I love riding bikes. I started racing BMX when I was six years old and I have been on a continual path of shredding for the past 34 years. No longer a full-time racer, I have switched into my full-time coaching hat and community event builder. I love introducing Bikes to new friends, especially women and opening their eyes to the amazing community. We have built together.
Event Recap
June Beginner Academy Westmoreland BMX , Apollo PA
Every Spring and fall I host a new rider course that helps new BMX families learn everything they need to know about BMX racing at Westmoreland BMX. This 6-week course teaches the rider basic fundamentals both on and off the track, gate starts, pumping, turns, pack skills, training and jumping. Each class is set up for 1 hour of coaching and then riders get to have 5 practice races with each other before they get to race the general public. This slow introduction allows riders to get the jitters out before jumping into the swing of racing full-time. I strongly encourage all riders to complete the course on the bikes they own before they purchase any new equipment so the rider is the most comfortable on the bikes they ride on every day to keep their confidence high while riding the track. On the last day we do an award ceremony on our regularly scheduled race night and introduce the new riders one at a time down the starting hill. They all receive a Beginner Academy Jersey so they stand out in the crowd and local riders are encouraged to help them out if they seem lost. The success of this program has been so strong with our cycling community. Riders usually move up into Intermediate within the first year of racing and have the confidence to travel to state and Gold Cup races. This class helps both the riders and parents. I give them all the information they need to be successful racing BMX within the surrounding areas.
6/8/24 – Millvale Bicycle Rally – Millvale PA
The Millvale library hosts an annual event each year to help their community have bicycles. Mark and Mike Potoczny gather a group of friends and together we help riders fix their bikes if they have a flat or need some maintenance. Riders who don’t own a bike can pick from a pile of brand-new donations or refurbished used bikes. The community comes together to help ensure everyone has a properly fitting helmet. They host the event on their main street of town and block off a few streets. We had roller ramps set up for kids to try their new bikes. During the event, we also did some learn-to-ride lessons to help new riders learn how to balance.
Rider Spotlight
NINA BUITAGO
I wanted to take this space to thank Nina Buitrago for all her hard work since 2004 being the voice for the Women of BMX and the X Games. Reminiscing with her about all the memories each year brought and how the riders grew together each year they came to put on the demo. Looking through all the photos it was great to see all those who came to each event and how the bikes, styles and venues changed throughout the years. Thanks for all you do for BMX Nina it doesn’t go unnoticed.
DANIELLE HOVERMALE
When I host a Women’s coaching event I usually kick off the morning with a little speech to motivate everyone for the day. In my speech I talk about my goal as a coach is to spread positive seeds into the participants of the event to Inspire, Motivate and Educate them so they can go back into their cycling community and plant those positive seeds in others. I am super excited for Danielle Hovermale as she stepped into a new role as coach for her local NICA team. She is learning as she goes and is always smiling on social media giving her coaching recaps. It only takes one person who is willing to have the patience and guidance to share the knowledge about bikes with others to make a difference. So very proud of Danielle and her husband Matt to share the positive seeds in their community to grow confident kids who love to ride bikes.
It was awesome to watch Moxie Roller Skates have their first demo at X Games this year. I caught up with a few of the athletes to share with them about our journey with BMX and how to keep going because we had our moment this year and they can too!
