British Cycling Announces New Plans for BMX Freestyle

British Cycling has announced its new long-term plans for growing BMX freestyle following the Olympics. Aimed at a grassroots level, their plans include investment in new facilities and nurturing new talent.

British Cycling Annouce Long-Term Ambition for BMX

The release reads:

Following on from its spectacular debut at the Tokyo Olympics and a million pounds of investment in community facilities, British Cycling is delighted to announce plans for the future of BMX freestyle, aimed at nurturing the grassroots of the sport, encouraging more people to get involved and sustaining success at the highest level.

With over a million pounds of community facilities investment, British Cycling has established a BMX freestyle commission. This includes expertise across BMX to guide the national governing body in support of the development with five aims:

• Work with existing organisers, facilities and partners to develop a national competition structure from 2022
• Create education and training opportunities for coaches, judges and event organisers
• Establish an inclusive talent pathway with the introduction of a network of talent development centres in 2022 linked to facilities
• Engage with the BMX freestyle community to support grassroots development, and grow awareness of how young people and adults can get involved
• Work in partnership with facilities to encourage more females to have a go and ensure access for local communities

Olympic Success

The foundations for this work have already been laid. Thanks to the Places to Ride Fund, in partnership with Sport England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The £1million investment in facilities across five sites, and the training ramps used by Worthington and Brooks, formerly housed in Telford, as they put the finishing touches to their medal-winning routines.

The investments include a mix of facilities to support participation, talent development and events. This includes Asylum Skatepark in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Adrenaline Alley in Corby, Junction 4 Skatepark in Darwen, an Olympic standard Freestyle Park, and modular ramps to support demonstration and taster events. A long-term home for the Olympic standard park used by Worthington and Brooks will be decided in the coming months, working with the BMX Freestyle Commission.

Building a Legacy

Thanks to the heroic performances of Charlotte and Declan at the Tokyo Olympics. It has captured the attention of the whole country. I am delighted to be announcing our ambitions for this exciting discipline.

With the support of a commission which features expertise from the BMX freestyle community across facilities, coaching, judging and former elite riders, we have begun the serious business of ensuring the hard-earned achievements of Charlotte and Declan deliver a long-term legacy.

Our plans are aimed at producing medallists of the future but – just as importantly – encouraging sustainable growth of BMX freestyle at community level. In addition, providing, for the first time, a structure of national competition. BMX freestyle, as well as BMX racing, are vitally important to British Cycling. We are working towards fulfilling our commitment to make cycling accessible and relevant to more people and communities across the country.

Dani Every, British Cycling Delivery Director

New BMX Freestyle Commission

The commission will be working with colleagues at British Cycling over the coming months to develop a long-term strategy. This is aimed at building, supporting and growing interest across all aspects of BMX. To include freestyle, park, street, dirt, vert and flatland.

I am delighted that British Cycling have sought the involvement of the freestyle community by drawing on our insight and knowledge, and combining that with their expertise in sport development and ability to secure funding support.

British Cycling BMX Freestyle Commission chair Harry Tucker

The founder members of the BMX Freestyle Commission are Harry Tucker (chair), Stephen Rooke, Kayley Ashworth, Shaun Scarfe, Anthony Ramsey, Jonathan Wilson, Mandy Young MBE DL. They will meet monthly to review British Cycling progress, advise on future direction and make recommendations to British Cycling.  We welcome interest from others in the BMX freestyle community who would like to support us with our plans as a member of the commission in September 2021 by emailing companysecretary@britishcycling.org.uk

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Related Content:

Charlotte Worthington Makes History and Gets Gold

British Cycling Introduces New Bursaries to Diversify Coaching Talent

British Cycling Have Big Plans for Mountain Biking

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