Feature:
BMXNSW Lauren Reynolds BalLarat BMX Club Development Coach PLUS More
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March 2014
March is upon us already and the BMX season around most parts of the country has kicked off. February played host to National Sign on Day and what a success that has turned out to be. Lots of people making their way down to a BMX track to experience the sport. If you’re a new member, then welcome, you won’t be disappointed. There are some great stories to be told in BMX and this month is yet another example. Enjoy!! We have a whole bunch of new features in this edition of The Dirt , check them out and let us know your feedback.
THE DIRT
You can be a part of too!! If you have news, event reports, photos or anything else BMX related, send them to the Editor at news@bmxaustralia.com.au
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In this Issue Feature Story: BMXNSW Lauren Reynolds Ballarat BMX Club BMX Australia Development Academy Coach Coaching & Officiating Directors Appointed Healthy Eating Starting 8 5
HP Corner
FEATURE:
BMX New South Wales
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Put simply, the sport of BMX is growing. Whether it is through riding, racing, coaching or officiating, people are becoming members of BMX. Last year BMX in Australia grew an astronomical 75%. To be a member you have to be part of a club and its clubs right across Australia that are reaping the benefits of the influx of members. In only our second edition of The Dirt we spoke to the Macarthur Pirates BMX Club in Sydney’s South West. The club has seen exponential growth, and while they are now one of the bigger clubs in New South Wales the whole state has experienced sustained growth over the last 2 years. To get a better understanding of BMX in New South Wales, BMX NSW Membership The Dirt spoke to the Chairman of BMXNSW Neil 3500 Cameron and to Scoring 3000 Administrator Sonia Buckley. 2500 But first the numbers, in 2000 2011/12 BMXNSW had 1,698 1500 2959 members in 2012/13 that 1000 grew 74% to 2,959 members 1698 500 with NSW holding 20% of 0 BMX Australia’s members 2011/12 2012/13 behind Queensland (36%). 7
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“BMX New South Wales is in the midst of sustained growth,” Cameron told The Dirt. And it’s the long-‐term sustained growth that Cameron is looking for. “That’s the sort of growth I’m interested in, it’s not explosive but I’m not looking for explosive growth nor do I want explosive growth.” It goes back between 12 and 18 months ago when BMXNSW used the flyer that BMX Australia created to promote the sport. BMXNSW modified the flyer to incorporate their clubs giving a much more local feel where any one had instant contact details of every club in the state. The informative brochure of which 1,000 were given to every club, covered all aspects of the sport from what is BMX, how to get involved, what you need to be involved and membership options. In addition an A3 poster was designed for all clubs in NSW to saturate their local area. Clubs paid a minimal amount which covered the printing of the poster but in return they received an eye-‐catchingly designed poster that allowed clubs to promote themselves. “We got the ball rolling with those promotions and have probably left that rolling along as we focused on other things. “Clubs are growing because of the promotional work BMXNSW have done, but we are now faced with growing pains. The biggest problem I’m seeing is that clubs can’t sustain greater than about 350 members before they start to fall over – it becomes too much of an administrative issue.” Cameron said it’s good to get clubs up to around the 200-‐250 member mark but after that they start to lose the family friendliness – virtues of which the sport is built upon. “Once upon a time I thought I wanted more super 8 clubs; that’s a fallacy, it’s wrong. What we need is more smaller clubs, that’s the way we’ll build our membership base.”
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Three of NSW’s biggest clubs are separated by around 2 hours of each other – Southlake/Illawarra in the South, Macarthur is Sydney’s west and Lake Macquarie in the Hunter. South West Sydney will soon be area that explodes with increased population through housing developments but the growth in the metropolitan areas isn’t always matched in the more regional areas. “I’d love to see the same happen in the north, places as far north as Coffs Harbour and Casino, but those places are surviving on 50-‐60 members. And it doesn’t seem to matter what you do up here we don’t get the same growth,” said Buckley who herself is a resident of the Coff’s region. “These towns are built around football –both league and soccer – that tends to take precedence of extreme sports like BMX. “But the Come and Try Days have probably seen the biggest growth in the last 2 years.” Buckley believes the other biggest factor behind the growth of the sport in NSW is just how visible it has become. “I really believe the biggest turning point was people seeing it in the 2012 Olympics,” she said. “And while everyone saw first at the 2008 Olympics, the London games had a much bigger impact. This time the sport was able to capitalise on it a lot better than in 2008.”
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Talking to both Neil and Sonia it quickly becomes evident that BMXNSW are united in their strategy for the state. Consistency, standardisation and efficiency were some of the main points as the conversation turned to the structure of BMX in NSW and the event side of things. BMXNSW rationalised their structure around 3 years ago, prior to that the state operated with 3 zones. Recommendations from the Australian Sports Commission on corporate governance suggested that a much better approach was to have a central board of directors who would deal directly with the clubs instead of a middle management system. “Everyone at Board level is focused on the welfare of all the clubs,” Cameron said. “Removing the zones prompted clubs to stand on their own two feet. Now all clubs in NSW have a board structure like we do at State and National level.
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With the disbandment of zones came the demise of regional zone racing, in its place a State Series was implemented as well as Opens. NSW operates 6 rounds in the State Series with 6 Open Days also held across the state. “Getting rid of regional racing forced people to get up and move about more as the racing is spread across NSW. People have taken to the State Series like a duck to water.” And the evidence is there in the numbers. Southlake/Illawarra held the first round of the State Series in February with 600 riders in attendance. But one of the more impressive things around this was just how many people entered online. “We’ve had a 97% uptake for online entries,” Sonia said. “Last year that was around 70-‐ 75%, we are almost at the point of no manual entries.” The sentiment is echoed by Neil Cameron whose concern of workload aimed at the clubs has been eased by online activities.
“Online membership and event entries from BMX Australia have helped administer the sport,” he said. And that’s a small but welcome relief for Buckley. “There was a negative start to it all, but only from those who were rejected,” Buckley lamented. Those rejected were the entrants who missed BMXNSW’s strict entry deadlines. Unlike the National body and some other state bodies, NSW does not operate a late entry system; entries close at a set time six days out from the event with the exception of Pre-‐Titles and State Titles due to the ever increasing numbers. Miss the entry deadline and you miss out, no correspondence entered into. “My theory is, if 600 people can do the right thing, you can too. And that’s probably harsh, but because we’ve kept that consistency it’s well known.” The calendar for NSW is set by BMXNSW where clubs apply to host parts of the State Series. Clubs are appointed rounds but it is BMXNSW who run the events solely – everything from entries to prizes and how racing is conducted is set by BMXNSW with a consistency across all events. “The number one focus has been getting consistency. Entry fees are the same at every event, practice times are the same at every event and race time are the same at every event,’ Cameron pointed out. “Standardisation across all events has made for really efficient, fast meetings. You take a great group of officials which Bill Dunkley is driving, you take a really efficient scoring team which Sonia is driving and you’ve got a little bit of race direction in the middle, and you’re there.” 10 Prior to the standardisation, Cameron said chaos and mayhem ensued because
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there wasn’t a consistent formula.
“There’s a lot of things that happen behind the scenes that has allowed the improvement of the sport that people may not recognise. “People like them; they are coming in droves simply because they like them and they’re good races. The events are running smooth and fast; with around 600 riders we can knock that out in about 4 hours.” For BMXNSW to move forward Neil said they need to eliminate points of failure. “I’m a computer engineer so I talk about this kind of thing a lot, we (BMXNSW) have single points of failure around the place. “If some one is run over by a bus or work takes them away, which is more likely, then the sport is beholden to one person.” As a result the focus for NSW has begun to build teams, not to eliminate people, but rather bolster the ranks of those able to continue the legacies that BMXNSW is implementing. “At the moment I’m using our events as training grounds for those who want to run transponders at their club and am getting as many people as possible trained up,” Buckley said. That side of the sport is a little daunting for some though with the amount of technology that sits within the scoring the shed. Although Sonia states she’s no guru when it comes to this type of thing, its been her inquisitive nature and by virtue of just “playing around” with it that has seen her become knowledgeable. “I don’t want to be irreplaceable, I don’t want to get to the point where no one else can do it because that’s not healthy for me either.”
It’s an area that Cameron is already contemplating through the introduction of teams. “I’m pretty happy with the structure of the sport. I see the danger being the growth of the sport putting too much pressure on individuals. “To get to 4,000 members will put a huge load on our State Officiating Director, on our Scoring Administrator and the other areas coaching, staging and commissaries – we need a teams of people in those areas rather than solely relying on individuals.” The structures that BMXNSW have put in place are leading to real rewards and despite the growing pains the future is positive. We’ll leave it to Neil to sum up. “”I’m pretty passionate about this and I’ll talk forever about it. “I’m pretty happy with the way BMXNSW is going. The continual promotion through the flyers and posters allow us to promote year round and give us that year round growth by 11 getting in people’s faces. Growth brings growth.”
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The Dirt this month caught up with Western Australia’s Lauren Reynolds who will make her return to racing at the BMX Australia National Series in Westside. Reynolds injured her knee racing in the US late last year and as a result underwent surgery back home in Australia to repair a torn ACL. Despite the long rehabilitation, Reynolds has been far from sitting still and while her return to racing will be a much welcomed one, it is still early days as she prepares for another year and the start to Olympic selection for Rio 2016. The Dirt: How’s the injury coming along now? Lauren Reynolds: I’m back training doing everything, lovin’ life feeling great. It’s probably not 100% (the knee) but its definitely enough to train and every day its getting better and better. Things are good, just training hard right now trying to get back in shape and ready for the year. Has it been a long road to recovery for you? LR: Yeah it has, but it’s actually been quite quick too. It’s a bit of a blessing in disguise; it’s been a break that needed to happen. The time at home and “chilling” off the bike has been awesome. To be honest it’s gone pretty quick, I can’t believe it’s March and it’s time to start
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racing  again.   The  injury  turned  out  to  be  more  serous  than  first  thought,  didn’t  it?   LR:  Yeah  the  scan  in  the  US  said  it  was  a  partial  tear  of  the  ACL.  When  it’s  partially  torn  you  can  take  the  risk  and  keep  going  or  you  can  get  it  completely  fixed  up.  Obviously  if  you  are  going  to  be  smart  about  it  there  is  only  one  option  and  when  I  went  in  to  get  the  knee  re-Ââ€? construction  done  the  surgeon  said  it  was  completely  torn  and  that  there  would  have  been  no  coming  back  from  it.  The  meniscus  was  a  bit  torn  too  which  is  another  tendon  –  I  did  a  pretty  good  job.  Everything  has  gone  totally  to  plan  for  the  recovery  side  of  things.    You’re  starting  the  year  again  by  racing  in  WA  like  you  did  last  year,  you  looking  forward  to  that?   LR:  Yeah  last  year  I  skipped  Nerang  at  the  start  of  the  year.  It  just  didn’t  work  for  me  to  go  to  Nerang.  I  had  a  pretty  full  year  in  the  USA  in  2012  so  I  needed  a  break  and  a  re-Ââ€?charge.  That  worked  well,  I  had  one  of  my  best  years  in  2013  and  then  this  year,  well  it’s  been  a  forced  rest  so  I  can  recover.  It’s  been  the  best  one  I’ve  had,  I  just  feel  like  a  whole  new  person.  I’m  so  refreshed  I’ve  got  a  new  coach  as  well  and  I’m  really  happy.  I  can’t  wait  to  race.   I’m  probably  going  to  get  a  little  nervous  being  out  of  the  sport,  well  not  out  of  the  sport  but  out  of  the  race  scene  for  probably  the  longest  time  I  have.  It’s  a  local  race  so  family  and Â
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friends will be there watching. I’ve got nothing to lose, it’s not a crazy big race, it’s just a perfect race for me to jump back into with all the girls that are going to be there. It will be great competition, I just want to enjoy it and have fun, just keep moving forward for the year and be ready for when the real stuff start. Olympic qualifiers start this year, it creeps up on your mind so you’ve got to be ready for that. I think I’ll do fine to be honest I feel really good. I had my coach over for a few days earlier in the month and he was blown away, he said “I think you look better than you did before you crashed”. Life‘s good, I just can’t wait to race and get into it really. Was it good to be around family and friends for an extended period of time? LR: Normally when I’m home, I’m training for the pre-‐ season and you don’t get the quality of time you normally would, but I just had to enjoy it this time round. You have a few days where it’s tough not doing much, I just learnt to deal with it. It’s funny, having this kind of a break is totally different to the coach just saying have a couple of weeks off the bike, I don’t really have a choice, I have 3 months off the bike. I did a barista course during the time off. Now I make coffees and I’ve got this part time job on the side that doesn’t interfere with my training and I’m out making coffees and I just love it. Did you ever question yourself and your commitment to BMX?
LR: Never, it hasn’t turned me off the sport at all, it’s probably made me love it even more, the sport is just so crazy. I think the support from my sponsors who have re-‐signed me and contracted me for another year, the support from BMXA, the High Performance Program, Australian Institute of Sport – they all still believe in me. I’ve had the support and encouragement, there’s no reason for me to think anything different of it -‐ it hasn’t changed my mind. It just shows that I have good people around me if that makes sense. 15 What’s so special about BMX in Western Australia?
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LR: People have always said they build them tough in WA and it think that is so true. We are so isolated. I don’t care what anyone says we definitely do it tougher over here and that’s in all aspects. To have the National Series race here is good and while it’s not at my local track its close enough and I’ll have family and friends here supporting me, that’s what makes it special. It’s so much rewarding when you do get a win, everyone in the West supports each other, we are pretty tight, we’re a great little state. We all know how tough it is because we have to travel so much, but I wouldn’t change a thing, I love home. I’ve moved to QLD for 18 months or so but its nothing like home. WA is special, it always is, to have a race back here is cool. Hoping to get one in Bunbury next year which is my local, but I can’t wait. I’m not feeling the pressure, I’ve got nothing to lose but I’m definitely going to be a little but nervous as its my first race this year. You’re about to embark on another Olympic cycle, what goes into that? LR: It’s still 2 years away but qualifying for it starts this year but its not what I’m really thinking about. You know that its there but it’s nothing to stress about. To get there, there are so many steps in between so you’ve just to take it one step at a time. I look back now, with the experience under my belt, back to 2010 and who was racing then and who was doing good then and who went to the Olympics -‐ it’s quite a big difference. I know its there and that’s why I’m changing my plans up slightly. I’m probably not going to the US as soon as I was going to, may or may not do the Manchester SX round – it’s all in the preparation for the long term. I’ve just got to be prepared to make sure I get the best run up for it, because I’m not
going to make it as much as tight call as it was last time. I want to confirm my spot and make sure things go to plan, that’s where I’m feeling confident with my new coach and just better planning and better experienced for it. Do you see many of the 2012 riders still being there next time round? LR: I do. For the females there were a group of girls who were just starting to step up at that time or were already there. Because they are young enough and because they have so much energy they will be there again. There are probably a couple who will “twinkle out”, but overall there will be the main group and then some extras who start popping their head up into the top field. You still have your couple of Aussies, your couple of Americans, your Europeans and some individuals from countries like Colombia. The main players will still be there in 2 years. It’s hard to believe – 2 years since the Olympics and 2 years to the next Olympics. LR: 2 years ago it’s just like no way….. it seem like yesterday. In terms of 2014 for Lauren Reynolds, what’s in place?
LR: So Manchester SX is a possibility, it depends on how my training goes at the training camp at Sleeman, so that’s up in the air. Then definitely the National Championships and then Holland which is the weekend after the Nationals. Then from the Holland SX until the World Champs it will be a heap of US racing , there’s one other world cup in between there. It will be a crazy block of a few months and then after Worlds it will be complete the US circuit including the Grands as well as completing the WC circuit. 16 Because Manchester isn’t an Olympic qualifier I may miss that one. I just need to
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a get a good block of training in before the season really starts, once it does start you don’t get the chance to train as hard as you would normally, there’s just so much going on. And for me I’m still a little bit underdone in the strength department so I have some work to do there – we just need to address that before things get crazy. Worlds is the biggest race this year, so you want to be in your best form for that one. And then it’s just a matter of hanging in there for the rest of the year. Second place at the Worlds in 2013, you’re looking to go one better this year at Worlds? LR: Always looking to go better. Caroline is in fine form as always but Worlds is a big race. I got so much confidence out of last years race, it was probably one of the most enjoyable events I’d been to. I’d like to take that top spot; it’s always a goal and a dream of mine. Every year gets tougher and tougher but it makes it just so rewarding. I have a lot more belief and a lot more confidence in myself now with some of the changes I’ve made, including this break. It feels a lot different this time round, not sure why though. Who’s on board with you this year? LR: The major support for me is through the AIS and BMX Australia being a High Performance member. For my bike I’m on SSquared, Answer racing components are my next major support crew and are making it all possible in the US scene. I’ve got LKI, Oakley, Bont shoes and a local surf company Stingas Surf and Skate who have sponsored me since I was a kid. There’s a big crew behind me who help me and push me including WAIS.
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Ballarat BMX Club
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Words by Joe Ballinger
Question: How do you reinvigorate a run-‐down 25 year old BMX track to give the people of Ballarat the opportunity to experience the fun and excitement that is BMX racing? Answer: you build a club and the track will happen.
The reinvention of the Ballarat Sebastopol-‐BMX track began with the vision of a passionate few and has become a reality due to their drive and the momentum that has gathered force as a club has come into being. In late 2011, Wayne Jolly (#83) applied for a State Government under the Department of Youth Sport and Recreation to rebuild the aging Ballarat-‐Sebastopol BMX track at Marty Busch Reserve. It is a place Wayne had spent much of his youth along with his brother Doug (#96). As parents they wanted their own children to not only experience the fun and excitement of BMX, but also to develop them as skilled riders. After putting together a detailed submission and frustrated by a change of government and a lengthy approval period, Wayne finally received the news he had been waiting for. A further six months lapsed before the grant of $60,000 actually arrived. A productive relationship with Lukas Carey at the City of Ballarat Department of Sport and Recreation 19 was quickly established to assist with planning and governance issues and a BMX club working party was formed. This was comprised of people who had been drawn to the club
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either wanting their children to learn to ride or to revisit the fun they had experienced as riders in their youth. A scope of works, a budget and a schedule was quickly put together. Due to budgetary constraints, many activities in the schedule had to be performed by club members and their generous contacts. Without these contributions, the track would have far exceeded the $60 000 budget. In consultation with a volunteer draftsman, a plan of the track was prepared and submitted to council for approval. After being assisted through the planning process at record speed, we were ready to go. An almost 6 metre high starting hill was to be the iconic feature of the track. This required demolition and re-‐use of dirt from the old start hill, the first straight and first berm to form the foundations of the new track. The first obstacle was the huge amount of clean fill needed to build the start hill. Fortunately, a local construction firm needed to off-‐load around 100 truckloads of fill, so the first construction problem was solved. The construction of the starting mound consumed nearly half of the budget over a 6 week period as a 20 tonne excavator worked to form and compact the starting hill. With funds going fast, the club reached out to a network of contacts and past riders in the local community to assist. It was with a sense of pride that past riders saw an opportunity to ‘give back’, to help the community build an asset that would draw it together and benefit young people. Our benefactors nostalgically remembered a simpler time in their life when the only important things were their bikes and meeting their friends at the BMX track. Some of them even recalled when they were part of the team that built the original track. These local business people, who were once riders, were willing to get on-‐board and assist our project. To shape the track, Trevor “Brooksie” Brooks, who builds tracks for international riders such as ‘Nitro Circus’, helped build the new jumps and berms and re-‐shaped the old sections of the track. Troy Beaston, an ex-‐rider of the 1980’s, who now owns “Eureka Concrete” provided an unbeatable price for the concrete of our almost 6 metre high starting mound. Andrew Flemming ex-‐president of the Sebastopol Football Club and owner of “Ballarat Associated Concrete” also provided labour at less than cost, to box up and lay the concrete for our starting gate and ramp. The generosity of these people was invaluable and without their generosity the track would not have been completed. Parents and friends helped remove the old starting gate, pull down the fences, re-‐shape and surface the track, fix drainage issues, plant shrubs around the track and finally re-‐install the old starting gate on top of the new starting hill. These are the kinds of people that every successful BMX club has. They are the fabric of the club that make the everyday things happen. Even the riders got off their bikes and pitched in! 20 After almost 10 months of works our track is now open. Our resident AA Pro, Dave Habicht, is happy with the end result. The track challenges riders of all ages and skill levels and
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provides an exceptional work out. In order to close out our works program and celebrate our first clubbie on the new track new club jerseys were designed and made to celebrate the new track and to provide a sense of identity and unity for all club members. It is with a sense of pride that our riders, parents and friends wear club jerseys at away meetings and on our new track. So what were the lessons learned? 1. First and most importantly, build the club as you build the track. The most vital asset
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of any club is its people power. United by a common goal, seemingly difficult tasks become possible. Engage all your stakeholders from the onset including the local community, club members and their parents, the committee, contractors, council and the state government. Don’t be afraid to ask people to donate time, equipment or materials. Business people are often more than willing to help community projects. Monitor your scope, schedule and budget closely. Monitor your risks closely. Weather and contractor delays were our biggest risks that impacted our delivery schedule. Send out regular communications and status reports to all stakeholders. Send letters of thanks or framed certificates to all suppliers and people who helped. Be patient and be prepared to problem solve along the way. Mostly, enjoy the experience, get everyone involved and watch your club grow.
Our next goal is to fine tune the facility and have it sanctioned to hold open meetings. We need to install a shelter over the start hill, install the transponder timing loop and finish off the spectator viewing mounds around the track. We can’t wait to invite riders to Ballarat in the not too distant future for our inaugural open event!
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BMX Australia Development Academy Coach: Luke Madill 24
One of Australia’s most prolific BMX riders, Luke Madill, has been appointed to the position of Coach of the BMX Australia Development Academy. Madill joins Sharon Willoughby in coaching the newly formed BMX Australia Development Academy. The BMX Australia Development Academy has been developed to assist athletes and coaches to develop to their full potential and meet the needs of Elite performance by readying athletes through the National Pathway for the BMX Australia High Performance Program. The academy caters for riders aged 14 years through to Elite and provides increased continuity and communication of performance standards within BMX Australia. In making the announcement, National Coaching Director Ms Anita Wells welcomed Luke to the role saying she was looking forward to working with him as part of the BMX Australia coaching team. “Luke has experience at every level of our sport both in riding and coaching,” Ms Wells said. “He’s a legend in our sport, very well respected by his peers and is some one who has a lot of passion about developing riders in our sport. “Luke has the ability of being able to see things through athletes eyes, knowing where they’ve been and where they are going, but to also having a coaching mindset around it all. “Luke’s passion for the sport speaks for itself, the only active rider to achieve Life Membership, he conducts coaching clinics for all ages and abilities as he continues to give back to the sport.” Madill is a multiple BMX Australia National Champion who represented Australia at BMX’s Olympic inclusion in the 2008 Beijing games. “As a racer I’ve been passionate about the sport and have been involved in coaching over the last 10 or more years now,” Madill said. “The BMX Australia Development Academy is really going to boost the sport; it’s going to give the younger athletes a lot more hope knowing they have the support to get them through to the top with the aim of being a part of the BMX Australia High Performance Program. “Prior to the academy, athletes would have found it difficult to make the transition from an age group rider into the elite categories. Now, we will be able to provide them with guidance to make the transition by giving them a stepping stone to the High Performance Program rather just being out of it all together.” As someone who has ridden at every level of competition, Luke understands the pressures placed on the athletes who are trying to achieve their dreams, his role will also be able to relate to the athletes to offer advice. “I’ve been there and done it at most levels and can give them the guidance they need, and I am looking forward to working in conjunction with the State Coaches and the BMX Australia High Performance coaches in developing our up and coming riders and coaches,” he said.
“I’ll be telling them the things they will experience along the way, hopefully making it easier for them to make that transition. Giving them the guidance to be at the top level and what to 25 prepare for regardless if its just training, travelling or getting ready for the international experience they are about to hopefully achieve themselves.”
Paul Connors
The Board of BMX Australia has announced the appointment of Mr Paul Connors to the position of National Officiating Director. Mr Connors, who has stepped down from the presidency of BMX Queensland fills the role after it became vacant at the recent Annual General Meeting. A Board appointed position, the National Officiating Director oversees and promotes the pathways of officiating within BMX, provides advice for officials regarding re-‐accreditation under the national framework along with chairing the BMX Australia Technical Committee. BMX Australia’s President Mr Barry Knight welcomed Mr Connors to the role saying Paul brings considerable national and international officiating experience with him. “The nomination process for the role brought out a number of strong candidates with the Board looking at all nominees,” Mr Knight said. “Paul’s nomination was backed by quite a lot of work he has undertaken proactively of which gaining his international accreditation through the UCI was one example. “The sport has such an international influence, and here in Australia where we hold several UCI rounds, the National Officiating Director needs to be of that high caliber.” Mr Connors experience spans over 16 years in the sport where he first rode when introducing his son Kerrod to BMX before becoming an administrator and being active as an official for the last 11 years. An official at the 2009 World Championships in Australia, Paul served as a National Commissaire during last years World Championships in Auckland having held similar roles during the BMX Australia National Series and National Championships. “This is a fantastic opportunity to move onto the National Board from being State President of the sports largest membership base,” Mr Connors said. “The last 11 years have seen me progress from club, regional and to state and then through to becoming a nationally accredited official. In 2012 I travelled to Louisville, Kentucky where the course was held to become a UCI international official; I self-‐funded my study with the recommendation from BMX Australia to the UCI to undertake the course. “From an officiating perspective a lot changes year to year. My role as National Officiating Director will be working with the State Officiating Directors through the BMX Australia Technical Committee. To continue the education and learning process for all of the sports officials right down to the grass roots.” 26
Anita Wells
The Board of BMX Australia has today announced the appointment of Ms Anita Wells to the position of National Coaching Director. The coaching portfolio is a Board appointed position and was created in line with the Board’s strategic plan for the coaching and development of BMX athletes and coaches, which has seen the formation of the BMX Australia Development Academy and to oversee the development of our coaching network including BMX Australia’s accreditation process. BMX Australia’s President, Mr Barry Knight welcomed Ms Wells appointment to the Board saying the role will form a significant lynch pin for athlete and coach development pathways within BMX. “The Board is continually looking within its own governance structure and appointing a National Coaching Director is in line with our strategies to develop our coaching networks and to develop our riders with quality coaching.” Mr Knight said. “Anita has done a lot of great work in Victoria through reviewing their development structure and implementing a new pathway for athletes. The BMX Australia Board saw the achievements of Anita and approached her to come onto the BMX Australia Board to give a fresh look at the coaching and development along with the Academy.” With a decade of BMX experience behind her, Ms Wells has been a club president and Vice President of Tasmania before moving to Victoria where she conducted a review of the state’s coaching pathway. “It’s exciting that my work a state level has been recognised by the national body and I now have the opportunity to expand that across the sport as a whole,” Ms Wells said. “My role is to lead and implement strategies to ensure the success of the BMX Australia Development Academy, which provides pathways for both athletes and coaches and the education of our coaches within the sport. It’s about developing a foundation behind the programs and continuing to improve the communication between all parties in and around coaching.” The BMX Australia Development Academy provides a pathway for coaches and mirrors the riders pathway. The pathway provides opportunities for State Coaches to work with BMX Australia Development Academy coaches in all Development Academy Camps as well as maintaining constant communication regarding riders within the Academy. BMX Australia is positioned well for the future with Mr Knight outlining the vision of the Board. “Our current strategic planning is looking towards 2020 for the development of our athletes and coaches; we are looking that far ahead. Already we can see BMX Australia athletes are in position to perform well in Rio 2016 and beyond through our coaching and development programs. 27 “BMX is the leading cycling sport in the Olympic arena and BMX Australia is driving that through its focus on the development of the sport.”
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2014 National Sign on Day
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On the gate Matt Juster Q: Last song you listened to on your iPod? A: My Life – Bliss N Esso Q: First bike you owned? A: 16” Repco Q: Favourite piece of equipment? A: That would be my iPhone Q: What famous person dead or alive would you like to meet? A: Would love to meet Chad Reed Q: What animal would you be?? A: Tricky question. Umm maybe a Lion or a Cheetah Q: What superhero would you be? A: The HULK Q: What does your race number mean?? A: The Devil #666 Q: First race? 31 A: Back in 1994 at Jingili BMX Club up in Darwin, NT
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On the gate Melinda mcLeod Q: Last song you listened to on your iPod? A: Free – Rudimental (Nas remix) Q: First bike you owned? A: Pink K-‐Mart bike Q: What’s your race number mean? A: 555 – my favourite number is 5 and 2008 Olympian Nicole Callisto (my favourite ever camp roomy) already had 55 so I added another 5. Q: What animal would you be? A: My mum’s cat – he is so spoilt.
Q: If a movie was made about you, which actress would play ypu? A: Beyonce Q: What superhero would you be? A: My mum Q: Left or right handed? A: Proud lefty
Q: Best advice you have been g32 iven: A: You go a lot faster if you run more than 40psi in your wheels!
Photo Gallery
The BMX Australia App allows you to send through a photo that you’ve taken on your smartphone while you’ve been at a race, practice or even just riding. Here’s just some of the many photos that have come in.
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NO BAKE PROTEIN BALLS Makes about 25 balls Ingredients:
Nunc cursus magna quis
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3/4 cup rolled oats
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2 tblsp vanilla protein powder
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½ cup peanut butter
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2/3 cup coconut flakes
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½ cup ground flaxseed
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1/3 cup honey
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½ cup dark choc chips (optional)
Put all ingredients into a food processor and mix till combined, then roll into balls. Refrigerate till set.
If you have a favorite recipe that you would like to share, why not email it to The Dirt as news@bmxaustralia.com.au We are after creative, yet great tasting ideas to feature. You may even pick up a cool prize along the way!!
Advertise in
Advertising is available in the monthly editions of THE DIRT. Reach thousands of people each month. BMX is a youthful, family oriented sport demographic. Members are aged b etween 2 years through to 70 years are located right across Australia. There are several options available from full page, half page, quarter page and strip advertising – from causal rates to long term. For a34 m edia kit, please call BMX Australia on (02) 9339 5800 or email news@bmxaustralia.com.au
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