USAC BMX Elite Portraits

During our trip to the US Olympic Training Center/Chula Vista earlier this month, we were privileged to shoot individual headshots of all the riders taking part in the Elite Camp. We thought you’d enjoy seeing some of your favorite riders suited up in their Team USA Jerseys.

We are saving the goof-around outtakes for a more opportune time

Check Out The Photo Gallery Now

USAC Elite Camp Brings The Best to Chula V

A major contingent of Elite “Team USA” BMX Supercross talent flew in to the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA last week for the first Elite Development camp of 2012. BMXNEWS.COM was granted exclusive access to shoot some action during one of the training sessions.

We clipped the set down to the 49 best shots of the session, and are bringing them to you as soon as we got them dialed in. It was an amazing day for shooting in San Diego, and the riders were definitely in the zone.

The camp included 19 athletes in all, but Joey Bradford and David Herman had other commitments for the photo session timeframe. And Nic Long, Felicia Stancil and Tyler Brown posted early injuries and could not ride. We wish them a speedy recovery!

Other stars out of orbit this camp; Connor Fields and Alise Post were out of the country and Mike Day and Corben Sharrah were out of town on GT biz. We vowed to catch them on-course next time.

Click Here to View the Gallery

A big thanks to: Mike King, Andrea Smith and James Herrera at USA Cycling for letting us peek into their day. Team USA is readying some amazing talent for London, and this glimpse into their routine gives us a special kind of pride as Americans. Equal thanks goes to Amanda Carr, Amanda Geving, Arielle Martin, Barry Nobles, Brooke Crain, Dani George, Donny Robinson, Jared Garcia, Jason Rogers, Josh Meyers, Kory Cook, Tyler Faoro and Weston Pope for their style and willingness to “do that again!”

—Mike Carruth

Above: Barry Nobles gets it done on the second straight aboard his new DK scoot.

Intense BMX Makes 2012 Pros Official

Ever hear a rumor so many times, that by the time it is officially announced, you are compelled to tell the messenger “I heard that weeks ago?” Late 2011 had its share of those, but we are now putting the “confirmed” stamp on one of the “myths and rumors” posted on the BMX Newsroom walls.

We have heard grumblings about Brian Kirkham joining the Intense Factory team for a few weeks, at least within industry circles. Today, the news is out to the rest of the world, confirmed by the company. Brian takes over the pit chair previously filled by David Herman, and will be racing the USA BMX pro series events in the Intense BMX jersey. Through a sponsorship deal with Cycling Australia, Brian has been riding a Podium frame and other VSI products for a while now. This expands that relationship to a factory ride.

On the Elite Women’s roster, Arielle Martin will be staying aboard her Podium frame, and in the Factory Intense colors for the 2012 USA BMX season.

Of course both Brian and Arielle are also strong Olympic contenders for Australia and the USA, respectively, and the VSI guys definitely have hopes of seeing a Podium on the podium this August.

Look for the debut of the 2012 Intense BMX Pro squad at the USA BMX Gator Nationals in Oldsmar, FL next month.

The official release follows:

VSI Products Inc. is pleased to announce their 2012 Factory Intense Pro roster

Flying under the Intense Factory flag will be:

Brian Kirkham – AA Pro/ Elite Men – Brian an Australian native is incredibly fast and smooth and had an amazing year in 2011. Brian is eager to come to the states and race the USABMX National Series as well as UCI and Olympic events. Its a sure bet that he will be winning more often than not. A few words from Brian “I’m really happy to have VSI’s support for a busy upcoming season and I can’t wait to represent Intense all around the world. I have been using VSI products for the past 3 years and I can honestly say its the best bike and equipment I have ever ridden. I’m really looking forward to the year ahead.”

VSI COO, Gregorio de Haro, noted “We are so pleased to have Brian join forces with Intense BMX for the 2012 season. He has an amazing race record to date and has great ambition that will no doubt keep him winning.”

Arielle Martin will continue her Elite Women’s domination racing for Intense during the new 2012 season. Her primary goal is to earn the USA Olympic spot for the Elite Women and we are pleased to have Arielle sign on for another year and continue to support us as she strives to make the Olympic team. Arielle stated “2011 was an awesome year with team Intense, landing my first SX WC victory on home turf followed by a Silver at the PanAmerican Games was an amazing experience and I couldn’t have done it without the great support from the guys at VSI. I am thrilled to be staying with the company for 2012 as I make my run for the Olympics in August and chase down some domestic wins here in the states. A little forced time off to let a nagging injury in my hand heal after PanAms has me feeling fresh, re-charged, and ready for the season to start. My Intense rides have been the sexiest and fastest bikes I have ever owned and I’m looking forward to another great year on them.”

Adding to his comments on Kirkhma’s addition to the team, Gregorio de Haro said of Arielle: “We are incredibly fortunate to have an athlete like Arielle representing Intense BMX. In addition to the interest she generates on and off the track, she is a wonderful person to work with and a valuable partner in our product development process.”

Connor Fields Wins Pan-Am Games

In what could easily be a dress rehearsal for Team USA’s 2012 Olympic effort, four athletes headed to Guadalajara, Mexico for the 16th Pan American games. Representing the United States were Connor Fields and Nic Long for the men, and Arielle Martin and Amanda Carr for the Women. All four advanced to Friday’s main event.

Media coverage was spotty, and no pool photos were readily available of the BMX event, but we do have the bare results.

Connor Fields took the gold medal, with Nic in second. Andres Jiminez of Columbia was third.

In Elite Women Mariana Pajon of Colombia (and current UCI world champ) took the gold medal, with Arielle Martin of Team USA in for the Silver. Maria Gabriela Diaz of Argentina claimed the bronze. American Amanda Carr was eighth, and Dominique Daniels, riding for Puerto Rico, was also in the main event and took fifth.

Updated: October 22, 8:AM, CDT
Click here for video of the two Main Events.

RESULTS – Pan American Games

Elite Women
1. Mariana Pajon (COL)
2. Arielle Martin (USA)
3. Maria Gabriela Diaz (ARG)
4. Mariana Diaz (ARG)
5. Dominique Daniels (PUR)
6. Naiara Silva (BRA)
7. Andrea Zuluaga (COL)
8. Amanda Carr (USA)

Elite Men
1. Connor Fields (USA)
2. Nic Long (USA)
3. Andres Jiminez (COL)
4. Fausto Endara (ECU)
5. Renato Rezende (BRA)
6. Ramiro Marino (ARG)
7. Carlos Oquendo (COL)
8. Jim Brown (CAN)

Links
More on the Pan American Games (wikipedia)

Above Photo Courtesy of Mike King, USA Cycling

Podcast: Arielle Martin on Chula Vista Win

A World Cup win has been a long time coming for Arielle Martin–and, indeed, the USA Women’s BMX effort, as a whole. In fact, one thing you’ll learn in listening to this interview is that the United States has never won a World Cup event on the women’s side. Until this month.

We spend some time chatting with Arielle Martin about her historic win, about her next 10 months leading up to the London Olympics (and qualifying for same), as well as life after August 2012.

Listen Now

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Click here if you missed yesterday’s interview with Chula Vista Mens winner, Connor Fields

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This episode sponsored by BMXEDITS.COM

USA Takes Four Podium Spots in Chula Vista

Story and Photos by Mike Carruth

Read that headline again…four of six podium spots to Team USA in Chula Vista. The other two were Mariana Pajon with the bronze in Elite Women, and Raymon van der Biezen of the Netherlands. Sorry to have delivered the punchline in the first 35 words.

Now, look at the date on which I am publishing this story–a full four days after the event–an eternity in this business of go-go-go instant-everything content.

It just took a day or two to sink in, is all. Now, Team USA is hardly an also-ran on the SX scene, but this level of success is something we have not yet enjoyed. And I am not too proud to admit I wanted to savor the flavor, before I got to writing about it.

I signed off my Friday Time Trial story by saying “More History to be Made Saturday Afternoon,” and that is pretty much what happened.

The Pro-Gate atop the Swatch start ramp at the US Olympic Training Center dropped a total of 46 times on Saturday, October 1. Each time would be either a triumph for one or a defeat for another, in 172 different flavors and a dozen or more languages. With stakes so high, it’s tough to do it justice with the written word. But, I’ll try.

A War Ready to Jump Off

To help in that, I’ll rewind the tape to Friday morning. It’s about 9AM, and I’m already at the OTC, down by the Director’s Office, which is kind of the hub of the whole BMX program there. I am a bit early to pick up my media credential for the race, and sitting on the ground, kind of taking it all in.

Every familiar face tied to the Team USA Olympic BMX effort is in view– from Jeff Glynn to Jerry Bradford, Brian Fell to Kenth Fallen, James Herrera and, of course, the Director himself, Mike King. There are also a half-dozen or so support staff that I do not recognize, but these are likely the unsung backstage heroes that help the aforementioned keep the program marching ever- forward.

Athletes have their tunes, and their seat posts cranked to maximum height as they loop around the soccer fields, down “the Olympic Path” on warmup routines. Some are doing plyo jumps on the soccer field. To the left is Brooke Crain…to the right, Arielle Martin…darting in and out of the athlete’s mechanic space we see Corben Sharrah, Tommy Zula, Josh Meyers, Amanda Carr, Felicia Stancil, David Herman, Nic Long, Barry Nobles and a host of other Americans getting ready to do what they train every day to do.

The mood is one that I have never experienced in BMX before. There’s a palpable energy in the air, but it is all VERY, VERY subdued–gunfighter serious, really.

I imagine it to be the kind of mood that might be present in a room where SEALs are readying their gear, painting eachother’s faces, just before launching on a midnight incursion behind enemy lines. There is a strong component of “let’s get it on!” and at the same time, one of “this is a very fragile situation.” Adrenaline has raised all senses to their peak, and laser-like focus is the only thing that keeps things in balance. Don’t look down.

As an onlooker, you picked up instantly, with no words being spoken, that this was not a time for idle chatter, or casual discourse. Levity was a million miles away from this place. “Good morning” greetings are exchanged politely, but with a quick grin and a nod, then on to wherever the job demands next.

THIS is the BMX Supercross that the fans don’t see, and it is the place where champions are built, bit by bit–with the precision and deliberation of a master building a house of cards or a ship inside a bottle. Fragile, yet in the most artful manner that dedication and passion for ones work can deliver.

All of the riders and USA Cycling crew deserve the credit and the glory for their efforts on behalf of the 312,358,340 of us, commonly known as The United States of America.

That’s how the Racing weekend started…and we covered how it closed out that day: Two USA jerseys on the Superfinal victory step: Brooke Crain and Connor Fields.

With the stage set for Saturday, it was time to hit up the ABA US Open Nationals “upstairs” at Future BMX. A healthy 199 motos on the menu for Day One, as an appetizer to the “Big Track” action that would start at 2:30PM.

14:30 – Race Time

The SX race would be run in daylight this year, saving a boatload of cash to bring in crane-mounted lights, and also removing some of the element of chance for the riders as the evening dew set in on the starting ramp–a big deal the past two years.

Four racks of Elite women and eight of Elite Men were the result of Friday Time Trials qualifying, where 32 and 64 riders, respectively, advanced to “the big show.”

Racing got underway on time, after a moving rendition of the Star Spangled Banner was sung by US Paralympian, Lex Gillette (whom we have written about and interviewed here on BMX News in the past). Lex delivered the opener from the top-step of the awards podium, wearing the silver medal he won at the 2008 Beijing Games.

For those joining the program, already in progress, the three qualifying rounds are not called “motos” in Supercross parlance, but Quarterfinals for the women, and Eighthfinals for the men, run three times, just like…well…motos.

Team USA jumped out to an early show of dominance, as Brooke Crain and Amanda Carr took 1-2 in the first rack of the day. Amanda would win round two, and Brooke round three. Junior Elite champ Melinda McLeod of Australia was a consistent 3-3-3 in the qualifying rounds, and the ever-so-cute, ever-so-fast, Teagan O’Keefe from “SuthAfriga” made the move to the semis with Brooke and Amanda.

The crowd was stoked to see the next gate, cheering on first-time-SXer, Felicia Stancil of Team USA as she took the fight to long-time globetrotters Sara Walker of new Zealand and Magalie Pottier of France. There is no doubt that Felicia is going to be a big name on the Supercross circuit in coming years, and she led all three laps at one point or another. It was awesome to see the new talent right up on the old pros. Sarah suffered a big thump to the California clay, over the first set, in the very last practice gate of the day. She was down for a while, but obviously not too shaken, because she came to the gate ready to rock, come race time. Magalie ended up with two aces in rounds one and two, to Sarah’s double-deuces. Sarah took round three, and Felicia got in for the two-spot, with Magalie in the three.

Speaking of New-ish talent, Dani George of Team Supercross was looking very strong in Chula. She was double-F-FFast down the hill–the whole first straight, really, and led the W1 of Mariana Pajon first round to the second turn, where experience stepped in, and she hugged a tight inside line to pass Dani and take the round one win. Mariana came back to claim round two, but Dani took round three, with some challenge by Amanda Geving. Pajon got gummed up over the first set when Lauren Reynolds crashed next to her, giving the World Champ (and eventual Elite Woman Rider of the year) a fifth that trip. Geving and Nederlander, Laura Smulders would join Dani and Mariana in the Semis.

In the fourth rack, Arielle Martin was nestled up next to Aussie pal, Caroline Buchanan, who took the first round win. After that, it was all Airborne in the final two laps, with Caroline in the deuce. The rest of the field jumbled up a bit from round to round, but France’s Manon Valentino and Jana Horakova of the Czech Republic had their tickets punched to the semis.

Men, Men, Men, Men…Men, Men, Men, Men

Among the men, it was cool to see youngins Justin Posey, Austin Hiatt, and Jordan Miranda in the gate, having made it from the 140-rider Time Trial field into the “special-sixty-four.” And while none cracked the top six in their respective groups, they were in with the heaviest of the heavies, and that puts some rock-solid seasoning in the books for future outings. I’m feelin’ pretty confident we’ll be seeing all three names in a coming-soon-Semi, and beyond.

All eight racks had the same rider acing all three laps. First was Time Trial Superfinal winner, Connor Fields rockin the fresh new Team USA/Chase BMX jersey. Any hotter, and the Con-Man would have needed a full-discharge blast from the nearest fire extinguisher as part of his cool down routine.

Next was Aussie Brian Kirkham, then The Machine, Maris Strombergs. Fellow Latvian Edzus Treimanis was tops in rack five x3, and Redline Great-Northerner, Tory Nyhaug and household-name RL teammate Sam Willoughby were next with across-the-board wins. The final two groups were dominated by Elite Mens World Champ, Joris Daudet of France, and San Diego’s own Nic Long for Team USA.

Below the top-tire-at-the-stripe level, the men had some solid standouts, who could definitely be in the mix, come main time. Americans David Herman, Tyler Brown and Barry Nobles were all looking very strong on the day, Barry fighting back from a first-round superman over the triple into the first turn to get his SE double threes in the next two rounds to move on.

Dutchies Jelle van Gorkom, Raymon van der Biezen and Twan van Gendt were always right there to put the orange crush on any mistake by the comp, however small.

Deep into the third round, all hearts and minds were on the first straight as Donny Robinson, who Hypered-out to a half-a-wheel lead on the pack over the first set, came tumbling down just after the landing. Donny has had a bad stretch of injuries the past year or so, and the crowd held its collective breath, waiting for dR to get up. He did, thankfully. And while he had low enough points to qualify for the quarters. he sat it out. The good news is that we saw him tooling around later in the day, so all hopes are that he’s his happy and healthy self come ABA Grands time.

The Elite Men Semis would be the ones to watch, and re-watch, and re-watch on bmx-videos.com–specifically, the second one. More on that in a few.

WOW! And that was just the qualifying rounds.

Into the quarters for the men, David Herman had the holeshot in the first rack and led the pack to the middle of the third straight. That was when Connor Fields kicked in and sopped-up any lead the Hermanator had on him. Meanwhile, about 10 bikes back from David, Twan van Gendt and Carlos Oquendo of Colombia were cinching up their qualifying spots to the Semis.

Second rack had some pulse-quickening action, as Mike Day found himself in sixth, exiting turn one. Obviously, the Chula Vista track is as familiar to him as an well-worn pair of Nikes, and he made up some serious ground on the second straight, passing Robert de Wilde and Tyler Brown as they came into the berm jump. Strombergs had a solid lead with Tremanis and Frenchman Sylvain Andre in the two-three. Afro Bob, the elder statesman of SX, came close on the last straight, but Mikey closed fast and got the final transfer spot.

Next rack, Willoughby had it well in hand, but the battle would be for the balance. In the first turn, it was three-abreast for the two-spot between Josh Meyers, Tory Nyhaug and Barry Nobles. Down the second straight, Tory opened up a bit of a lead on Barry and Josh, with Sam still way-out-front. Weston Pope was in fifth as they hit the berm jump. Barry had serious momentum, and rocketed past Tory and Josh in turn two and it was three-wide down the third straight with Meyers, Nyhaug and Jelle van Gorkom going for the remaining two spots to the semi.

In the final rack pack, Kurt Pickard had an early lead down the first straight, but Nic Long, on the inside and at the top of his game all day, closed the gap with every pedal and backside. By the triple entering the first turn, Nic was in the lead, and Pickard was fading fast with Joris Daudet and Raymon van der Biezen breathing down his neck. Daudet stayed low into turn one, and came out in second, with Raymon right there, and Khalen Young moving up to replace Pickard for the four spot. And that’s how it finished.

Some say Semm-eyes and some say semm-ees.

Four gate drops would decide the Chula Vista “savvy sixteen,” and it was the gals gettin’ about it first.

The whole pack came off the ramp clean, but by the midpoint on the first straight, only four would be on two wheels (well, any wheels, really). Sarah Walker was down first, and out clean, but in the middle lanes, Felicia Stancil did a stiff-legged rotation thingy, reminiscent of Maris at the ABA Grands last year (which took him out for six months with a broken wrist). Slightly ahead of her, Amanda Carr, Aneta Hladakova and Magalie Pottier all crashed to the ground, and it was tough to know how that chain of events got started. Felicia, for her part, was thankfully back on her feet, and snorting with anger/disappointment and probably a sliver of gratitude for coming out of it in one piece. Hladakova and Pottier picked themselves up and finished out the lap. But Amanda Carr was still down…and it took a few minutes for the ace medical team to make sure she could move off the track with the help of her coaches, rather than a backboard…but she did. The pain of no main probably was as sharp as that of any body part.

The second semi roared down the ramp, with Arielle Martin on the chosen-outside. Dani George was snapping out of the inside lane, and seemed to get a little out of shape over the first set, costing her some valuable sliver-seconds. Caroline Buchanan and Arielle would battle for the lead as the pack edged toward turn one, but AMV15 had it in the bag as they passed the triple. Amanda Geving was in third and Dani was on the bubble. Mariana Pajon was in fifth at this point, but diving for one of her trademark inside swoops…which paid off big time, as she exited the turn in third, but gave Geving back the tre and settled back into the bubble spot…which is how it closed out at the stripe.

On the guy side, the first group was a nail-biter for Connor Fields fans. David Herman had command well in hand as the pack raced to turn one. The freeze-frame at that stage had it as Herman, Strombergs, Treimanis and a neck and neck dual between Fields and Sylvain Andre. Mike Day was back in fifth. Day dove for the mega inside in turn one, and came out in a three-abreast battle for second with Maris and Treimanis, with Connor joining them for a four-wide frenzy for the two-spot. By the berm jump, David was still long-gone in the lead, and the Con-Man creeped into second…so the final two transfer spots were going in hot and heavy between Maris, Day and Treimanis. HOLY COW!, as Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Caray was famous for saying! Day went high in turn two and did not emerge, so it was Herman, Fields, Strombergs and Treimanis racing down the third straight. Connor overtook David about midway down and the finish was locked at that point…Fields, Herman, Strombergs and Treimanis as half of the Chula Vista Elite Men Main Event.

The second semi had nuclear power on the pedals, as Sam Willoughby, Joris Daudet, Nic Long, Khalen Young, Raymon van der Biezen, Barry Nobles and Josh Meyers and Jelle van Gorkom all were on high alert for one of four spots to the main. At this level, every semi is really a main, and it can be any man’s race, but for a trim here and an extra pedal there. The pack came down clean, and on the backside of the first set, it was Raymon van der Biezen with a spoke nipple lead on Nic Long on the inside and KY on the outside. By the time all riders had gotten onto the backside of the first-turn-triple, it was Long, van der Biezen, van Gorkom, Young, Nobles, with Meyers on the waaay outside, looking for some daylight to do a dive-in, possibly. Willoughby and Daudet were camping out on the back 40 of the pack in seventh and eighth at this point. Out of turn one, van Gorkom carved the inside in a major way, and came out even with Nic, ultimately overtaking him down the second straight. At the tail end of the second straight, it was Jelle-don’t-call-me-jelly, Nic, vd Biezen and KY. Sam got a massive backside off the double heading into the berm jump, and moved from sixth to fourth by the time the pack came out of turn two. Down the third straight they came, as van Gorkom/Long (take your pick), Young and Willoughby. Daudet had moved through the pack as well, passing Barry midway down…and was in striking position of a main event slot as the last turn came into view. Joris was even with Sam, and on the inside, as Jelle took the pack into the third turn. Nic, KY and Sam were in chase, and Joris saw some daylight on the inside, which he took every bit of, and then some. That was when he, Khalen and Sam all went down, and Barry and Raymon steered clear to make it in.

Definitely some stompin and snortin on the parts of Aussies Willoughby and Young vis a vis Daudet. “Heat of the moment” stuff, according to KY in a post on Vintage, following the race.

I don’t hold grudges, or think what he did was dirty.

Things get heated in the middle of the battle.

I apologized for what I said, we shook hands and that was that.

Go Time – The Main Events

After a few more songs from On-Site musical guest, Faduca, 16 riders were climbing the mountain for two main events.

Ladies first, as is the custom. Today, it would be a full house; Americans full of Aussies, and of course Kiwi Sarah Walker, Colombian Mariana Pajon and the lovely and talented Teagan O’Keeffe (whose boyfriend, World Champ Joris Daudet, would be watching from the fenceline today, as previously noted). From the inside, the placement went Buchanan, Walker, Crain, O’Keeffe, McLeod, Pajon, Geving and Martin. Arielle chose the outside, because in the middle and inside, there can be all kinds of traffic, bar-bangin, people casing and other drama. The gate dropped, and it was on like Donkey Kong. At the frontside peak of the first jump, it was a packed group with, perhaps, Walker showing potential for a lead–WAY too early to tell, because 40 feet later, on the backside, it was Arielle’s front triangle that was leading the way. Into the first turn, AMV15 was firmly in command of this mission, with Caroline and Sarah stalking. That was the point when Brooke carved up the inside and put the mega-swoop on the Southern Hemisphere duo.

That was also the point at which you could see how much Brooke’s training is paying off in a major way. A year ago, it is doubtful she could have out-horsepowered Sarah Walker out of that first turn. Today, that was exactly how it went. Arielle and Brooke, on rails, down the second straight, and past the BMXNEWS.COM camera position (POP!- great shot!, below) Pajon was a bike and a half behind the Americans. That could have just as easily been the finish line, because the race stayed that way to the stripe.

Team USA had its first UCI BMX Supercross World Cup win for the Women in a long time, in the person of Arielle Martin. Sweetening the experience further, we grabbed the silver too, with Brooke Crain. The World Champ, Mariana Pajon, joined Team USA on the podium for her native Colombia. Pandemonium at the finish line, as media jockey for position, back of the packers still crossing the line, and the world spinning for the winner.

With the interviews and craziness at the finish line cooked off, it was time for the Men’s main event. Today’s gate was missing some heavy hitters, with Willers out of the race in practice with a jacked-up shoulder, and Willoughby and Daudet still cooling off from their tussle in turn three of the Semi…but still, this rack was stacked to the rafters. From the inside, we had Connor Fields, Jelle van Gorkom, David Herman, Nic Long, Edzus Treimanis, Raymon van der Biezen, Maris Strombergs and Barry Nobles. Half the spots occupied by Americans–another rarity.

The Bottom-of-the-hill holeshot belonged to Maris Strombergs, but Nic Long was milliseconds from the lead, as the pack hit the first jump. It was more or less a tie for third at that point, between Nobles and Fields. Over the second set in the first straight, it was neck and neck between Nic and Maris, and Connor was gaining ground, about up to Nic’s bottom bracket, and on the inside. In case you missed it in the last sentence, “and on the inside” is pivotal positioning for Connor’s day.

In a freeze frame we shot just as the race was entering turn one, we see Nic leading it, with Connor setting up an inside move that would write the day’s story. Farther back, in fourth and fifth, Dutch riders van Gorkom and van der Biezen are preparing to enter the turn as well. Herman is in sixth about eight bikes back from Nic’s leading edge. As we could see from a mile away, Connor made his swoop into the lead at that very moment–and not a moment too soon. Just then, van Gorkom’s front wheel broke loose as he was carving hard to get under Nic and Maris, who went wider.

As Redman put it later, Jelle took Nic and Maris down like a 7/10 split in a bowling frame (unintentionally, though it was). Connor said he heard a lot of crunching and crashing behind him, but steamed on, for all it was worth. He was clear of the carnage, and had the still-upright vd Biezen and Herman, seemingly stunned, riding after him. It wasn’t much of a race after that, with Connor crossing the line five seconds before Raymon and 10 seconds ahead of David. Our camera position was perfectly-placed in the first turn, and we captured both the pack all on two wheels entering the apex of the turn, and Connor streaking ahead, just as Nic and Maris were about to hit Jelle’s bike (above). Maris came over the backside of the turn, and took a minute or two to shake off what just happened, but he seemed OK physically.

And that, my friends, is the story of how Team USA captured four podium spots on home turf, in the final SX event of calendar 2011.

According to the UCI schedule posted on their site, the first SX of calendar 2012 will be back in Chula Vista (possibly on a new track??) March 30 and 31. If that sticks, it’s an odd placement, because the same schedule also has a UCI Class 4 race happening in Desoto, TX during the ABA Supernationals the same day.

Heading out of the venue, it was right around the time that the first round would have been over the year prior. The San Diego sun was setting over the Pacific, and the place was mostly cleared out. Three kids, who couldn’t have been older than six, were racing around on scooters, each swooping the other and making an “aaaarrrrroooom!” kind of sound as they did it. As the bigger kid kicked his machine into motion, he shouted “I’m Connor Fields…. aaaarrrrroooom!” and swooped under his buddies–just as Connor, himself had done to HIS buddies, about an hour earlier. A new Elite hero was created today.

Check out the Photo Gallery from the Chula Vista Supercross

Lex Gillette’s “Blind Faith” in BMX Racing

Story and Interview By Mike Carruth, Photos via YouTube

On BMX News, one of our primary goals is to bring you stories of extraordinary athletic accomplishment in the face of adversity. The rider who’s brain says “I can’t,” but who’s heart says “I must.” Our content is, by-and-large, all BMX, but the people who embody that credo are not always necessarily BMXers, by career.

Last October, we ran a story, written by Intense BMX Elite star Arielle Martin, talking about a day she spent on the Chula Vista Supercross track. It was not a story of the fastest lap time, or clearing this set or that. It was the story of a friend helping someone understand BMX racing in a way they otherwise could not, without her help.

That “someone” was two-time Paralympic Track & Field Silver Medalist, Elexis “Lex” Gillette. Lex is completely blind, but wanted to better understand the environment all his BMX friends at the OTC encounter on their day-to-day quest to make the 2012 US Olympic BMX Team.

Lex lives at the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista full-time, just like other Olympic (and Paralympic) hopefuls who are training full-time to represent our country in London next year. Lex’s training is substantially the same as any other athlete on the property, with special consideration given to their specific sport and unique training needs.

The day Arielle and Lex spent walking the track is wonderfully-accounted in the link below, so if you have not previously read it, we encourage you to do so.

But first, fast-forward to last week, when Arielle, and a few other OTC friends helped Lex take his curiosity for BMX racing a step further. They pulled an official “USA” jersey over his shoulders, strapped a helmet on his head and took him, aboard a “Team USA” Intense Podium, out to the last straight of the Beijing-replica track, for him to RIDE a BMX Supercross track, firsthand.

Video Of Arielle helping Lex ride the Chula Vista SX Track (will open in new window)

Now, to you and me, that might be challenge enough. But, think about doing it with a blindfold on, which is basically how Lex experienced it, and it elevates things to a whole new level of challenge.

The link to the video is also below, but we just had to get the full story from Lex’s own lips on his journey from being told, at eight years old, that he would never see again…to the Athens, then Beijing, Paralympic Games…and then to riding a BMX track that only our sport’s most celebrated and talented riders ever get the chance to ride.

It’s an interview that the entire family, regardless of age, should listen to, and underscores, in the most profound way, how you CAN do anything you set your mind to doing, regardless of the obstacles you may initially perceive are in your way.

Click Below to Listen To The Podcast

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Arielle’s BMX News article on Lex’s first walk on the track

Audio: The Song “Crazy,” By Lex Gillette, on his first BMX experience

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YouTube Video of Lex In Action in the Longjump

Lex Gillette on Twitter

Editor’s note: at :24 in the Podcast, we say Lex competed in two “Olympic” games. That should have been “Paralympic” Games. We apologize for the error.

Arielle Martin Expected Back for Winter Nats

After tangling with Ashley Lynch in Sunday’s main event at the ABA Gator Nationals in Oldsmar, FL earlier this month, Arielle Martin ended up with a fracture of the Fifth metacarpal bone (right hand).

She characterized the injury as “no big deal” and said the cast would be off the week before the ABA Winter Nationals in Phoenix next month.

But if you’re in a cast, you gotta pimp it out, right? Some of you may have seen AMV15′s custom-painted Intense Podium at the first few races this year. Well, even though she’s off the bike, she is still reppin Intense in a big way with a graphical riff on her ride, put on the proverbial plaster.

We’ll catch up with Arielle at Speedworld to bring you the latest on her comeback.

Team USA Women Train with US Navy SEALs

Last month, Alise Post’s Facebook profile had a photo album from the Fréjus trip showing her, Amanda Geving, Arielle Martin and Brooke Crain having some pre-race fun on an obstacle course in the French countryside. On one of the photos, we wrote “I can see the headline now: ‘Elite BMX Women the first females accepted in to Légion étrangère’ (the French Foreign Legion).”

Naturally, we were kidding. But when we got word this week that three of them took in a day of training with the US Navy SEALs…well, who knows what may lie ahead. Like the movie “GI Jane,” Oakley gear and all.

In all seriousness, there is no doubt that graduates of the SEALs 24-week “BUD/S” (for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) school are among the most capable and respected operators in the history of warfare.

In BMX Racing, we have a deep respect for our top-hand athletes, who live, eat and breathe their craft. When they are not on an airplane to the next “job site,” they are training relentlessly to get ready for the gig. Brooke, Arielle and Alise took that training to a new level this week when they (along with the USA Velodrome team) joined the SEALs at their base in Coronado, CA (near the US Olympic Training Center/ Chula Vista). The fact that these three BMXers could keep up with the elite SEAL recruits for a full day of training shows the level of physical and mental conditioning involved in BMX Racing at the highest level.

News asked Arielle, Brooke and Alise to write a few paragraphs on their experience. We are very proud to bring you their story.

By Arielle Verhaaren
I first heard about “Navy SEAL Training” back in ’08 when the USA Track and Field team went through it. Rumors started flying around the OTC about how brutal it was, how many people dropped out, and how sore they all were when it was over. Even back then, I immediately started asking how I could get in on this gig. As a military wife, with a husband serving in Special Operations, I have a great deal of respect for the Special Forces. It is universally-agreed among all military branches that the Navy SEALs “BUD/S” course is the toughest, roughest and most revered training a soldier can receive. Of course I wanted in!  Two years later, our Sports Psych had it arranged and Alise, Brooke, and myself were off to Coronado to throw down the gauntlet, along side USA Velodrome.
 
I’ll let them tell you how tough it was, how teamwork took us to the top, and how much sand we are still finding in places it doesn’t belong. I have never done anything so physically demanding in my life. Being so far out of the familiar BMX training element forced us to dig deeper than we thought possible–just to survive. I’ve never hated running and push ups more than I did that day. It’s amazing what the human body is capable of, and how much farther it can be pushed once you find that state of mind and turn it on. My body was absolutely trashed when we finished (still is actually) but i’ve been on a mental high ever since. It was a very special experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I have been humbled as an athlete, a wife, and an American.

–Arielle Verhaaren

By Brooke Crain
When the OTC Sports Psychologist invited me to do a day of training with the US Navy SEALs, my first thought was “I’m going to die out there.” But of course I wanted to do it.

We started out with a warmup run–up, then down the sand hills on the base. After that, I was already feeling tired. As everyone in the BMX world knows, we are sprinters not long distance…anything. The SEALs training was, by far, the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.

Being the youngest one in the training, I was chosen to be the leader. I was not very thrilled about this because I don’t like yelling at people– especially people I don’t know. Being the leader, I would call out “down” and “ready,” in the drills. Toward the end, when I had to call the push ups, we were all in the “up” position for what seemed like hours. My arms were burning I just wanted to quit. Tears were rolling down my face, but I pushed through it.

Two days later, I am still sore all over my body. Training with the SEALs will make me think differently in life. These guys are incredible, and how they do what they do every day is amazing. I learned how much the body can take, even when you think it can’t handle anymore. I learned that there is a “switch” in your head that tells you that you’re tired, but if you can learn to turn that switch off and keep going you can do so much more than you ever thought possible. I had to dig down deep for this training and I’m very proud of what my teammates and I accomplished.

I learned a lot about my teammates, Alise and Arielle, that day. We have become a lot closer just by going through that pain together. We worked as a true team for the first time, and we were there for each other–rather then it always being a competition between us.  It was an amazing experience, that I will never forget. Training with the Navy Seals made me so thankful for all of those who serve our country and how much hard work they put in just so we can all be free. Those men and women are amazing and I couldn’t thank them enough.

—-Brooke Crain
 
By Alise Post

“Hey ladies, what do you think about training with the Navy SEALs for a day?”

“Oh heck yeah! The track and field people did that and said it was so hard a lot of people had to ‘tap out.’ I wanna see if I’ve got what it takes!”

When I accepted this offer from USOC Sports Psych Wendy Borlabi, it was definitely my competitive side speaking. After hearing about the difficulty of the training, of course I wanted to test my abilities (because that’s what athletes do…they compete–in EVERYTHING!). And honestly, I also wanted to prove to myself that I am just as tough as the big crazy meatheads who yell all the time just to put fear in people; that’s the kind of people I thought Navy SEALs were. However I learned a lot about the approach and reasoning behind their training, and actually gained a lot of respect for what they do, and the kind of person it takes to become a SEAL.

I won’t lie that I went into this pretty nervous, but was still confident that with my history in sport, and Arielle and Brooke right there with me, I would be able to push through just fine. My confidence however, was tested immediately when we got to the base in Coronado and started with a “light” run up and down a giant sand berm over to the classroom. Every one of us was already panting pretty heavily at this point, and sadly I questioned if I would actually be able to make it through the whole day in those first 10 minutes.

When we got into the classroom though, my emotions took another turn. I was completely inspired by their stories, and explanation to why they were so hard on their soldiers, because in all actuality it related a lot to the mentality of sport. They physically break their soldiers down to the point that their bodies can no longer function without using mental toughness. They force them to use the power of the mind, while under pressure, so they can prove they have what it takes under any circumstances to perform their tasks. As if that doesn’t sound familiar enough to an athlete’s mentality, they talked about some of the techniques they use to get through tough times: goal setting, visualization, motivational self-talk, and breathing. It was great to hear these things, then directly apply them to a situation completely out of my comfort zone and see how well I was able to cope.

We started with the giant obstacle course (O-course), which I found myself to get through without too much of a struggle. Having gained some confidence back, I had high hopes for the rest of the day. Then, when we moved into running over sand berms, carrying logs and boats, and being covered from head to toe in 10lbs water weight and 10 lbs sand (that was blinding you with no way to rub it off), all while being timed and with limited hydration, my emotions took yet another turn. It took a ton of mental toughness, not only to get through MY day…but also to support my teammates and help them get through theirs, as they were helping me. Brooke, Arielle, and I suffered a lot of pain together that day, and I believe we created a bond through that which will only help us work together to become the best we can be down the road.

I thank the Navy SEALs for the emotional roller coaster ride of a lifetime and teaching me a lot about my teammates, and myself. I gained a lot of respect for what they, and all military, do day in and day out. I will carry the values they taught me throughout my BMX career and everyday life.

Oh, and I guess I’d also like to thank them for making me the sorest I’ve ever been as well =)

–Alise Post
Redline #1

Photos courtesy of Daniel Walker, via Facebook

Arielle Martin On “Inspiration”

Arielle sent around an email today with a wonderful story about a friend of hers, a Paralympian, who also trains at OTC/Chula Vista. The story was so moving, that News asked her if we could reprint it for our readers to enjoy.

For all the complaining and self-limitation we sometimes let filter into our everyday lives, Elexis “Lex” Gillette reminds us that our world is literally brighter than we could ever imagine (and so is his, by the way).

A big thanks to Arielle for sharing this story of inspiration.

INSPIRATION

When I think about the opportunity I have had to live and train at the Olympic Training Center, what comes to mind is not the world class equipment, the physio, the state of the art technology, or the best SX course in the world. Its the other athletes. The ones I eat lunch with, live with, and pass on the campus en route to training. Athletes that inspire me to be a better athlete, to work harder as I see them work harder. Diversified in many different sports we are all united in one common goal: The Olympics.

None have impacted me more than Elexis Gillette. At first glance Lex appears to be a typical Long jumper. A long, dark muscular body with an obvious athletic astuteness and awareness of a high-caliber athlete. Always surrounded by people, Lex has an energy that is contagious, a smile always on his face, and it usually takes two or three glances before the average person finally realizes that he is completely blind.

It never ceases to amaze me how he gets around campus on his own, often without his walking stick. Or how he always knows its me when I walk in the cafeteria and shouts my name before I have spoken his. If that’s not inspiring enough his athletic ability is phenomenal. Watching him charge a runway to the sound of his guide runners claps before launching himself blind into a pit of sand seems impossible. A silver medalist in Bejing, Lex has proved the impossible wrong. His blindness has only made him more aware, and his attitude being so positive all the time makes me wonder why I complain about the small things.

Lex has an insatiable curiosity, and after attending our World Cup a few weeks ago he asked me if I would take him out to walk our course so he could “feel” it. Understand it. I was hesitant at first to take him to the top of the 3 1/2 story start ramp, but he insisted we walk it from start to end. Over the next 45 minutes he touched and felt every lip, landing, berm and surface while I explained it to him. It was an incredible experience for me, I had never seen the course like this before. As I was describing it to him while his fingertips were touching the gate, the ramp, the soil-tac on the dirt, it was opening my own eyes. Like I was seeing it for the first time.

Lex also happens to be an incredible musician. He writes, he sings, he plays. Its evident after spending just a little time with him that his real passion is music, none of us that know him doubt that he is going somewhere with it. He has real talent.

After we went out to the BMX track, Lex wrote a song about it. Below, you will find an MP3, accompanied by the lyrics. Its raw and funny. I thought it was pretty cool, and I felt like sharing, hence this email. The experience has inspired me.

Arielle

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“CRAZY”
By Elexis Gillette
—————–

45 degrees, go
and let the Red Bull take control
lights, camera, action
all in your peripheral
now you see me, now you don’t
take a risk, take a chance
don’t worry lil mama I might crash
it’s my sport, it’s what I choose
broken bones is just a bruise
you think that my screw’s loose?

little bit crazy
what you think about that?
little bit crazy
a little bit crazy
everybody think it’s a little bit crazy

I go hard or go home
and break competitors off like they Styrofoam
burning rubber bringing steam
you just wanna make a team
but I live American dreams
so go ahead and let the titans clash
we might need a … ambulance
I can make ya swerve in my velodrome
only one can take the throne

keep the rhythm bring it home

little bit crazy
what you think about that yo?
little bit crazy
a little bit crazy
everybody think it’s a little bit crazy

clip ‘em in, take a ride
pick a lane, you decide
hit the ramp, ride the sky
make the crowd lose their mind
clip ‘em in, take a ride
pick a lane, you decide
hit the ramp, ride the sky
While L.E.X. expand your mind

when I’m up in the race I’m all up in your face
and I got speed no one can replace
just kill the chase, can’t keep with the pace
don’t you know I be pushing the sounds, what
324 is where I make hits
ladies just go write your numb down
and fellas be looking like “who this?” like “who this?”
I’m that one that’s rolling and flowing and holding it scrolling it
I be controlling it through the crowd and then I’m just like “cool it now”
need to slow it down
everybody just jump jump and break it down
I got BMX on my hip, hula!
running the table, Don Shula
if you think that you a ruler wake up and smell them tulips, yeah
better get out the way when I get out my cage
red white and blue when I get on the stage
30MPH and I’m up in a rage

cause it’s a little bit crazy
a little bit crazy
BMX is so crazy
everybody say it’s a little bit crazy
it’s a little bit crazy
everybody say it’s a little bit crazy

---

Elexis Gillette Links:

http://usparalympics.org/news/2009/06/03/lex-gillette-finds-time-to-give-back/13243

http://mysocalledfabulouslife.blogspot.com/2009/06/athlete-spotlight-lex-gillette.html

Photo via Lex Gillette’s Facebook Page

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