Scottish Cycling, British Cycling and Welsh Cycling in collaboration with the BMX community are exploring the need for coaching and coach education to support the growth and progression of BMX Freestyle MTB Freestyle, Pump Track & Street Trials. They’ve issued a pair of surveys that they want as many riders as possible to complete:

Anything that gets us more tracks like this is surely a good thing?

They say:

Singletrack Unscripted - Talking about wheels

History was made in Tokyo, with British success in the BMX and MTB events, and Scottish Cycling is today reaching out to riders to help them shape the future of the disciplines.

Unlike traditional sports and other cycling disciplines, there is no coaching pathway to support, train or develop coaches in BMX Freestyle, MTB Freestyle, Pump Track & Street Trials. Scottish Cycling have been working over the last year to understand how coaching could help support riders and develop the sport, whilst equally recognise the culture of action sports is different, and how people learn is also different.

“As more facilities are being built and these amazing communities grow, we want to explore how coaching could help grow participation and support progression in these cycling disciplines.
There is no doubt the Olympics has raised the profile of the sport significantly, which will have inspired a generation of new riders, but we also want to cater for those current riders who are at the heart of the sport – they are the core of BMX and MTB.
We recognise that the sport of cycling is evolving all the time and we want to represent the needs of individuals, organisations and cultures, and ensure we are as diverse and inclusive as possible. That’s why we are seeking the input from riders and all the stakeholders who have, or could have, a vested interest in this area.”
Craig McCulloch, Coach Developer in Scottish Cycling

For medals, or just for kicks?

By completing the survey, Scottish Cycling will enter riders into a prize draw to win a £100 bike shop or skate park gift voucher. There are three gift vouchers to be won, but you’ve got to be in it to win it, so why not complete one or both of the forms today.

The questions look at the kind of riding people are doing, the facilities they go to, and what coaching support riders think is needed. There does seem to be an emphasis on coaching rather than facilities provision or outreach/access improvement, but there’s room in the answers to express any views you might have about these things.

No doubt some will have misgivings about a ‘freestyle’ sport being given the Olympic development programme treatment, but perhaps it’s an opportunity to get a pile of investment into grass roots facilities that can be accessed by many? If you don’t give your answers, you can’t gripe later if BMX Freestyle provision involves turbo trainers and oxygen tents instead of rollers and kickers in the local park. Go make yourself heard.

BMX Freestyle Survey

Pump Track, Street Trials & MTB Freestyle Consultation

British Cycling: Will new structures benefit MTB riders?

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Hannah Dobson

Managing Editor

I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones. More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments. I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.

Survey: Do BMX Freestyle, Pump Tracks and MTB Freestyle Need More Support?

Stanton Switch9er Ti Gen 3, 16.5”