And the 2022 Freedom BMX awards go to.....
NEWCOMER: MARIUS STOLL
LIFE'S WORK: ZIESCHLA & MAGGA
INTERNATIONAL RIDER: LEWIS MILLS
VIDEOPART: „CHECK“ VON KILIAN ROTH & RICH FORNE
TRAILS RIDER: PAUL THÖLEN
FLATLANDER: KEVIN NIKULSKI
PARK RIDER: PAUL THÖLEN
FEMALE RIDER: LINDA GRABNER
STREET RIDER: FELIX PRANGENBERG
READER'S CHOICE: FELIX PRANGENBERG
Officials from USA BMX Foundation and the Terence Crutcher Foundation announced on Juneteenth the launch of RISE, an innovative mentoring program targeting underserved youth in North Tulsa. RISE stands for Resiliency, Inclusion, Social-Awareness, and Education. The class started and finished each session on their bicycles at the USA BMX National Headquarters while guided and coached by Olympians and Pro BMX athletes. Through this journey, USA BMX hoped to increase the youth’s interest in STEAM and offer interested participants the opportunity to elevate their skills in BMX and create new circles of influence.
Three riders were selected based on participation and staff observation to compete in the 2022
The FAST AND LOOSE crew has members all over the world from all different backgrounds. It is the shared love of BMX that brought them together and formed the strongest bonds. When it came to building their Holiday 22 collection, the idea was simple: to make footwear and apparel that would allow them to stand out as individuals but still feel connected to the crew that reminds them that they are never alone. Featuring an exclusive FAST AND LOOSE colorway, the BMX Slip-On is made to handle the unique support and durability needs specific to BMX. Designed with BMX in mind, we added POPCUSH™ sockliners for extra cushioning and impact protection, DURACAP™ reinforcement, and WAFFLECUP™ BMX outsoles for maximum pedalfeel and support . . . with timeless style. Add in our brand new Van Doren Factory Pedal Recipe for a specifically formulated gum rubber compound to enhance pedal grip and durability, and you’ve got unrivaled BMX innovation to support your progression.
The Vans x FAST AND LOOSE BMX Slip-On is made with suede and denim uppers.
Relic are one of those independent BMX companies that know what they like and stick to it, no gimmicks, no flavours of the month, just well made BMX products with a classic feel. In their own words "we believe that the simplicity of a BMX bike is something to be valued and our products reflect this". Their parts and accessories are more aimed towards the trails and transitions style of riding and with a team of riders like Clint Reynolds and Lil Jon behind them you know that they mean business!
Ashley Charles (Relic's head honcho) has a solid sets of ethos and makes his decisions based around strong morals that he has gained from over 20 years of riding BMX bikes and all the great experiences
Sixteen of the top Flatland BMX athletes from across the globe will descend on the Crescent City for the 5th edition of Red Bull Circle of Balance on December 17. The hand-selected riders will take their skills to the floor at New Orleans’ iconic Mardi Gras World - a venue as atmospheric and artistic as the sport itself. Flatland is a complex and progressive discipline of BMX that can best be described as dancing on a bike. Bike enthusiasts from around the world can watch all the action live on Red Bull TV.
Sixteen invite-only athletes representing nine countries will go head-to-head in a bracket style, seeding competition. No ramps, no rails; just the riders, their bikes and the New Orleans floor.
BMX, the short form for Bicycle Moto Cross, is a sport that involves racing and freestyling with special bikes. It is an off-road form of bicycle sport derived from the popular Motocross Racing. Bicycle Motocross was invented in the USA in 1970 by Scott Breithaupt, and has grown in popularity over the years. BMX is divided into two categories, namely Racing and Freestyle. Nowadays, there is a host of events organized by top brands for riders to race or show off in a freestyle contest. These offer elite BMX riders a platform to showcase their skills. This article provides information about the best BMX events.
Best BMX Events Around the world
Bringing the heat to Abu Dhabi! Monster Energy congratulates team riders Justin Dowell and Anthony Jeanjean on taking silver and bronze in BMX Park at the UCI World Championships. The men’s finals closed out the 2022 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships with the BMX Freestyle Park Finals. Twelve men and twelve women competed in the finals, with three men and three women from Team USA making the big show. The crowd was excited to see the world’s elite BMX athletes throw down their best tricks on the world-renowned course. Monster Energy’s Dowell (Virginia Beach, V.A.) and Daniel Sandoval (Corona, Cali) represented Team USA.
Dowell, USA, has been consistent at World Championships with a win in 2018, and he took 4th place in 2019 and 2021, so he was ready to get back on the podium. With a score of 91.50, he finished the day in second place.
“My run is exactly how I like to ride – a combination of tricks back-to-back to back,” said Dowell. "I don’t like skipping ramps and pedaling around the course. That’s just really not my style. I respect the big transfers and stuff, but I am more of a back-to-back type of guy. I put everything down. I think that is a really technical way to ride, and it doesn’t always go right, but when it does, it is really special. To end up on the podium again at the World Championship for the first time since 2018 means a lot to me. I want to try for the top spot next year.”
Woodward, the global leader in action sports experiences, announced today it is expanding overseas, opening its first ever Urban Center in Sydney, Australia. Scheduled to open in late 2024, Woodward Sydney will be a world-class indoor action sports community facility with a state-of-the-art design that is progression-focused, catering to all ages and ability levels from beginner to Olympians. This is Woodward’s first expansion since the opening of Woodward Park City in 2019 and one of several major investments the company is making in the future of the brand and its commitment to action sports, which also includes renovating existing facilities at Woodward Pennsylvania and Woodward West; developing new facilities and experiences focused on safe progression; and
BMXing is one of the newest sports at the Olympics, being contested for the first time at Beijing 2008. It is one of the most high-octane spectacles at the legendary Games, with riders either competing against each other in terms of speed or tricks. BMXing was written off as a non-serious “extreme” sport for a long time, so its eventual inclusion generated great excitement worldwide. Sports bettors have also taken to Olympic BMXing due to its fast-paced nature, where winners and losers can change places in a heartbeat. It’s not the most common sport for betting sites to include, so make sure you play at the best. Reading reviews is a great way to find the leading platforms, and one of the top examples is BetVictor Canada.
But before you place a wager, have you ever wondered how BMXing got to the Olympic Games in the first place? Stay with us for the story!
BMX’s journey to becoming an Olympic sport
BMXing was originally a way for kids to emulate their motocross heroes – albeit on a vehicle without an engine. It originated in California as a racing sport before spreading across the US in the 1970s. Contestants race on bicycles that are generally smaller than usual, with wider handlebars.
There are commonly small jumps and other obstacles to navigate.
The International BMX Federation was established in 1981, vastly increasing the credibility of the sport. An inaugural 1982 BMX World Championships followed before it was integrated into the Union Cycliste Internationale in 1993.
This very much set the scene for a considerable BMX popularity boom, with events like the Japanese BMX Racing National Championships running worldwide.
When did BMX enter the Olympics?
The stage was set for BMX to enter the Olympics after becoming an official member of the cycling world governing body. Fans and riders would, however, have to wait a decade until it was formally given Olympic status in 2003. It wasn’t on the schedule at Athens 2004, first entering the fray at Beijing 2008. The BMX Racing event generated considerable enthusiasm at the Chinese Olympics. Māris Štrombergs of Latvia picked up the gold, with Americans Mike Day and Donny Robinson making up the rest of the podium. In the women’s event, Anne-Caroline Chausson won gold, with Laëtitia Le Corguillé and Jill Kintner taking silver and bronze, respectively.
Tokyo 2020: the addition of freestyle
BMX grew steadily in popularity at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Its popularity was at a peak by the time the delayed 2020 edition came around, so much so that a new category was added. The Tokyo 2020 BMX Freestyle competition was the first of its kind, pitting riders against each other in a battle of flair, skill and bravery.
The Australian Logan Martin got his hands on the gold medal after hitting a 93.30 score. Team GB’s Charlotte Worthington narrowly beat the USA’s Hannah Robert in a tense finale on the women’s side.
What does the future hold for BMX?
The future looks bright for BMXing. All eyes are on Paris 2024 after the sport’s significant success and popularity at the last few Olympics.
The Pacifico Performer by GT is for folks that are stoked on the outdoors. People who throw a leg over a GT and grab a Pacifico at the end of a ride are full of life, energetic and drawn to brands who left them define their own individual forms of expression. These piece value acceptance, discovery, and enjoying new things. GT and Pacifico celebrate the independent spirit – GT calls it Good Times, and Pacifico calls living life Anchors Up!
The bike is built to celebrate our shared heritage. It’s a limited edition bikes that blends both brands iconic yellow and includes several special touches. The bike is available for sale here The bike will retail for $1,015 USD, and once it is gone, it’s gone!