CLASSIFICATIONS
Let’s Start Where Everyone begins...
EXPERT: This is the ultimate amateur
NOVICE: Everyone—boys
and girls—begins here. In other words—this is the class for beginners. True beginners. We’re so strongly committed to protecting the Novice class, in fact, that a rider can never reclassify to Novice upon advancement. What’s it take to advance? Eight (8) wins. With that many first place trophies on your shelf, you can be sure that you’re clearly ready to move up.
GIRL: This is the highest
proficiency level in the sport for amateur girls. The reason is simple—there are just fewer girls competing. Although BMX racing, especially now that it is an Olympic Sport, has been attracting more and more girls to compete making the Girl classes the fastest growing in the sport.
INTERMEDIATE: This is the mid-level of com-
petition for the boys where riders really begin to develop their skills. The “Inter” classes are also usually big classes, and for good reason—while it’s not too difficult to progress up and into the class, it’s much harder to progress up and out of the class, with 25 additional wins required to finally earn your Expert card.
30
Number of USA BMX National events held all around the country beginning in January (usually in Reno, NV) and concluding at the Grandnationals in Tulsa, OK over Thanksgiving’s 4-Day weekend.
ranking for amateur boys racing BMX. Plain and simple, when you achieve this classification you’ve proven yourself on the racetrack, demonstrating through your speed and skill that you are truly an Expert BMX racer!
CRUISER: Finally, there are two bike
categories, based on wheel size/diameter—20” wheel BMX bikes called class bikes, and 24” wheel BMX bikes called cruiser bikes. The 20” bikes are the required size for all Novice, Intermediate, Girl and Expert competition, while the 24” bikes are the required size for all Cruiser competition. But while the cruiser classes, like the 20” classes, are age and gender based, they are not divided into the novice, intermediate or expert proficiency levels. In the 24” Cruiser classes, ages go all the way up to 61 & Over for the dads and 51 & Over for the moms. Even the grandparents are doing it! It’s very common these days to see original BMX racers from the 70’s and 80’s bringing their families to the races to enjoy the same sport they did as a kid. And, after watching their son or daughter race, it doesn’t take long before the parents “get the itch” to try BMX racing again.
PRO: Want to be THE BEST in BMX Racing?
Once you are 17 years old, and hold a expert ranking, boys and girls have the option to turn Professional. When you first turn pro, boys are called A-pros (also referred to as “single-A”). Once an A-pro has won $4,000 at USA BMX nationals, they will be moved up to the highest classification in our sport: AA-pro (also known as “double-A”). Becoming No.1 Pro in USA BMX is the ultimate of all Championships - and being a Top-10 AA-pro can earn you a pretty decent living, between winnings and sponsorship salaries.
75,000 4 60+ USA BMX members... and growing by the day.
total skill levels for BMX Racing - from Novice (Beginner) on up to Pro.
Approximate number of Redline Cup races held every year. Get in that first “best score” at a Redline Cup to chase down that No.1 plate and custom RL Cup jacket.
PULL! Magazine Special Edition
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