Sport pages.qxp_Layout 1 21/07/2022 13:44 Page 86
MENDIP TIMES
BMX goes big at the Bath and West YOU would be right in assuming that music and cycling are not a natural pairing. There are only even a handful of songs linked to cycling – the best-known being “Bicycle Race” by Queen or “Tour de France” by Kraftwerk. Other than that, the only tenuous CYCLING connection is to think of songs that have a with EDMUND cycling reference in them like road, track, or LODITE mountain (try it, there is a lot!) So, at first sight it might seem odd that a music festival would take place at the same time as a cycling competition. But that’s what happened when the NASS festival returned to the Bath & West showground combining three days of headlining music acts with the UK’s biggest celebration of BMX freestyle riding (and skateboarding). BMX freestyle cycling has a uniquely distinctive character compared to other cycling disciplines. For many, one of the main attractions is its alternative culture and lifestyle and by being unconventional, without too many rules. This year there were three freestyle events at the festival. The inside of the main arena had been turned into a giant BMX course for the “Park” and “Street” competitions. “Park” has an emphasis on large jumps and was included for the first time in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “Street” makes use of features found in urban and public spaces where tricks are performed on kerbs, handrails, stairs, ledges, banks, and other obstacles. After the last time I wrote about BMX riding in the Mendip Times someone said to me “what’s the point there are no BMX riders around here”. But there are – you just need to know where to look. You’ll find BMX Park riders at skateparks. There aren’t that many skateparks across Mendip but that’s down to how rural it is. So it’s worth giving some recognition to Ride Mendip who after three years of hard work opened the new Cheddar pump track earlier this year. BMX street riders will be found making use of the architecture to be found in towns and cities. There was a time when authorities would try and restrict BMX riders and skateboarders in public spaces. Nowadays, I sense there is more acceptance to share public space and recognise the skill and mastery required to perform tricks. Not too far from the main music stage at the festival, a series of half-pipes were in place for the BMX mini ramp where riders perform tricks in mid-air. In all disciplines, points are awarded for the technical difficulty
The mini-ramp
and execution of a trick, or combination of tricks. Creativity and style are also rewarded and final results are based on the highest score from two timed rides. Higher scores can be gained from more rotations and the increased complexity of tricks but there is a downside from being too ambitious. A fall will disrupt the flow of the ride and lead to a low score. So, it’s better to make the first ride a clear one with enough content to score well and use the second ride to be riskier if needed. The sport also comes with its own unique terminology for tricks where one or two words are used to define a complex series of movements e.g. Flare: a backflip and 180-degree rotation in the same motion. BMX freestyle cycling originated in the USA. The earliest photographic evidence is from the 1970s where riders used makeshift vertical ramps. From there, riders started to make use of the urban landscape and it wasn’t long before BMX riders also began using skateboarding parks. In the UK, BMX took off in the early 1980s when it became the "must have" bicycle for children and teenagers. The explosion in demand was triggered by the iconic use of a BMX bike in Steven Spielberg’s classic movie ET. It was therefore not surprising that it would implode with similar speed, when the children who rode the bikes left school and went to work. Nowadays, BMX bikes belong to the freestylers and racers. Back at the festival, GB’s Declan Brooks Olympic BMX freestyle bronze medal winner (Tokyo 2020) showed off his skill on the Ramp and the Park. Charlotte Worthington GB’s BMX freestyle gold medal winner also turned up just to enjoy and spectate. Where BMX cyclists riding along rails or steps outside an office building were once chased off by security guards, they now win gold!
AUGUST CROSSWORD SOLUTION
ACROSS: 1. Zimbabwean 6. Ibis 9. Gargantuan 10. Et al 12. Bath and Wells 15. Quartet 16. Tuesday 17. Auteurs 19. Seagate 20. Skeleton keys 23. Lilt 24. Atkins diet 25. Spry 26. Prime mover DOWN: 1. Zags 2. Mark 3. Agapanthuses 4. Watchet 5. Against 7. Bottled gas 8. Self-styled 11. Sweet Alyssum 13. Aquae Sulis 14. Salt cellar 18. Shooter 19. Sikhism 21. Kiev 22. Star PAGE 86 • MENDIP TIMES • AUGUST 2022
