The Heart of BMX in South Queensland

As they watch the aggressive fight to the finish between some of the top professional BMX riders in the country, the next eight riders position themselves ready for their start. They spin their feet back to get in the correct position. They adjust helmet visors. They stand. They sit. They flex and unflex their gloved hands and tighten them around handlebars. This has become ritual for them after so many years in the sport. The universal BMX gate start begins its call: “Riders ready. Watch the gate”. They all stand, eyes fixed on the lights at the bottom of the start hill, feet perched on clip pedals, as ready as lions in pursuit of prey. But the heats of pro men and women have been run and won. These eight riders, perhaps the most enthusiastic and well-loved athletes at this event that boasts more than 600 riders, are the cream of the crop: the 50+ men’s category.

 

With a roar of expended energy that dissolves all nervous tension, the rider in lane 8, thrusts his body forward as the gate drops. The race is on. Butch Broomfield, who likes lane 8 “because you’re away from all the trouble” is almost seventy, but puts in as much effort as his competitors. Often he races against those who are more than twenty years his junior.

 

This is certainly not the Olympics. It is not even the Australian titles, although the caliber of racing suggests it could be. This is the South Queensland Championships. There may not be a huge cheque for the winner or sponsorship deals on the line, but this man’s passion and fitness level rival his counterparts of all ages. In a way, this much-loved ‘grandpa’ of the sport, who thrives on the camaraderie and family involvement within the BMX community, sets the tone of the entire zone of South East Queensland. A zone that has much potential for the future.

 

BMX is a rapidly growing sport, partly due to its inclusion in the 2008 Olympics. Australia is the second largest BMX nation in the world behind the United States, where the competitive side of the sport originated in the late 60’s. At a professional level, Australia is currently ranked third in the world behind USA and The Netherlands. At an amateur level, BMX Australia is an organization with 17,000 members from the age of two to 75 years.  There are 120 BMX clubs across the country. Fifteen of those are in South East Queensland.

 

Despite the disappointment experienced by Australian riders at the Rio Olympics, the BMX community in South Queensland is certainly alive and thriving. When asked his opinion of the current success of local riders, Butch Broomfield credits the many quality tracks available for training. He first got involved in the sport when his three sons were young.  “There was no regular club training sessions back then,” he said. From Butch’s local track at Browns Plains on Brisbane’s south, he is within a 45-minute drive from at least 6 other tracks.  Keen South Queensland BMX enthusiasts can train at a different track nearly every night of the week.

 

As well as this abundance of tracks, there are also plenty of opportunities to race. Paul Connors, who is a BMX official at a local and international level and the vice president of BMX Queensland, is amazed that Queensland riders have the opportunity to race at 67 race meets over a year. “In theory, you can race every weekend. You don’t get this quality of racing anywhere else in the world,” he commented.

 

Paul Connors and his 21-year-old son both stumbled across BMX racing in Castle Hill, NSW, about 16 years ago. Paul started officiating after he himself was badly injured during a BMX race.  Despite the risks of this fast-paced sport, young Kerod had decided he enjoyed BMX better than soccer, and Paul wanted some way to stay involved.  “I have always been a firm believer that if you think you can improve things, get up off your backside and give it a go.”

 

Paul, who has been selected to work as an official at four BMX world titles, is an asset to BMX South Queensland. Due to his business background, he has a passion for developing this exciting sport into one that has a professional image and is “more than just a backyard sport”. He and Butch, who are often seen chatting together at local race meets, both agree that the inclusion of BMX in the Olympics has been very positive for the image of BMX.  In 2012, Australia’s Sam Willoughby put Australia on the BMX world map when he finished with a silver medal. This year in Rio, five Australian riders competed. Our two top ranked male riders stormed their way through preliminary motos to qualify first and second for the final. Unfortunately, the unpredictable, often heart-breaking, circumstances of BMX prevented both of them from winning a medal.

 

While Butch admits to being more interested in the new riders styling it up on local tracks, he does agree that BMX in the Olympics has helped with the development of the sport he has loved for so long. “The Olympics are the best thing that has ever come out of BMX.”  He remembers being told back in 1999 that he was just taking part in a little kids’ sport. “Now there is more exposure. It’s accepted as a sport for any age.” Butch says that he loves to ride around the track on training nights helping out the newer riders, showing them the tricky jumps. He’s amazed at their energy as they do lap after lap. Butch chuckles as he adds, “I get tired just watching them.”

 

Paul agrees and was very excited about following the results of the BMX in Rio.  As an official, Paul has had the privilege of being very close to race starts at a very senior level. Close enough to be able to read the fierce determination inside the small window of the riders’ full-faced helmets. Close, even, to many of the Olympians who battled it out in Rio.  Paul would love to be involved as an official in the next Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.  He is very positive about the quality of the high performance program available to elite Australian athletes. “Their programs are world-class, leading edge.” With these programs continuing to develop scientifically, he is sure to be joined in Tokyo by some very strong Australian BMX talent. Talent that may very well be developed and nurtured in South Queensland.  

 

One very talented local rider is Des’Ree Barnes, who Butch described as having “skill level out of this world”. Paul Connors added that “the world is Des’Ree’s oyster”.  This striking blonde-haired BMX rider from the Redlands area in Brisbane’s south, who is known by locals as Desiracer, has dominated her age group at every level since she was tiny. She followed her brother, who is now 18, into the sport. “I thought it would be more of a fad,” her dad, Luke, confessed. “Being a girl, I thought it wouldn’t last.” At age six, she took part in the BMX world titles in Adelaide. “We only went to the world titles because it was in Australia,” Des’Ree reflected. Luke made a deal with his competitive daughter that if she made the final in Adelaide, he would take her to the next world titles in South Africa. She ended up winning. Luke’s tone reflected a state of awe when he admitted, “If the event wasn’t in our backyard, then who knows whether we ever would have gone.” The family headed over to South Africa with seven-year-old Des’Ree, and she finished second. “This gave us motivation to keep going.” Des’Ree has gone on to win five world titles since then, including this year in Colombia.

 

Des’Ree was old enough to start racing in the pro women’s age category this year.  So far, she has earned an impressive amount of prize money for one so young and won the Grands Challenge award in Bathurst in March. This will assist her financially to travel to the U.S. for The Grands, a popular race series in November. Her long term goal is Tokyo 2020.

 

Des’Ree and her dad share an obviously close bond. He is her coach, her mentor. He is also a very competitive racer in his own age group, having achieved world and Australian rankings in recent years. She trusts and respects him as a fellow rider. This trust, along with her almost fearless determination, has become one of the secrets of her success. She works very hard and is willing to learn. Even if she wins a race, Luke says that “she will always come and ask for feedback on what she does right or wrong”. Des’Ree and Luke make the most of the many local tracks and almost-weekly racing in South Queensland. Currently, South East Queensland is arguably the strongest zone in Australia. Thirty-three riders from South Queensland competed at this year’s world titles in Colombia.  They brought home 17 of the 36 world plates won by Australians. (Including 3 out of the 6 gold medals, 5 out of the 9 silver and 3 out of the 3 bronze.)

 

Samantha Domin is proud to be the secretary for BMX South Queensland, a role she describes as “extremely busy, humbling and one that I enjoy tremendously”. She has her own rich heritage in this fast-growing sport, also following her brother into BMX when she was just three years old.  She raced until she was 15, then returned to the sport as a volunteer and official about eight years ago.

 

Recently, Sam had the unique experience of watching her own little girl make her debut in the newest age category created by BMX in Australia: mini wheelers. Commonly known as balance bikes, they have no pedals and are designed for children aged two to four years.  “It was such a surreal feeling that day,” Sam admits, a little emotionally. “I was full of nerves for her to have the best experience and to fall in love with the sport like I did all those years ago”.  Little Mackaylah’s triumphant smile as she strode across the finish line was priceless. It seems that Sam has nothing to be nervous about!

 

Along with the great tracks and racing opportunities, Sam credits the strength of the zone to the way the BMX South Queensland committee is passionate “to give back to the riders and give them every opportunity to develop and grow as athletes”.  They see it as very important to look after the grass roots of the sport. “One day they may well be our next Olympians. We certainly have the calibre here to have some Olympic champions,” Sam reflected.

 

Within the BMX South Queensland zone, riders of all ages are being nurtured in an environment that is not dissimilar to a family. Sam ponders, “It absolutely astounds me…that these great people will go above and beyond to do anything that is needed to support and help each other. There are not too many other sports I know that have this spirit.”

 

Des’Ree and her dad, Paul, Butch and Sam joined thousands of Australian fans cheering on our BMX Olympians in Rio. They were all proud of our BMX athletes, despite their disappointment. They understood, perhaps more than most, how heart-breaking and fickle this sport can be.  And yet, they all keep turning up.

 

The heart of BMX in South Queensland is bursting with support from families and riders who have a long-term passion for the sport. Officials are determined to lift BMX up to a productive commercial entity. Parents are coaches and fellow riders who are willing to sacrifice for their children to achieve their goals. Talented riders are in abundance. The community has the warmth and nurture of an extended family. The depth of passion and commitment is strong.

 

As Des’Ree Barnes sets herself up at the gate for the final of the pro women, a handful of parents line up along the third straight. Some stumble slightly as they make their way up the face of the steep jump, slippery from loose dust. Some carry children. Some bend over to push their little ones who are kitted up and ready to race. Some chase after their toddlers who have far too much energy for this time of day. They all line up. The children look at each other. Some look to mum or dad for support. Some need to be grabbed before they intentionally false start. Sam Domin stands behind her little girl who is keen to race again. Chief official, Paul Connors gives the race call. “Riders ready? And…go.” Little legs stride. Parents watch anxiously. Butch Broomfield, pauses before heading up for his own final. He looks on with delight and hope for the future. Des’Ree clips in and prepares for her race, watching with a smile as the future champions of her beloved sport finish their race to the exuberant cheers of the enthusiastic South Queensland crowd. 

BMX in South Queensland is certainly alive and healthy and the future is looking very bright.