THE DIRT AUGUST 2014
Worlds WRAP-UP EPIC BMX OVERCOMING HURDLES FOR BMX RIDER A RIDE AROUND THE COUNTRY
THE DIRT August 2014 With the World Championships done and dusted, this months issue of THE DIRT will relive all the highlights from Rotterdam.
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DIRT
If you have news, event reports, photos or anything else BMX related, send them to the Editor at news@bmxaustralia.com.au Cover: Sam Willoughby after winning the Men Elite time trials at the 2014 UCI BMX World Championships.
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IN THIS ISSUE FROM THE TOP OF THE RAMP WORLDS CHALLENGE REPORT INSPIRATIONAL WILLOUGHBY WIN TEAMAUS RIDER LIST OVERCOMING HURDLES FOR BMX RIDER A RIDE AROUND THE COUNTRY
E P I C
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E P I C
EXCELLENCE PASSION Consistency Commitment
Success Desire Leadership Ownership Innovation Identity
Quality Teamwork
From The Top Of The Ramp
Inside BMX Australia with President Barry Knight Welcome to the new column - From The Top Of The Ramp – a place where the BMX Australia Directors will deliver to The Dirt readers news from inside BMX Australia that we can all pick up and ride with. It gives me great pride in this first column to be able to introduce BMX Australia’s new BMX Family Values. In addition to the Strategic Plan that guides our sport, a set of values have been created and agreed upon by our board and staff that can be instilled across every level of the organisation. These values sit at the very core of what we as a sport – and our stakeholders – are about. They represent the key fundamentals of what is important to us as an organisation and provide a set of behaviours that we expect of ourselves and of every member of the BMX Family. They are in one word – EPIC. The dictionary describes the word itself, amongst other things, as a slang term meaning: spectacular, very impressive, awesome. To us it is that and more. EPIC to the BMX Australia Family sums up four key pillars: Excellence. Passion. Integrity. Care. EPIC. Every one of the words listed above and how they shape our sport are important to me as the President of BMXA and I hope they continue to be relevant to you. Before I sign off for this month, I’d like to take the opportunity to congratulate ALL the Australian riders that competed at the UCI BMX World Championships in Rotterdam. To those that now proudly ride with the W1 plate, a huge pat on the back from all involved in the sport and best of luck in the year ahead. Until next time, keep riding
INTEGRITY CARE
Trust Respect Transparency Safety Genuine Understanding Honesty Responsibility
Accountability Communication
Barry Knight President
OPERATION: BMXAchallenge report with general manager mark louis
One area that BMXA is continually working to improve is our communication with our stakeholders and the BMX Family and it is to that end that I will be contributing regularly to THE DIRT. I hope to, in a few short paragraphs, summarise just some of operational initiatives the staff and board of BMXA are implementing for the benefit of members. One area that has drawn plenty of enthusiasm from our members is the live streaming of the National Championships. We will be replicating this year’s coverage at the 2014 National Championships and also adding the cruiser races on the final day of racing. That will give supporters of our sport four days and a night of amazing BMX racing live to the palm of their hand via mobile or tablet, their laptop, desktop or big screen. I encourage the family to use the BMX Aus App. We are now in the process of looking at how we can reduce the carbon footprint we are leaving at events to ensure we provide even greater value to the wider community and the areas that host our events. Another event related area we are working on with members of the BMX community is a more integrated competition calendar that links an organised pathway all the way from state to national and on to international level. One of the main focuses of this initiative is to help reduce the costs of competing regularly for families by constructing a clear and successful event calendar that provides fair opportunity for a greater number of riders to experience great competition. This will have a flow on effect that will give more riders a greater chance to improve performance and skill whilst creating a better ‘event experience’ for riders and their families. I am excited to advise the BMX family that BMX Australia’s head office has relocated. In addition, please see below for updates on the relevant staff member in charge of our BMXA work streams for any enquiries. Rebecca Jones - Member Services Coordinator Rebecca’s roles include servicing our members and info enquiry emails, membership reporting and dealing with all accident claim enquiries. Lauren Ross – National Development Coordinator Lauren’s primary focus is to develop the pathways for all stakeholders in the sport. This is done through coordinating the ‘National Sign On Day’ and any ‘Come and Try Days’ with Clubs, dealing with any new clubs wishing to affiliate with BMXA and assisting with any clinic initiatives. In addition, Lauren also oversees the administration of the Officials and Coaches accreditation schemes for BMXA.
Tiffany Wass – Events Manager Tiffany’s primary focus is to develop and maintain the National events calendar and any national team event support. This includes the organisation and implementation of events, working with the technical coordinator with event entries and registration as well as liaising with the UCI where required. In addition, Tiffany also looks after the Freestyle BMX Australia strategies and event initiatives. Edward Simpson – Media Support Edward’s key focus is to ensure that media and communication for BMX Australia activities, initiatives, athletes and supporting personnel is shared through traditional and social media channels. This includes looking after content for THE DIRT, all social media platforms and liaising with traditional media providers. As always my staff and I welcome feedback from the BMX family and look forward to advancing our wonderful sport together. Mark Louis General Manager
2014 UCI BMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS challenge report Australia was represented by 92 challenge class riders at the World Championships in Rotterdam at the end of July - a tremendous number given the logistics involved, and the challenges posed, by an event held in Europe. Spread over three days of racing, our Aussies competed with exceptional tenacity and courage against the best riders from across the globe. Day one saw the 17year+ riders take to the tight track inside Ahoy Stadium. Jordan Morgan, who rides for the Wyndham Warriors, finished sixth in the men’s 17-24 division to grab the W6 plate. Jordan’s sister Amanda also competed on the day, which was indicative of the enormous family involvement across the challenge class. A special mention must also go to Narelle Falkenhagen, who at 57 proved age is no barrier by competing against significantly younger competitors. Day two began in style when young Bailey Mills (Bayside) set a wonderful standard for the rest of the Australians to follow as he became world champion in the 5-6 years boys. Kyne Baird (Terrigal) finished fantastically to grab third, while Ewan Oliver (Ashmore) came in eighth in what was a highly competitive final. Far North Queensland rider Portia Eden, who rides for Cairns, rode the race of her young life to finish in second in the 7 years girls, while Will Oliver (Bendigo) raced a superb final to dominate the rest of the field and grab his maiden world championship crown in the 8 years boys. Reigning world champion Thomas Tucker (Pine Rivers) defended his title in emphatic style in the 9 years boys, but not before being pushed all the way by fellow Australian Callum Howarth (Ashmore), who rounded out a dominant Australian quinella. Defending champion Jesse Asmus (Nerang) performed extremely well to grab third in the 11 years boys. A number of riders in the field have been earmarked for great things in the future and the final was brimming with talent including fellow Aussie Flynn Hedley (Frankston), who finished seventh. In a highly entertaining 13 years girls race, mighty Molly McGill (Ashmore) held off a number of challengers to finish third in a race that included fellow Aussie Lorsyn Affoo (Pine Rivers) who finished fifth. Townsville BMX Club had a night to remember in the 14 years girls with defending champion Shelby Green riding onto the podium in third and Celeste Barr finishing closely behind in fifth to put the North Queensland club on the map. Kai Sakakibara (Park Orchards), who competed in the elite Junior Men’s division, must have taught his sister Saya (who is currently competing for Japan) a thing or two, as she won the 15 years girls division in front our own Dion Bromley (Moranbah) who finished in fifth. In the 16 years boys three Australians made the final and they didn’t disappoint, with Andrew Hughes, who rides for LMX Bicycle Supercross in Western Sydney, fighting his way to a podium finish in second. Jye Hombsch (Redlands) and Joshua Mclean (Knox) rounded out a memorable day of racing for Australia, finishing fourth and sixth respectively.
Fantastic racing by Australia on the day saw a number of other world plates achieved including Benaiah Richards (Pine Rivers) 7th in the 7 boys, Sacha Mills (Bayside) 4th in the 8 girls, Taya Pace (Macarthur) 7th and Regina McGee (Cairns) 8th in the 10 girls, Rayna Anesbury (The Cove) 6th, Paige Harding (Castle Hill) 7th and Mickayla Perkins (Jingilli) 8th in the 11 girls, Aston Wypch-Coles 4th in the 12 boys, Des’ree Barnes (Beenleigh) 7th in the 13 girls, and Joshua Boyton (Centenary Plains) 6th in the 15 boys. Day three featured the cruiser (24inch) races, and couldn’t have started better for Australia when Aston Wypych-Coles (Castle Hill) and Patrick Bognar (Knox) made it an Australian one, two in the 12 and under men’s division. It was a case of second time round for Wypych-Coles who having just missed out on the podium in the 20inch class rectified that in emphatic style. Not to be out done in the very next race, Riley Carter (Wanneroo) stormed to victory in the 13 and 14 men before Joshua Mclean (Knox) made it three from three in the 15 and 16 men. The podiums continued in the 17-24 men with Jordan Morgan finishing fast for a hard earned second to compliment his sixth from the 20 inch class two days earlier, giving the Wyndham Warriors BMX Club more to be proud of. Dion Bromley (Moranbah) improved on her fifth placed result in the 20inch class to finish on the podium in third in the 16 and under women’s division. The women’s 30 and over division was all about the two girls from Bayside BMX Club with Sarsha Huntington and Letita Weatherhead finishing second and fifth respectively, capping off a triumphant finish for Australia in the challenge classes.
iNSPIRATIONal WILLOUGHBY WIN Sam Willoughby was crowned dual world champion on the last Sunday in July, as he made history by becoming the first elite male to win both the time trial and racing events at the same World Championships. The crowd in Ahoy Stadium Rotterdam were treated to some breathtaking riding as our own Willoughby stole the show with ruthless precision. It was a weekend of thrills, spills and high drama as the world’s elite riders battled it out for the honour of wearing the coveted rainbow jersey. Willoughby, the 2012 world champ, began his weekend of dominance with a stunning, and seemingly effortless ride in the Time Trial Super Final to edge out American competitor Corben Sarrah by just 0.062 seconds, much to the delight of a vocal Australian contingent who all week long had made their presence felt in the stands. Willoughby, having crashed out in the quarter finals last year, did well to avoid a day of racing marred by a series of high profile crashes on the tight indoor track. Defending champion Liam Phillips from Great Britain was knocked out in the 1/8 final after being needlessly taken out by French rider Damien Godet. Later, Olympic gold medallist Maris Strombergs of Latvia crashed on the final section of the course in his semi-final, allowing Australian Anthony Dean to accompany good mate Willoughby in the final. The final was a high-octane rollercoaster of thrills and dramatic spills and began with Willoughby starting from lane two and trailing US rider Connor Fields into the second turn, when he made the move of the weekend. “I wasn’t going to go to the inside of him down that straight because I knew that corner was tight,” Willoughby said. “(But) it’s the worlds final, stuff just happens and I went there and it worked. I’ll take it.” Fields hit the ground hard as Willoughby took the lead, bringing down all but two riders, as bikes and bodies flew in all directions. Having narrowly avoided disaster Willoughby rode to glory unopposed, while Dean, who was in third when he was affected by the crash, finished eighth. An ecstatic Willoughby was visibly emotional following his win, dedicating it to the late mother of American girlfriend Alise Post, who finished second in the elite women’s event just minutes earlier. “My girlfriend Alise lost her mum in January and that’s what this bracelet here is all about, for Cheryl, and this win is partly for her” Willoughby said. Willoughby took a different approach into this year’s event, choosing to skip a few lead-up events to focus on training with coach Sean Dwight instead, a decision that ultimately paid off in full. “It’s pretty special for me to win this,” he said.
“It’s incredible, you train hard and set your goals, it’s all realistic on paper but doing it is a whole different story. “It’s the world champs, it’s survival of the fittest and man that feels good.” In what was a case of history repeating, ten years ago to the day Warwick Stevenson became the first Australian to be crowned elite world champion in the Netherlands, a statistic Willoughby mentioned with pride before thanking the crowd. “To come back ten years later with Sean and do it in the same country is pretty cool, so I’m stoked,” he said. “The crowd’s awesome here, it’s been a great atmosphere.”
teamAUS RIDER LIST
AUSTR
First Name Last Name Club State Lorsyn AFFOO Pine Rivers BMX Club QLD Kye AFFOO Pine Rivers BMX Club QLD Jay ALLAN Hills BMX Club WA Gillian ANDERSON-FOX Lake Macquarie BMX Club NSW Rayna ANESBURY The Cove BMX Club SA Jesse ASMUS Nerang BMX Club QLD Kyne BAIRD Terrigal BMX Club NSW Des’ree Barnes Beenlei gh BMX Club QLD Luke BARNES Beenleigh BMX Club QLD Celeste BARR Townsville BMX Club QLD Patrick BOGNAR Knox BMX Club VIC Adrian BOGNAR Knox BMX Club VIC Jake BOWE Cairns BMX Club Inc QLD Joshua BOYTON Centenary Plains BMX Club QLD Dion BROMLEY Moranbah BMX Club QLD Caroline BUCHANAN Tuggeranong BMX Club NSW Harriet BURBIDGE-SMITH Canberra BMX Club ACT Max CAIRNS Park Orchards BMX Club VIC Joshua CALLAN Lilydale BMX Club VIC Sandra CAMERON Penrith BMX Club NSW Alex CAMERON Liverpool City BMX Club NSW Riley CARTER Wanneroo BMX Club WA Flynn Cooper Knox BMX Club VIC LilyAnne CROFT Westside BMX Club WA Adam DE NYS Rockhampton BMX Club QLD Anthony DEAN Cross Keys BMX Club SA Paul DRURY Pine Rivers BMX Club QLD Nicole DUNCAN Terrigal BMX Club NSW Ben DUNPHY Harbour City BMX Club QLD Toby DUNPHY Harbour City BMX Club QLD Portia EDEN Cairns BMX Club Inc QLD Narelle FALKENHAGEN Centenary Plains BMX Club QLD Jayde FREEMAN Jingili BMX Club NT Corey FRIESWYK Walkerston BMX Club QLD Airlie GOODEN Wanneroo BMX Club WA Jackson GOSCIMINSKI Hills BMX Club WA Joel GRACE Townsville BMX Club QLD Shelby GREEN Townsville BMX Club QLD Ashleigh GUNN Cairns BMX Club Inc QLD Paige HARDING Castle Hill BMX Club NSW Tonn HAYDON Wynyard BMX Park VIC Leah HEARNE Tuggeranong BMX Club NSW Lilli HEDLEY Frankston BMX Club VIC Flynn HEDLEY Frankston BMX Club VIC Jye HOMBSCH Redlands BMX Club QLD Callum HOWARTH Ashmore BMX Club QLD Andrew HUGHES LMX Bicycle Supercross NSW Sarsha HUNTINGTON Bayside BMX Club QLD Rachel JONES Lake Macquarie BMX Club NSW Matthew JUSTER Jingili BMX Club NT Tristyn KRONK Walkerston BMX Club QLD Jessica LATHWELL Hills BMX Club WA Kurtis LEICESTER Cross Keys BMX Club SA Regina MCGEE Cairns BMX Club Inc QLD
First Name Last Name Club State Kathryn MCGEE Cairns BMX Club Inc QLD Molly MCGILL Ashmore BMX Club QLD Spencer McKee Wyndham Warriors BMX Club VIC Joshua MCLEAN Knox BMX Club VIC Melinda MCLEOD Walkerston BMX Club QLD Austin MCNAIR Shepparton BMX Club VIC Riley MCNAIR Shepparton BMX Club VIC Alexandra Merrett Blue Lake BMX Club SA Toby MILLAR Frankston BMX Club VIC Corey MILLAR Frankston BMX Club VIC Ashlee MILLER Castle Hill BMX Club NSW Sacha MILLS Bayside BMX Club QLD Bailey MILLS Bayside BMX Club QLD Blake MOORE Liverpool City BMX Club NSW Amanda MORGAN Wyndham Warriors BMX Club VIC Jordan MORGAN Wyndham Warriors BMX Club VIC Wade MUNDIE Cairns BMX Club Inc QLD Justin MYERS Happy Valley BMX Club SA Will OLIVER Bendigo BMX Club VIC Ewan Oliver Ashmore BMX Club QLD Ian ORR Jingili BMX Club NT Taya PACE Macarthur BMX Club NSW Sienna PAL Terrigal BMX Club NSW Mia PAL Terrigal BMX Club NSW Ethan PAL Terrigal BMX Club NSW Lleyton PAL Terrigal BMX Club NSW Jade PARKER Caboolture BMX Club QLD Mickayla PERKINS Jingili BMX Club NT Lauren REYNOLDS Bunbury BMX Club WA Benaiah RICHARDS Pine Rivers BMX Club QLD Nathaniel RODWAY Lake Macquarie BMX Club NSW Shane ROSA The Cove BMX Club SA Mikayla ROSE Tuggeranong BMX Club ACT Kai SAKAKIBARA S outhlake / Illawarra BMX Club NSW Rachelle SMITH Bunbury BMX Club WA Rory SOUTHWELL Liverpool City BMX Club NSW Bryce STROUD Atherton BMX Club QLD Brandon TE HIKO Geelong BMX Club VIC Lachlan TRASS Bayside BMX Club QLD Joseph TUCKER Pine Rivers BMX Club QLD Thomas TUCKER Pine Rivers BMX Club QLD Bodi TURNER Eastfield BMX Club VIC Serena TWOMEY Walkerston BMX Club QLD Sharna TYE Cross Keys BMX Club SA Cooper TYE Cross Keys BMX Club SA Tahlia WALDRON Knox BMX Club VIC Sheldon WATT Ashmore BMX Club QLD Letitia WEATHERHEAD Bayside BMX Club QLD Aislynn WEBER Cairns BMX Club Inc QLD Ronan WEBER Cairns BMX Club Inc QLD Harald WEBER Cairns BMX Club Inc QLD Rhys Wellings Bayside BMX Club QLD Matthew WHITE Frankston BMX Club VIC Michael WILLIAMS Warrnambool BMX Club VIC Sam WILLOUGHBY Happy Valley BMX Club SA Dirk WINTER Ashmore BMX Club QLD Aston WYPYCH-COLES Castle Hill BMX Club NSW Malcolm YEARDLEY Hills BMX Club WA Ryan YORK-MORRIS Jingili BMX Club NT
RALIA
OVERCOMING HURDLES FOR BMX RIDER The thrills and spills of BMX racing are not for the faint-hearted, least of all when you have lost the vision in your right eye, have less than 10% peripheral vision, no depth perception, and to top it all off you also suffer from Asperger’s Syndrome. While most would see this list of disabilities as an obstacle too great to overcome, seventeenyear-old Shane Marshall from the Gawler BMX Club in Victoria views it as a challenge, a challenge he has conquered. Completely and utterly obsessed with BMX racing, Shane lost his eyesight during a schoolyard accident that has done little to subdue his BMX passion. A proud advocate of disabled racing, we caught up with this inspiring young man to hear the challenges he has overcome and his plans to attract other disabled kids to the sport he loves. The Dirt: So Shane how did you get into BMX Racing? SM: I was looking on the Internet looking at BMX videos, and came across a BMX racing video that looked really interesting. I was instantly hooked, so I searched BMX clubs and found information on the Gawler BMX club, which happened to be almost straight across the road from where I was going to school at Xavier College. I asked my parents straight away if I could race BMX. The next week I had my first race and absolutely loved it. The Dirt: How has your disability affected your riding? SM: When I first started riding bikes again after my injury, I had problems with judgment and had to constantly move my head side to side in an effort overcome my blind spot. I find when it’s really sunny the bright light makes it more difficult, and I have to concentrate harder on working out my depth perception and judging distances. However as time has gone by this has all become easier, and is no longer as much of a problem. The Dirt: Do you know any other disabled kids that ride BMX or would like to become involved? SM: I know of people that race BMX that have Asperger’s Syndrome like me, kids as well as adults, as well as a rider about my age that has Autism. I have also seen a YouTube video of someone missing a leg and rides using a prosthetic leg. I would encourage anyone with a disability to get involved in BMX, I’d be happy to help anyone learn the ropes. The Dirt: Do you think a disabled BMX event would be well supported? SM: I think the best place to start would be to have a disabled race in the State Titles to promote disabilities within the sport of BMX, I think it would be well supported by everyone in the BMX community and could even act as a stepping stone to gain the sport’s entry into the Paralympics.
The Dirt: Last of all, who is your favourite rider? SM: Sam Willoughby and Anthony Dean are my favourite BMX riders, they have both had huge success throughout their BMX careers, and I love the fact they are both from Adelaide. They prove that even though Adelaide is a small place compared with the rest of the world you can have huge success in BMX, but most of all they inspire so many people, including myself to try harder within the sport.
a ride around the country
NSW
BMXNSW is excited to announce the teams selected from the NZ Qualifier event held as part of the BMXTreme carnival. These riders are now going to NZ to represent Australia at the 2014 October Junior Trans Tasman Test Teams.
Female Team Rayna ANESBURY - The Cove BMX Club SA Paige HARDING - Castle Hill BMX Club NSW Mia PAL - Terrigal BMX Club NSW Tahlia MARSH - Clarence Valley BMX Club NSW
Male Team Rory MCNAMARA - Terrigal BMX Club NSW Jesse ASMUS - Nerang BMX Club QLD Jye FURNER - Macarthur BMX Club NSW Flynn HEDLEY - Frankston BMX Club VIC
In other news the Hawkesbury Hornets BMX Club will be hosting the 2014 Hawkesbury BMX Open on August 24th. Entries close at 9.00pm on Monday August 18, check out the BMX NSW website or the Hawkesbury Hornets BMX Club Facebook page for more details.
NT
QLD
The Northern Territory welcomes the first track in Australia with a permanent roof. July 12 marked the start of a new era of racing in the NT. This iconic track is now a solid part of the Australian racing scene, with the Jingili BMX Club committee pulling out all stops, and spent countless hours making the facility race ready.
The Board of BMX Queensland has recently appointed Dan Browning to the vacant position of Vice President of BMX Queensland, effective immediately, and Debbie Weber, to the vacant position of Director of Events on the Board of BMX Queensland, also effective immediately. BMX Queensland welcomes the new Directors to the Board of BMX Queensland and looks forward to working alongside them both.
SA
Congratulation to Sam Willoughby on regaining his Elite men’s Crown at the 2014 UCI World Championships in Rotterdam! South Australia achieved a further two World plates, with Rayna Anesbury improving on last years’ W7 with a W6 in the 11 girls, and Anthony Dean achieving a W8 plate in the Elite men’s final.
Most clubs are now back up and running after the Winter breaks and racing will shift up a gear on the weekend of 13th & 14th September, with the opening rounds of the 2014 Chase Bicycles State Series. The movement to get a SupaX track in Adelaide continues to grow with support coming in from all areas. Don’t forget to check out the Facebook page: “Adelaide needs an Olympic Standard BMX Facility” or the “Adelaide BMX SupaX” team app for the latest news. The 2014 BMXSA AGM will be held on Saturday 11th October, formal notices will be sent to all South Australian members shortly.
WA
WA would like to congratulate all of its World Championship competitors, with special mention to Riley Carter – 1W – in the 13-14 boys Cruiser Class, and to Rachelle Smith – 5W in the Junior Elite Women in her first year out of the challenger class.
The BMXWA State Championships are approaching with the Pre States to be held on Sunday 28th September and the main event Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th October at Southside BMX Club, Bullcreek. “This is the pinnacle of WA’s calendar, and has not been held at Bullcreek for a long time,” Tania Wehr, Chief Executive Officer of BMX sports in Western Australia, said. The Northwest Super Series also got underway recently, with the first round being hosted by Karratha BMX Club. Round 2 is coming up at Tom Price BMX Club on Saturday 16th August, followed by Round 3 at Hedland BMX Club in Port Hedland on Saturday 20th September. “The Northwest event has been a fantastic initiative by the three northwest clubs,” Wehr said. “It has been running for a number of years now and is a fantastic event for all riders who can get out of the colder climates and up to the warmth of the Pilbara region.”
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BMX Australia e: info@bmxaustralia.com.au p: (02) 9339 5800 f: (02) 9339 5888 a: PO Box 6310, Alexandria, NSW 2015