i want to ride my bicycle

BMX racing. Don't ask me what it stands for, but ask me what it means and I'll tell you.

It's not what you think. They don't do backflips, frontflips and triple-quadruple flips.

It's crazier. These athletes go shooting down a 3-story tall ramp then launch into the air, all w/ only a helmet to protect them. And then they keep going. The key is speed. You jump, but get back on the course as quickly as possible. An Elite (which is the top level a BMX racer can reach) finishes this course in about 36 seconds. The Supercross tracks are around 1,300 ft long. That's almost a mile. Can you bike a mile in under 40 seconds?? Didn't think so.

There were two huge BMX races this weekend: UCI Supercross World Cup, where Elite Men and Women from around the world competed, and the ABA Nationals, inviting over 1,000 racers of all ages to come out to the Chula Vista OTC. BMX is big out here on the west coast. Specifically Californians love their BMX. Over 5,000 people showed up w/ their RV's and personal bikes to invade our campus. It was stressful at times (Driving a golf cart @ night w/ no headlights almost gave me a heart attack), but SOO worth the lack of sleep. Taking pictures and video of the entire event made up for the four hours of sleep I got most nights.

I think the coolest part was working behind the scenes. Not only did I help w/ the set-up, but I knew of most the USA BMX riders. They had a huge training camp here for two weeks before this event to prepare. When I first met them, it would be in the cafeteria or Athlete Check-In. They were so normal. Seeing them in their element, on the track, it gave me so much respect for them. Some of them are 16 years old, seriously risking their lives to pursue their dreams. Talk about crazy.