Strange times our sport of BMX racing is living in, post the 2016 Olympics, and not just in Australia either. BMX Australia just announced a joint venture with the Gold Coast City Council to build a “high performance” centre just a few kilometres from where I started my BMX racing career way, way back in 1980 at the original Nerang track (the current track is track number three kids, pay attention up the back). Other SX tracks in the pipeline include South Australia, one mooted for Melbourne, in addition to the completed tracks of Sleemans in my home town of Brisbane, and in my spiritual home of Bathurst, NSW.

It is certainly incredibly exciting to see these being built and as my time as a pro is long passed,  I cannot imagine what it’s like to fire off that 8 metre ramp and whip it around those pro straights! But are we seeing the top of the curve as far as track progression goes as just this past week or so the UCI released a “bid guide” proposing changes to the way tracks are built with terms like “rider safety” being bandied about, along with a strong business focus to encourage countries to host World Cups. But the kicker? The acceptance that a 5 metre hill can be used for competition.

Then, a few days ago the COO of USA BMX, John David, released a response to John Purse’s Facebook post about the state of play of BMX racing in the USA; identifying that USA BMX is definitely focused on member growth and track operator survival. Pointing out that although more SX tracks are being built in the US, they are nowhere near as technical as the European tracks. The standoff between the pros and the Rio track builders at the start of the year highlights the question a lot of us OS guys are asking. “Who’s driving this design brief to make tracks bigger and bigger?” It’s certainly not the riders like Nic Long who have been quite vocal on track development.

Back here in Australia, I’ve had parents of riders in the 11 to 12 age groups quietly whisper to me that they really don’t want to see their kids racing off the 8m either. In a couple of weeks my home state titles are about to be run with A and AA pros running off the 8m hill. This potentially means that a 13 year boy or girl who has never ridden a 8m hill with a 30+ foot double at the bottom are about to pull the trigger and hit it up…. Just this week the organisation responsible for the event have decided that there will be a “competency assessment” for these riders to ascertain if they can handle the 8m hill and first pro straight (for the girls). Little 14 year old Johnny in A pro has to also ride the second pro straight at Sleemans. The first step –up is so peaky that snow forms on it in winter.

So I find myself asking if the boat has already sailed as far as the push to build these SX tracks because as Australia rushes to build bigger and badder SX tracks, the rest of the world is potentially scaling them back? As a rider (and coach of predominantly +35 year old racers) approaching the 50+ class, I struggle internally with my opinion of these facilities. I understand their position and sympathise with them as there is a lot of anxiety around racing on this track. What I feel is missing in our sport from certain sectors is the understanding that our sport can grow from both ends of the age spectrum in the blinkered view of “we need to develop future Olympians”.

Me personally, I just find Sleemans boring to ride. It’s an incredible facility, and having the new velodrome completed next door for the Commonwealth Games, brings a whole new level to driving into the venue. Awe inspiring even, and I hope some of the track riders wander over to check out the BMX action. Or even give it a go! But at the end of the day it’s just a huge pump fest after the second jump for most riders under 12, and over 30.

But what is perplexing that BMX Australia is building a SX track just an hour away this existing facility. What’s the agenda here? Whilst USA BMX is open and reactive to its member’s concerns, there’s very little information released about the Gold Coast facility. Who’ll be able to ride it and when for example. Speculation is rife that Sleemans will be bulldozed. That would be a shame for the young shredders I ride with there, and admire so much. Sure, a track in every capital city makes sense, but two so close?

And in February at our national titles, BMX Australia wanted all of the riders to support a partition to pry the High Performance Unit out of the hands of Cycling Australia (the HPU essentially controls our Olympic program), so who is going to ride the Gold Coast track if CA retain control of this program? Junior riders and Dynamites? 50+ cruiser class (Please let it be me!)

BMX is a unique sport in many ways. At events, family units (mostly) race on the same track on the same day. Unlike sports like soccer and football, the field of play can vary dramatically from venue to venue. It’s not just a grass field 50x100m with posts at either end. At the end of the day whenever I read something written by an older person grumbling about new SX tracks being built (hang on a minute…..), I check to see if a) they are a rider, or someone that rode for two weeks in 1982, and b) someone I respect as a rider or with the experience for me to respect their view.  A lot of supporting commentary for these tracks does originate from people who have never ridden a BMX track in their life, or certainly haven’t pinned it out of the 5m with 7 other blood thirsty racers looking to win a national title. But when parents of riders start voicing their concerns of their younger racers moving onto these hills, then it’s time to listen more closely to this conversation. USA BMX certainly is.

I’ll wrap this again asking BMX Australia to look at having rider representation to advise to the board. A position that can channel the concerns of riders and parents back to the organisation that ultimately represents the interests of the group. Providing input across a broad spectrum of operational and developmental programs from the view of the member/rider.

Keep popping wheelies folks.

ABOUT BRUCE MORRIS #84

• Brisbane Australia
• BMX Racer – 35+ years
• Fitness Professional – 25+ years of operating gyms and training people
• Coach 84 BMX Training – Coaching the 30+ racers. Spanning performance, fitness and healthiness