The Dirt, November 2016

THE

DIRT NOVEMBER 2016

SAYA vs. THE WORLD Cover pic by Jerry Landrum/BMXMania.com

CONTENTS Sam Willoughby Update..................3 Meet Joel Ulbricht.............................4 BMX Sports WA, 2016 State Championships...................................6 BMX NT, 2016 State Titles................8 COVER STORY: Saya vs. The World....................................................10 PROFILE: April Seilers, 15 BMXQ State Championships......................18

Sam Willoughby update words by Sharon willoughby It is hard to believe that it has been more than 10 weeks, coming up to three months since we received the phone call informing us that Sam had crashed while training in Chula Vista, USA and was being airlifted to Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego to undergo surgery to replace his C6 vertebrae and screw a plate to the C5 and C7 vertebrae.

Sam is now well into his inpatient rehabilitation program in Craig Hospital, Colorado where he continues to work hard and push the boundaries.

Sam is doing really well with all of his functional skills and becoming more and more independent everyday. He is regaining a lot of upper body strength, better core balance, and a bit more sensation throughout his lower body, which is really encouraging.

We would like to thank everyone for their prayers, kind words of encouragement and support for Sam and us as a family. This along with the generous donations to the road2recovery fund is sincerely appreciated and will assist Sam in his long journey, along the road to recovery.

You can support Sam and his family at: https://road2recovery.com/causeview/strengthfor91/ Inset: Sam Willoughby’s fiancÊ Alise Post has been providing regular Facebook updates and fundraising initiatives!

MEET JOEL ULBRICHT eVENTS MANAGER AT BMX AUSTRALIA! With the 2017 BMX Australia domestic season fast approaching, fast-talking, former music industry events professional Joel Ulbricht has joined BMX Australia as Events Manager, and is eyeing a collaborative future for the sport.

For well over a decade Ulbricht has been involved in event management, leaving school at the age of 17 to pursue the career. His first real gig was at ‘Schoolies Week’ 2003, which was also the first time that the government funded the annual school leaver’s party week.

Since then Ulbricht spent time working in the music industry throughout needed successful relations. the Asia-Pacific region, had a brush with sport and even former politician Bob Carr.

“Earlier this year I managed the Indigenous Football program for Football Fed“My events experience is highlighted by eration Australia. It was my first taste of the past 10-years, which I have spent sport, and when I saw how quickly BMX working in event management for largeAustralia has emerged, and grown I knew scale music festivals in Asia, Australia I wanted to be there to help enhance and New Zealand,” Ulbricht said. events and commercial opportunities.”

“For much of that time I lived overseas, With plenty of experience, and evident and during the 2007 - 2008 global finanskills in building strong relationships, cial crisis I was based in Hong Kong, which was certainly an interesting time in Ulbricht is aware of what he would like to deliver BMX members at events, and the industry. what he wants to achieve in the sport.

“In 2010 I also found myself working as a “I think the members can expect a lot of consultant for the ‘Institute of Chartered questions from me in the interim,” he said.

Accountants’ and worked with former NSW Premier and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Honourable Bob Carr “The big thing that I want to bring to the table is to make sure that everything from on a paper named ‘Big Issues, Small the Chambikx/Probikx UCI, Grands AsWorld’. It looked at the relationship besault National Series and National Chamtween China and Australia and why we PAGE | 4

pionships are all run with world class excellence.

“I also want to make sure that all of our stakeholders work together. Everyone from club level to national level needs to be moving in the same direction.

“My goal is to work collaboratively with all our stakeholders and work through events with an ‘us’ approach. I want a strong culture to be developed between local, state and national administration.”

Ulbricht has been on the job since mid-October.

sIX QUESTIONS WITH JOEL ULBRICHT Q: How do you pronounce your last name?

JU: All-bright, it’s much simpler than it seems.

Q. What’s your favourite food?

JU: Chicken wings, with Frank’s hot sauce Q:Do you have any superstitions?

JU: No, but I do like to play basketball wearing number four Q: If you were Prime Minister for a day, what would you do?

JU: Sign off on three day weekends – for longer BMX events!

Q: What would you do with your last $20?

JU: Buy a kilo of chicken wings and a bottle of Frank’s hot sauce.

Q: If the only way to get the job as events manager at BMXA was to ride a supercross track, without any training, would you have done it?

JU: Yes, and I would have used the 8-metre starting hill!

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BMX Sports WA 2016 State Championships 700 riders, 100 volunteers - Great racing! why they are a great choice for largescale events, and have a history of hosting the BMX Australia National Series as well as state championships in the past as well. Despite being well known, the track was still booked out for months prior to the state titles as riders dialled themselves into the track in the lead up to the event.

Knowing that track time is paramount for riders, Westside also hosted two pre-state events the week before the big dance, which gave riders another opportunity to spend time on track.

There’s no doubt that our Western Australian fans are some of the most passionate! Leading the charge is CEO of BMX Sports WA Tania Wehr, who penned this report following the 2016 WA State Titles.

Westside BMX Club played host to the 2016 State Championships in October, delivering an exciting few days for the record 700 riders who all hit the track in the hope of winning a state championships trophy.

The event was held in the second week of the school holidays, so as not to clash with the popular AFL Grand Final weekend. Held from Thursday October 6 to Saturday October 8, the dates allowed for riders from country areas and their families enough time to return home prior to the commencement of the fourth school term of the year.

Westside BMX Club continued to show PAGE | 6

As always though, even the best plans can be subject to the weather gods, and the weather forecast didn’t look promising in the days prior to racing. It left competitors, officials and families waiting with baited breath, and a full compliment of wet weather gear, to see of the weather presenters on the local news would be correct.

For good measure, there were also predictions of 100 kilometre and hour winds.

When day one rolled around it seemed as if the prayers for good weather had been answered, mostly, and racing began with 22 Mini Wheelers. Riders ranging in age from two to four-years-old, with helmets disproportionate to their body and their balance bikes made their way around a portion of the track to the sound of encouraging cries from their parents, stealing the hearts of the crowd in the process.

Although the state titles are a significant focus for older riders, the Mini Wheeler

program has become a major part of BMX racing in Western Australia and indeed nationally as a grassroots starting point for many athletes. There aren’t many other sports where a rider can begin at twoyears-old and have a clear pathway to one day, maybe competing at the Olympic Games!

With the Mini Wheelers done, the winners received their gold cup with pride, although the chocolate frog inside the cup was seemingly more popular than the main prize! Thanks to Associate Professor, Chris Abiss from ECU University in Joondalup, PHD Candidate Lynne Munro also from ECU in Joondalup and Joe McCarthy High Performance Manager at Westcycle who presented the youngest riders with their awards.

10 Year Awards: Dylan Bennetts, Matthew Fitzgerald, Jamie Gill, Kaitlin Gill, Mitchell Gill, Caleb Long, Madison Long, Mitchell Pianto, Justine Short, Alyssa Skidmore and Tyler Verschuren

15 Year Awards: Kirsten Dellar, Airlie Gooden, Michael Purser With formalities done and dusted it was time for the 20inch events, including the elite classes who were ready to take flight down the pro straight.

A new addition to assist judges in 2016 – especially for the older and faster riders - was a camera system introduced by BMX Sports Western Australia to record riders placing as they crossed the finish line, decreasing the chances of tied first places as has happened in previous years. There was also electronic timing, Up next were the 89 Sprocket (five to sev- available online as soon as placing’s had en-year-olds) and popular Cruiser (eight been confirmed. to 50+) classes, with the first big events for state plate number one on the line.

It wasn’t just for officiating purposes that images were used, a selection of events The importance of the Cruiser class is were also live streamed to the BMXWA two-fold. For some it is their primary event Facebook page and worked well with at the championships, but for others who photographers and video experts Reg also had their eye on 20inch racing on the Sargeant and Andrew Petricevich who next day it was a chance to get comfortassisted throughout the day. Video footable on track. age and images can be found on the PerthBMX YouTube channel and website As expected the Cruiser riders fought respectively. hard and turned up the heat on each other to produce exciting racing for those BMXWA would like to thank Westside watching on.

BMX Club for the fantastic effort put in not only during the event, but also the lead up Good weather fortunes took a slight dent to the event. Hosting the state titles is an on day two of racing, with poor conditions enormous undertaking in preparation of cancelling the highly anticipated parade the track and facilities and everything else of riders, which sees clubs march loud that goes with it. and proud in the hope of winning ‘Best Presented Club’. Despite no march, the Thanks must also go to the more than 100 award was still able to be given and went volunteers, whether they are individuals to Hills BMX Club! or clubs who assisted at various points throughout the weekend.

Riders who were competing in their tenth and fifteenth state championships in a In 2017 the State Championships head to row were also presented with awards, Southside BMX Club in Bullcreek, and it congratulations to the riders listed below. can’t come quick enough!

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HUT SIX BMX NT 2016 State TITLES “one of the joys of BMX is getting the crew together” meet which barely got under way when contender ‘Smarty’ struck some bad luck in the first turn (we hope he makes a speedy recovery). Racing got under way with many checking out the track at race pace and measuring each other up.

Proceedings went smoothly with the new LED lighting system proving spot on.

All too soon it was Friday night and the titles’ action got underway. Mini wheelers, sprockets and cruisers were the feature.

The BMX force is strong in these younger groups. Parents got vocal as the mini champs carved their place in history.

The cruiser action was intense also. Some of the epic battles were between Caitlin Jong and Catherine Carter in the 11-12 class. Liam Prow was dominant in the 1314 boys. Cale Maurice laid down a string of wins in the 9-10 group. Nicole Thomson picked up the bike after a 10-year gap One of the joys of BMX is getting the crew and the win in the women’s cruiser. together and setting off on an adventure.

On this occasion, we put the coordinates Local Michael Peace was bar to bar with in the GPS and the reply was “Stay on Stephen Van Anholt and picked up the this road for a very long time”. We had a number one trophy for 35-39 men. Danbit of a laugh at that. Regardless of how iel Brooks muscled his way to the 40-49 you get there, the journey and titles expe- men’s class win and Michael Smith serience is unique and part of the fabric of cured the first of his top podium spots for life. the weekend in 50+ class.

How good is BMX in the Northern Territory! Dedicated BMX NT secretary and tireless workhorse Jason Eecen has put this report together on the 2016 NT State Championships.

Titles destination 2016 was the middle of this great country. Red Centre Alice Springs. Vibrant is how I would describe the landscape & the club. There are not too many other places where you can test drive a camel in between track sessions.

The dedicated members worked hard to maintain the track with all the rain leading up to the event. First test was the prePAGE | 8

With much anticipation, we headed into Saturday night. All 20” classes. Keiryn Orr dug deep for his first NT 1 plate after a see-saw contest with Lachlan Hines in the 10 boys. Tykira Yuke retained her champion status in the 10 girls. Ian Orr held his 1 NT position from Brody Barber in the 11 boys. It almost looked like Caitlin Jong and Catherine Carter were joined at the

When the dust settled Caitlin got this one in 11 girls. Zane Van Anholt had a dream ride in the 13 boys. Rory Fairchild, Antonio Bellotti and Kyal Waldron pushed hard but Zane shone through.

This great event was not possible without the valued support of the awesome sponsors. (Gold) HUT SIX, (Silver) Pyandan Camel tracks, Pedersen Remote Construction. Yererenye Shopping Centre, Bicycle Centre, Araluen Plumbing, Kennards Peter Lyons needed to finish first in the Hire, (Bronze) LKI, CGS Glass, CKS last moto to take the win from local NicoElectrical, Hair at the Memo, JJ Richards& las Cohen in the 15-18 men. Nicole Thom- Sons, Nicholl Constructions. son swapped moto wins with Zoe Jaenke and had a single point advantage in the 16+ women. The dry desert air proved a 2016 Open challenge for a few of the tropical competitors.

Victorian Cale Maurice held his 1NT plate from a rapid Jed Fairchild in the 9 boys. Poppy Goat aced her first top spot in the 9 girls.

It went to the finish line in the 30+ men with Michael Smith pulling a win in the last moto to finish on top from Denis Perry on a countback. Ellie Ascoli had the perfect run to seal the sort after champion spot in the open women’s class from Kira Jaenke and Kate Neaylon.

Picking a winner in the open men’s class was nearly mission impossible. Local legend Ravine Kelly was the crowd favourite.

It was Chris Smith on best points going into the dead man final. Justin Oxley was looking good and Jayden Walker-Fletcher had the pace and skills to take it. Cameron Jaenke and Jayden got the jump on the pack to the bottom of the hill. Things went a little wild in the thrust to the first turn. Justin go his forks in front and held on from there from Ravine in hot pursuit.

Jayden slipped into third and held that spot to the line. There were plenty of positional changes in the following positions but the podium spots were sorted.

Well done to the Red Centre club for putting on another top event. Thank you to Wendy York & Marcus Williams and all the officials for making the meet run so smoothly. All competitors deserve another cheer. We now look forward to the next titles racing action at the new Satellite City track for 2017 and Nhulunbuy in 2018.

sTATE championships

BMX Victoria returned to Shepparton BMX Club November 17-20 for the J&R Bicycles 2016 Open Victorian State Championships.

With 800 entries, including 300 from interstate and New Zealand, it was a fantastic competition. BMX Victoria thanks the Event Management Group, Officials, Volunteers and all involved for another great event.

BMX Victoria is also excited to announce a return to metropolitan Melbourne for the 2017 State Titles at Wyndham BMX Club on November 16-19 in 2017.

With the USA Grands scheduled to be held a week after the titles next year, we hope to see many entries from Victoria and outside coming along to battle for plates as a precursor for Tulsa!

- Kyle Chandler Manager, BMX Victoria PAGE | 9

SAYA vs.

THE WORLD Pic by Jerry Landrum/BMXMania.com

hOW THE YOUNG aUSSIE STAR WANTS TO PROVE HERSELF AGAINST THE WORLD’S ELITE RIDERS.

Pic by Paul Goodall/Racer Pics

Two Australian titles, a free trip to the Grand Nationals in the USA, crashing out in her first Aussie appearance at the UCI BMX World Championships and a second place on debut at the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup.

Pic By Jerry Landrum/BMXMania.com

17-years-of-age, Saya has started to the travel the world thanks to BMX and is driven by an unwavering desire to prove she has what it takes to be among the best in the world.

kyo 2020, it’s been a goal for a long time,” Sakakibara affirmed.

“Ever since 2008 I was blown away by the racing at that level and from then on it was my goal. I will be Ask Sakakibara what her 21-years-old that year, and long-term goal is and she I expect I will be ready to will tell you without an perform at my best should That’s the short summary of 2016 for rising BMX ounce of hesitation that she I get the chance to race plans on racing at the 2020 there.” star Saya Sakakibara.

Tokyo Olympics. Competing at the world’s biggest the Dream the DECISION and most ancient multisport event is something The schoolgirl from Helens- she says has been the goal To many, such lofty goals since BMX was first conearly on in a career may burgh, a northern suburb tested at the 2008 Beijing seem like Sakakibara is in the Illawarra region of getting ahead of herself. To NSW, has already chalked Games. the contrary, she has a list up a list of results that are “I see myself racing at To- of results that is highlighted the envy of her peers. At PAGE | 12

The UCI BMX World Championships hit hard: Pic Sayay Sakakibara Facebook

by world titles in the 14-years to 16-years age groups while competing for Japan, her mother’s native country.

Perhaps it’s premature to earmark Sakakibara as Olympic material, with ‘only’ a trio of age-group world titles to her name, but leading into the 2016 there were three nations chasing her signature, and a future with her as one of their riders.

As age group riders Sakakibara and elder brother Kai both embraced their heritage and raced for Japan. While there are obvious strong ties to Japan,

the pair was also eligible to race for Great Britain thanks to their English father.

I would ride started long before this year,” she said.

“It was probably the start of 2015 that I began to With riders needing to weigh up my options, and nominate the nation they I reached out to a lot of wish to represent prior to people to help me, includtheir time as an elite rider, ing my current coach Luke be it junior or senior, Saya Madill, British coach Luke had offers from all three.

White and Japanese coach She admits that while Masahiro Sameei. They all choosing to ride for Austra- helped me. lia was the best option for her, there were moments “There were good opporthroughout 2015 that she tunities with all three. At thought she might elect to some points I would hear stick with Japan, or even about what was going on switch to Great Britain. in Manchester with the Great Britain program, then “It was a very big deciwhat Japan had and I was sion not to ride for Japan, drawn to each of them at and the thinking of where certain points.

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“But what it came down to was where I thought I belonged and how comfortable I felt in that country.

All my family, my coaches and supporters were in Australia, so at the end of the day I went with my heart.”

HISTORY MADE By the time January 1, 2016 rolled around Sakakibara was a fully-fledged Australian rider for the first time. She made the transition from the 16-years girl’s challenger class to the junior elite women’s competition, and was lining up on the gate at Nerang BMX Club for round one of the BMXA National Series.

Many riders find the transition from challenger to the elite class overwhelming, and take some time getting used to the standard expected of them. From the moment the gate dropped on January 1, it looked like Sakakibara had bypassed the mental and physical hurdles of making such a significant move up in competition. On debut she convincingly won the opening two rounds of the National Series.

Then she won rounds three and four in similar fashion.

By round five and six it wasn’t a question of if she would win, rather by how much. Come a sweltering week in Bathurst in March, round seven of the series PAGE | 14

was a fait accompli, as was the national championship and Grands Challenge. An historic treble was in the bag.

However the fast, calculated competitor that sealed both the Australian National Series and National Championship in Bathurst, revealed that she felt the same nerves as everyone else transitioning out of age group riding. The key

“The important thing in life is not triumph, but the fight; the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well.”

- Pierre de Coubertin. difference being an injection of confidence from wins in Nerang that set up a season of dominance.

“I was nervous before Nerang, competing in the junior elite women’s class was equally nerve wracking and exciting,” Sakakibara outlined.

“I knew in my mind that I was racing people that I have raced against for a long time, they were just a year older than me. It was also exciting to be riding with so many other talented

riders.

“It crossed my mind after Nerang that I had the ability to take the series and maintain a winning streak.

But I kept reminding myself that every track is different, and I couldn’t let my guard down. I kept training and pushing hard.”

A bump in the road Over the weeks that followed the focus for Sakakibara, and 79 other Australian riders was the 2016 UCI BMX World Championships in Medellin, Colombia. From 80 riders Australia won six world titles, nine silver, three bronze and had 17 finalists, but the name ‘Saya Sakakibara’ didn’t feature anywhere on that honour roll.

Colombia did not go to plan for Sakakibara.

Earmarked as a BMX prodigy, she crashed out during practice on successive days. The non-result left her shaken and devastated at missing an opportunity to prove herself against a crop of riders, who will more than likely go on to be the world and Olympic champions of tomorrow.

“I was very nervous being the only junior girl from Australia. I had been very excited and was feeling

good after my year in Australia, but worlds didn’t go to plan,” laments Sakakibara.

“Crashing in practice one on the first jump left me shaken up and scared. I was a little frightened of the track and was very down on myself.

That night I told myself that I had done this before, I had raced off an eight-metre hill and my body could do it. I just needed to convince my mind too.

“I came back refreshed the next day, but practice didn’t go well again. I crashed and knocked myself out. Both my dad and Luke (Madill) told me that the paramedics weren’t going to let me race. It was devastating to see all my hard work go to waste and not get to test myself on the world stage.

“Looking back I realised that on that track I had been struggling on the second and third straights too. I was practicing at the same time as many of my idols; there was a lot of pressure and a lot going on. It was overwhelming practicing with elite riders.

“It made me appreciate the level of skill needed to race at such a high level.”

Bouncing Back On June 23, 1894, Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin officially established the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the ‘Olympic Movement’ at the Paris International Congress, Pic by Paul Goodall/Racer Pics

Pictures on pages 16-17 by Grant Paterson

organised by de Coubertin at the Sorbonne.

In the lead up to the fourth Olympiad, the 1908 London Games, de Coubertin was the author of a phrase that has since characterised the Olympic Games and what they mean to many.

internationally four months later to unequivocally announce herself to the world, and riders who had been racing the Olympic final in Rio just weeks earlier.

Desperate to prove her ability as a rider, Sakakibara and coach Luke Madill put together a plan that “The important thing in life would see the youngster is not triumph, but the fight; contest the elite women’s the essential thing is not contest at the final two to have won, but to have rounds of the UCI BMX Sufought well.” Pierre de Cou- percross World Cup. Dual bertin. It’s a mantra that Olympian and fellow Ausscan be applied to anyone, ie Caroline Buchanan had whatever their pursuit in won the first two rounds, life.

Dutch rider, the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist It is a line of thought that and 2016 Olympic finalist, highlight’s what Sakakiba- Laura Smulders, the third. ra did next after her world championship heartbreak. In the penultimate round She went from the lowest Sakakibara made her world of lows to surfacing again cup debut. And if she had PAGE | 16

been intimidated practicing against her idols in Colombia, the event in Rock Hill was a jump into the deep end; she was not only sharing the track in practice, but was racing them for keeps.

But things were different this time around. At just 17, against not just the best juniors in the world, but the best female riders, Sakakibara finished second.

Only Smulders could beat her. Olympic finalists from Rio, Russian Yaroslava Bondarenko and American Brooke Crain, were left in her wake.

“I couldn’t believe it, I looked up and I was speechless. Someone could have told me it was only a practice session and

I would have believed it,” she recalled.

“During the flower ceremony I felt like I never have before, it was an awesome feeling. I want more of it.”

A week later at the year’s final Supercross round in Sarasota, Sakakibara showed glimpses of the same form before eventually bowing out in the semi finals and finishing ninth. It was hardly crashing back to earth but it was a valuable lesson that competition at the top is a week-in, week-out grind.

“Now I know how I can improve and work on my career.”

For now the immediate focus for Sakakibara will be another Australian season, and finishing school. From there, the dream of making a career of BMX beckons.

It may just be sooner than this teenager first anticipated.

The Future Proving her ability on the world stage is something Sakakibara consistently talks about. Perhaps it’s the marque of an athlete that is aware she has what it takes to be at the very pinnacle of BMX. Maybe it’s the buzz from a strong result following hardship.

Either way, she knows that BMX is the sport she was made for.

“I absolutely want to make a name for myself among the elite riders. Being an elite is a massive step,” Sakakibara said.

“In the future my ultimate goal is to make a career out of this and so testing myself against the world is something I wanted, so I could see where I was at.

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APRIL SEILERS 20 STATE TITLES THE GOAL, BUT 15 AIN’T BAD!

In 2002, Argentinian Gabriela Díaz became the women’s UCI BMX world champion, while Aussie Wade Bootes claimed bronze in the corresponding men’s event. BMX had not yet been ratified as an Olympic sport, and fiveyear-old April Seilers of Rockhampton raced at her first Queensland state championship in Innisfail.

A lot has changed in the sport since that day. Diaz went on to become one the most decorated female riders in history, Bootes took charge as head coach of Australia’s best riders and Seilers has since racked up 15 appearances at the state titles.

Like many athletes Seilers found herself PAGE | 18

in the sport because her family was involved, but from the moment she began she found the thrill of the sport so addictive that she has never found herself wanting to try something different.

“I first started racing when I was four, my dad and brothers used to race,” Seilers said.

“From a young age I was just having fun, but as I became a little older things became more serious. I think I was about eight when I became much more competitive.

“While it might have been more serious, I never lost my love of the sport. Being on the start gate alongside eight other riders and going hard down that first straight

cruiser bike and then won again in 2014, and it is such a great memory to have.”

Wins may be the highlight, but over the years this now 19-year-old has also had numerous top three finishes, and in the process become one of the longest serving riders in her state.

Image originally posted online with the Sunshine Coast Daily. See left for photographer details

straight, banging handlebars with competitors, that’s a thrill.

“I certainly have never wavered from this sport, it’s a fun and adrenaline pumping sport.”

Seilers isn’t among the list of names of athletes to have won national titles, or more, but she exemplifies why BMX in Australia is one of the best, and most participated in, sports.

Like many riders, Seilers’ journey in BMX has come with considerable support from her parents who have travelled all over the state to allow her to compete.

She says that it isn’t just her parents that have supported her, but believes that all Queenslanders stick together and have a bond that is just a bit stronger than many other states.

“My family have been a massive support to me,” Seilers said.

“They have travelled everywhere with me and have taken me all over Queensland.

They were very encouraging in getting me to 15 appearances at the state titles!

“For me there is a real sense of pride in being a Queenslander and riding for Queensland. I think we are generally all pretty close with each other and have a certain mateship that sets us apart from different states.”

While a select few will find their names in the spotlight, the majority of Australia’s members – the BMXA Family - work away at their riding, compete at club and state level and genuinely attain satisfaction When asked what is next, Seilers said she from being on track, on their bike and put- would focus on her studies, and was conting their best foot forward. fident that 15 wouldn’t be the end of her record-breaking attendance at the state What Seilers has in common with riders titles. like Díaz, Bootes and more recently Buchanan and Willoughby is that she loves “I’m a fulltime uni student in my second the feeling of winning. Irrespective of the year, studying visual media. It has a focus level that success is achieved, it is a feel- on web design and film editing, so a lot of ing that is hard to forget, and even harder my focus is on that,” she said. to recapture.

“But I am hoping to keep going in BMX “Winning at the Queensland state titles is and get to 20 state titles, then I’ll see what my best memory from all of the 15 events happens.”

I have ridden at combined,” she said.

The 2017 BMXQ State Championships “I claimed my first title in 2013 on my are at Townsivlle BMX Club, Sept 18-24.

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THE

DIRT NOVEMBER 2016