UCI BMX Names “Best of” for 2009 BMX Supercross Season

The 2009 UCI BMX Supercross season is now in the history books. With Sam Willoughby of Australia and Laëtitia Le Corguillé of France crowned as the Mens and Womens Elite overall series champions, respectively, it was time for some other awards, following the final in Fréjus, France.

BMXNEWS is impressed with the tack taken by UCI BMX to name “best of” honors for things like “Best Move,” “Best Coach,” and even “Best Crash” of the year, as it helps fans create a deeper bond with the riders, and those who have their backs, race after race, good times and bad.

This year, the categories were:
BEST CRASH OF THE YEAR
BEST PASS OF THE YEAR
RIDE STYLE AWARD OF THE YEAR
COACH OF THE YEAR
RIDER OF THE YEAR

The awards were juried by a collection of industry types, who know the players, and the process. They were:

Bas De Bever – UCI BMX Commission
Mike King – UCI BMX Commission
German Medina – UCI BMX Commission
Nadia Waelti – Swatch (UCI BMX Supercross presenting sponsor)
Jerry Landrum – BMX Mania
Robert De Wilde – Rider
Pete Dylewski – Freecaster.tv commentator for the SX series and Intense BMX Marketing man
Tom Ritzenthaler – UCI Track Builder

The Nominees were:

BEST CRASH OF THE YEAR
1. Andre Jiminez (Time Trials, Copenhagen)
2. Frank Heijne (quarters, Copenhagen)
3. Magalie Pottier (semis, Adelaide)
4. Barry Nobles (quarters, Copenhagen)

BEST PASS OF THE YEAR
1. Maris Strombergs 1/8’s, last to 4th Adelaide World Championships
2. Walker passing Shanaze, semis Copenhagen
3. Rob Van Den Wildenberg, quarters Copenhagen
4. Mike Day, 3rd to 1st, Chula Vista Semifinal

RIDE STYLE AWARD OF THE YEAR
1. Mariana Pajon (COL)
2. Mike Day (USA)
3. Kris Fox (USA)
4. Damien Godet (FRA)

COACH OF THE YEAR
1. Bas De Bever (NED)
2. Fabrice Vettoreti (FRA)
3. Ken Cools (NZL)
4. Wade Bootes (AUS)

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1. Eva Allioud (FRA)
2. Connor Fields (USA)
3. Corben Sharrah (USA)
4. Joris Daudet (FRA)

RIDER OF THE YEAR
1. Ivo Van Der Putten (NED)
2. Sam Willoughby (AUS)
3. Sarah Walker (NZL)
4. Donny Robinson (USA)

The voting completed, here are the winners:

BEST CRASH OF THE YEAR: Barry Nobles (accepted by Kris Fox)
(jury’s comments: Although getting injured in the fall, he shows some amazing crashing skills and we expect big things for him in the future)

BEST PASS OF THE YEAR: Maris Strombergs (View Video)
(jury’s comments: He blew everybody’s mind of coming from last in the most stacked event of the year).

RIDE STYLE AWARD OF THE YEAR: Mariana Pajon
(jury’s comments: This rider is bringing BMX to a new level, just by showing some cool style and in the same time going super fast).

COACH OF THE YEAR: Bas De Bever
(jury’s comments: This coach has brought his riders together, and bringing them as a team to the top of the podium)

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Eva Ailloud
(jury’s comments: This rider has done it all this year, podium at all major events. And this only in the first year in Elite)

RIDER OF THE YEAR: Sam Willoughby
(jury’s comments: What can you say about this rider, winning as Junior, winning as an Elite!)

BMXNEWS congratulates all the winners for 2009, and looks forward to next season of UCI BMX Supercross.

Thanks to Dale Holmes of Free Agent for supplying the photo.