2019 Team USA Worlds Jersey Debuted

As part of this weekend’s 2019 UCI BMX World Championships qualifier, USA BMX debuted the Team USA jersey.  You may or may not know that USA BMX is responsible for the amateur side of the USA Cycling BMX effort at the Worlds each year, bringing a staff of mechanics, official chaperones and even a medical team to serve our boys and girls in red, white and blue.

The jersey is trimmed in those traditional Team USA colors but, as the top photo shows, the largest part of the graphic treatment is a camouflage pattern, reminiscent of a military uniform. USA BMX said the following in their Facebook post on the unveiling:

While the very first (of 2) Worlds Qualifiers for Team USA are taking place right now in Oldsmar, Florida – what better time than now to reveal the Team USA jerseys for 2019. Here’s what the Americans will be wearing in Zolder, Belgium this July – celebrating #Militaryappreciation.

As with most things these days, the comments on social media lit up pretty quick, with both sharply-worded criticism and glowing support (a little more of the former, as of this writing). Art is always in the eye of the beholder, of course, and in this case, even the dissenters are going to be wearing it in Zolder.

The 2019 UCI BMX World Championships will take place July 23-28 in Zolder, Belgium.

All-Six Gold Cup Finals Announced

USA BMX usually releases the location of the Gold Cup finals in dribs-and-drabs, earning cheers and jeers from racing families eager to book up hotels and arrange days off work (and just quench the thirst to know…it’s the not-knowing that is always the hardest part).

Well, for 2019, the good guys in Gilbert have graced us with all-six locations, all-at-once. DK Bikes is back as the series sponsor, and you’ll be starting to see the qualifiers on the calendar of local tracks near you–a few already in the rearview.

Here’s how it looks:

Locations of 2019 USA BMX Gold Cup Finals

GOLD CUP WEEKEND #1: SEPT. 13-15
NORTH CENTRAL GOLD CUP FINALS
Burdette Park – Evansville, IN

SOUTH CENTRAL GOLD CUP FINALS
Central Texas BMX – Austin, TX

GOLD CUP WEEKEND #2: SEPT. 27-29
SOUTHEAST GOLD CUP FINALS
Tanglewood BMX – Clemmons, NC

NORTHWEST GOLD CUP FINALS
Emerald Valley BMX – Eugene, OR

GOLD CUP WEEKEND #3: OCTOBER 4-6
NORTHEAST GOLD CUP FINALS
Shoreham BMX – Shoreham, NY

SOUTHWEST GOLD CUP FINALS
Chula Vista BMX – Chula Vista, CA

USA BMX put together a video, featuring all-six tracks making the pitch to lure you to their locality.

Some exciting places to see, and new tracks to conquer. Get your quals in and go for the gold (plate).

Links

DK Bicycles Website

Podcast: John David on 2019 USA BMX Rule Changes

Just prior to the Christmas holiday, USA BMX released the 2019 rulebook and schedule of national entry fees. The specific meanings of the changes on-tap for the new year drew a ton of online discussion, with some hair-on-fire doomsayers foretelling a “number plate police state” where riders’ scores are summarily stricken from the record due to an offending background color or too many logos. To say nothing of side plate enforcement at the nationals.

And, of course, the ongoing saga of “clips versus flats” in BMX Racing where the pedal pirates ply their trade, and argue passionately about the particulars of one over the other. We wanted to know just-what the problem is with clips that half the sport wants to ban them–or at the very-least restrict them.

With all this rumor, speculation and personal-opinion pontificating, News is stoked to welcome one of the key players involved in approving these rules, USA BMX COO John David. It’s always-awesome to welcome JD to the Announcers Tower show, where he never fails to lay-out the specifics of our questions.

This was a pre-Christmas taping, which we held til after Santa had securely returned to the North Pole. Not many podcast listeners on the wire while chestnuts are roasting on an open fire, and Jack Frost is nipping at noses. Today, however, is another story, as we see the BMX world is back to its regular-old-self.

Listen Now

So, without giving too much away, suffice it to say that USA BMX is not out to create a “Number Plate Police State,” nor impose any other overly-onerous admonitions in Anno Domini 2019.

Editor’s Note: At 23:19 in the show, we ask a question (off the topic of 2019 rules), about how number plate letters are assigned to riders at Nationals. Is it in order of “precedence” (National, NAG, and so-on down the line), or are letters assigned in some other way? This question is as a result of News seeing NAG and even National champions at nationals with letters over their #1s–which seems contrary to the spirit of those “earned” numbers.

At 25:05, John said he would get us a clearer answer on how this works, and that-very-day, we received the clarification from Brad Hallin at HQ. We will run that answer as a separate article, so as not to crowd either story.

—Mike Carruth

Links

Download the 2019 USA BMX Rulebook (PDF)

Download the 2019 USA BMX National Schedule (PDF)

Download the 2019 USA BMX National Entry Fee Schedule

2018 Grands Track Design Unveiled

We are inside the one-month marker in our countdown to Tulsa 2018, and as part of the final-approach checklist, USA BMX has released an artist’s rendering of the track. Like USA BMX Grand National tracks of days past, this one uses the floor space at River Spirit Expo to the maximum, with long, outdoor-style straightaways, and a large scale starting hill to send three-days of high-wattage, high moto count racing down.

Most notable is the third straight, with it’s half-diamond configuration. Go right, and the pro section will take you on the shortest path to the last turn, the Gold and the Glory. Go left, and you may-well see a “Welcome to Broken Arrow” sign along the way; it will definitely take you on the tour.

We will be interested to see if, as a final masterpiece, Billy Allen and his crew build the right side extra-gnar to equalize things, or if junior jumping skills will be all that’re needed to get though it.

Each year, as skills progress, the age of the riders taking the pro side goes down. We love watching the drama develop, as riders bet it all on a run to the right. Some pull it off flawlessly, others without much style (but make it through), and still-others tank into the water hazard, or wash up on the sandy beach, shipwrecking their dreams for a stellar season.

Our popcorn is ready, and News will be there for all the tasty photos. Stay with us!

2019 USA BMX National Schedule – Part One

Devotees of the USA BMX National Series gathered round the old Victrola in the living room on Wednesday to get their first glimpse of the 2019 National schedule. And by “old Victrola” we, of course, mean Facebook Live.

We love when we can put pins in next year’s map early, so the #NewsTeam was among those who drew near and gave their attention.

Here’s how it breaks out:

2019 USA BMX National Schedule – Part One

January 11-13
2019 Silver Dollar Nationals
Las Vegas, NV

January 25-27 (Three-Day National)
2019 Bluegrass Nationals
Louisville, KY

February 8-10 (Three-Day National)
2019 Sooner Nationals
Tulsa, OK

February 15-17
2019 Winter Nationals
Phoenix, AZ
(Pro Series Opener)

February 22-24
2019 Gator Nationals
Oldsmar, FL
(Pro Series/SX Series/Worlds Qualifier)

March 8-10
2019 Cajun Nationals
West Monroe, LA

March 15-17
2019 Spring Nationals
Albuquerque, NM
(Pro Series/Worlds Qualifier)

March 29-31
2019 Carolina Nationals
Rock Hill, SC
(Pro Series/SX Series/USAC Elite Championship)

April 5-7
2019 Super Nationals
Desoto, TX
(USAC Collegiate Championships)

April 12-14
2019 Great Northwest Nationals
Redmond, OR

April 26-28
2019 Dixieland Nationals
Powder Springs, GA
(Pro Series)

May 3-5
2019 Golden State Nationals
Bakersfield, CA

May 24-26 (Three-Day National)
2019 Music City Nationals
Nashville, TN
(Pro Series)

The USA BMX Facebook Live announcement (well-hosted by Mr. Chris Luna)

Props to USA BMX for putting together this nice walk-through of the places and faces we’ll be seeing on the trail in the new year.

We’re looking forward to hitting the infield in Vegas, with a fresh stoke, after the off-season (short, though it is). And speaking of faces, with the places, we’ll be watching for you in the viewfinder in 2019!

Editorial: “I Wish I Knew He Was Sick”

Inside a solemn funeral service for a well-liked member of the community, mourners file past a photo of the deceased. Some kiss the portrait, others make the sign of the cross on themselves in silent prayer, and many dab tears from their eyes, knowing they will never see their friend again Read more

Podcast: John David on Florida State Series

On May 17, BMX News reported the story of a USA BMX decision to suspend authorization of the Sunshine State Association (SSA) to promote BMX Racing events in the state of Florida (link below). SSA had run the “Florida Cup” series for decades, and there were a fair amount of opinions voiced on both sides of the issue.

A letter sent to tracks on that day, signed by USA BMX COO, John David, and CEO, BA Anderson, promised an all-track meeting on the afternoon of July 21, to “discuss structural options of the new series and finalize the details for 2019.”

That meeting took place, as scheduled, this-past weekend in Orlando. Two representatives from each of the 15 Florida tracks attended.

To recap some of what was discussed, and to give BMX News readers the details of what was ultimately decided, we are joined by John David, on Episode 143 of the Announcers Tower Podcast.

Listen now:http://www.bmxnews.org/podcasts/at-143-john-david-florida-state-series.mp3
iOS users: Paste the link below into your device’s browser
http://bmxurl.com/at143

We look forward to seeing the realization of these plans in the 2019 series, and are also-anxious for your comments on what John said, in the comments below.

Links

USA BMX Shuts Down Florida SSA Series

USA BMX Shuts Down Florida SSA Series

In an odd stroke of coincidence, yesterday was seven years to the day that ABA and NBL officials met in a hotel meeting room to discuss the terms of an NBL/ABA Merger (ultimately leading to the formation of USA BMX). It was also the day that one of the final vestiges of NBL racing Read more

Racing Returns to Woodward

Camp Woodward in Pennsylvania has deep roots in the sport of BMX—both in freestyle and racing. Racing has been off the menu for a while, but a new partnership between the megawatt action sports camp and USA BMX will bring BMX Racing back to town, effective this summer.

Dirt will be moving soon to get the track ready for the first happy campers, at the direction of Dirt Trendz Skid-Steer impressario, Lance McGuire.

Woodward will host four camps of six days each in 2018. Those dates, and the corresponding tuition are as follows:

July 29 – August 4 ($1499)
August 5 – August 11 ($1499)
August 12 – August 18 ($1299)
August 19 – August 25 ($1299)

We encourage you to go check out Woodward’s website (link below). On it, you’ll find the full depth and breadth of what they offer, at six locations (five here in the US of A and one in Mexico). BMX Racing is featured at the Pennsylvania location only.

Here is what USA BMX told News, in a release:

USA BMX and Woodward Combine Forces, Uniting Premier BMX Racing Organization and Action Sports Camp for BMX Racers of All Ages

USA BMX, the world’s largest BMX racing organization, and Woodward, an action sports and lifestyle camp, community and cultural icon, today announced a partnership designed to benefit BMX racers of all ages, all around the world. Included in the partnership and starting this summer is a new BMX Racing program at the Woodward Pennsylvania location offered from July 29 – August 25, 2018.

This summer’s Woodward Pennsylvania BMX Race Program will feature a brand new state-of-the-art track that will include a pro gate, asphalt turns, audio and lights. The track design, developed in collaboration with USA BMX and track developer Lance Maguire, will allow participants of all ages and skill levels to progress and have fun.

“We could not be more excited to partner with the world’s premier sports camp”, said USA BMX chief executive officer, BA Anderson. “Offering a BMX racing program to a wide audience of young kids is our priority, and by partnering with Camp Woodward, we are exposing BMX racing to an entire new group of kids.”

Woodward’s new BMX Racing director, Jason Toutolmin, will draw on his two decades of experience racing, event organizing and as a current USA BMX track operator to teach campers everything from bike and gear set-up to gate starts, sprints, turns and jumps. BMX Racing campers will also have access to ride on Woodward’s dirt jumps, foam box jumps, and resi-landing jumps.

“BMX racing is a natural fit with Woodward’s action and lifestyle sports programming, and a great complement to our existing BMX camps,” says Jody Churich, EVP and COO of Woodward, a POWDR company. “Each of our programs, facilities and handpicked coaches across the country are designed and selected to inspire and mentor kids through sport and culture. Like USA BMX, we are dedicated to enabling greatness in athletes of all ages and abilities, and this includes those who are training for regional or national competitive events, or one day the Olympics.”

USA BMX members who register for Woodward BMX Racing Camp Sessions prior to June 1, 2018, qualify for a discount of $200 off regular price camp registration. USA BMX Members who register between June 1 – August 25 will receive a $100 discount. Register here.

Stay an extra week and take their Digital Photography camp. Maybe you’ll find yourself shooting for BMX News by Fall. We always need more contributors.

If you skipped over the release, you almost cost yourself $200; if you sign up before June 1, you’ll get $200 off the tuitions we listed above. Slow-pokes registering between June 1 – August 25 get $100 off.

We look forward to seeing how this program develops. Stick with BMX News for the latest.

Links

Camp Woodward Website

Social Reply: Has UCI/USA BMX Relationship Helped or Hurt the Sport?

Posted on Facebook by Bryan Jones, we answer here, since the reply was too-long for FB.

In this question, we have to do something we do not normally do–separate, exactly, what “the Sport” is.

The bulk of the sport is rank-and-file families, who bring their kids to the BMX track to get in on some true family-oriented fun. Some climb the pyramid up to inter, expert, state races, Gold Cup, and national racing.

The tippy-top levels of the BMX pyramid is made up of Elites, with A-Pros (in the USA) below them, and hotshoe Experts who are considering making the jump to the next class-up.

The former, rank-and-file folks, are not affected by UCI at all (unless they go to the Worlds).

The latter are, however, affected in different ways.

The USA BMX format is, by far, the most mature set of BMX Racing rules in the world. Their self-contained system is set up to promote grassroots racing, on-up to the A-Pro, Pro Women and AA-Pro classes. No other country has such a system.

When an outside force, like UCI, comes in to place certain rules and requirements on the “American flavor” of BMX racing, it DOES hurt the sanctity of the American flavor of BMX Racing, though may not hurt “the Sport,” as a whole. Sit back, as we unpack it.

Three mains, for example, is a uniquely-American format, and is rooted in giving the pros more exposure to the fans. That is critical to sponsor value in supporting athletes.

Also: the inability for the USA BMX #1 pros (Men and Women) to run their #1 plate here at home (even if the UCI #1 is not in attendance), hurts the value of those titles and, by extension, pro/elite racing. (NOT a problem in 2017, with BIG props to our own home-grown UCI World Champions: Corben Sharrah and Alise Post!!)

That said, the pros have done some things to hurt their own program, without UCI or USA BMX influence. Namely, the Friday/Saturday racing schedule. News has been on-record as opposing that since its inception; it denies the Sunday crowd—which is appreciably-larger than the Friday crowd—the opportunity to see their heroes in action.

The reasons for having pro/elite classes, in the first place, are said to include “giving the younger riders something to strive for,” “giving kids ‘heroes’ they can look-up to,” and “providing ‘influencers’ for sponsors to represent products and services.” If that is the case, there is a lot of “optimization” available to make BMX Elite/Pro racing better for all concerned.

So, back to the question at hand: “Has the Relationship Between UCI and USA BMX Helped or Hurt the Sport?”

The UCI program is the gateway to the Olympic Games. The fact that all of the USA BMX Pro Series races are also UCI-calendar events HELPS our athletes earn both nation and athlete points toward Olympic qualifying. That’s a BIG positive.

But, it comes at somewhat of a cost to the “soul” of American BMX Racing. In order to be on that lympic bandwagon, USA BMX has to conform to UCI rules (one main, no USA BMX #1 plate on the track, etc), plus their “equal pay” scale for Elite Men and Elite Women classes.

All of the proverbial players know how that game works and, though the equal pay rule doesn’t make a lot of sense when you have 30 Elite Men and eight Elite Women, it’s a system born in the European tradition, the current thinking of which is equal pay.

OUR BOTTOM LINE: “The Sport” is a big place. In the US, we are fortunate to have the USA BMX system of proficiencies, support for local programs, and a genuinely-good “pyramid” that allows BMXers to participate at the level they are most comfortable. Can you imagine a BMX local scene where there was only one proficiency, by age, here in the USA? Me neither.

For those who ARE affected by UCI influence (Elites, mostly), to borrow a line from Godfather II, “this is the business (they’ve) chosen.”

Thanks to Bryan Jones for posting the big question.

—Mike Carruth

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