to expect:
A uniquely talented group of athletes who will perform jaw-dropping stunts and graceful acrobatic dance moves all while being tethered to the back of a specialized Ski Nautique ski boat.

Do you ever wipe out?
Oh yes, in almost every conceivable way. Falling is part of skiing, plain and simple.

Aerial Acrobatics & Ice Skating Show
Joannie Rochette, Canadian figure skater 

You've performed at the CNE before, what do you love about the experience? 
I love the energy! They audience is not only made from figure skating fans. There are people who don't know a lot about figure skating that come watch the show and that's refreshing for us!

You're doing two shows a day every day of the Ex, how do you prepare for that physically?  
It can be quite demanding and you have to be careful not to get injured because there is no time to recuperate. It's important to have a good life hygiene (go to bed early, eat well, warm-up and cool down before and after each show).

What to expect:
It will be a group of very enthusiastic and energetic artists eager to perform and show off their extraordinary talents to the Toronto public.