Florida Gulf Coast University student finds success in two unlikely events.

The gate drops and the pack takes off, pedaling though jumps, up hills and around sharp turns.

BMX rider Donna Snow eyes the track, looking for a way to cut off a little time from her last run. By the end of the night Snow will run the track at BMX Park dozens of times.

“I’m hooked,” Snow said. “It’s just so much fun.”

Fun that Snow has turned into a potential career option. She rides on the pro circuit and is ranked in the top 10 female riders in the nation. The small track in Cape Coral has been her training ground for the past six years. Snow, 19, started riding as a young child but gave up the sport for several years before returning to it at age 13. She’s been pedaling at tracks around the country since then. Despite her experience, and numerous wins, Snow said she still gets butterflies when waiting for each race to start.

(more…)

Filed under: BMX, General, Profiles by Valerie
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March 18, 2008 - The 9th and 10^th UCI Continental race, from Okeeheelee BMX in West Palm Beach, Florida is complete.

Under the blazing Florida sun, GT’s Jill Kintner won the Elite class on Friday March 14th. She currently leads the USA Olympic point’s standings. Following close behind was Alise Post, Vilma Rimsaite from Lithuania, Arielle Martin, Aneta Hladikova from the Czech Repbulic, Amanda Geving, Stephanie Barragan, and Kimberly Hayashi.  

On Saturday March 15^th USA’s Arielle’s Martin won the Elite class with Canada’s Sammy Cools placing second. Following in third was Jill Kintner, then Kim Hayashi, Amanda Geving, Alise Post, Rachel Smith and Stephanie Barragan. 

The UCI BMX World Championships is in Taiyuan China on June 1^st 2008. Visit http://www.uci.ch/ for more information.

Filed under: BMX, General by Valerie
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Sport: BMX
Home: Texas
Age: 15
Nickhame: “Hollywood”
Goals: I am commited to becoming a professional rider and to making the 2012 Olympic Team as top BMX female rider.
Other Interests: Choir and Theater
Competitive Highlights: I have been racing for just over two years. I am District Champion in TX09 in both Class and Cruiser. I am the 2005 Texas State Champion in Cruiser and finished third in State in Class. I finished ninth in National Age Group in Cruiser. Currently I am ranked seventh in National Age Group in both Class and Cruiser and am turning pro in January 2008.

Filed under: BMX, Pretty Tough Team by jane
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Looks like a Pretty Tough event:

Filed under: BMX, Events by Valerie
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Feb. 28, 2008 - Let’s take you back to December 26^th 2007 where BMXers from all over arrived in Columbus, Ohio to compete in one special championship, the annual “Presidents Cup.”

It is a state vs. state showdown where riders compete for individual wins, but their finish place in the “Mains” count towards the state’s ranking.  With only one champion in the end, the state of Michigan won this year’s Presidents Cup with Florida following in 2^nd place. The Florida team has won the cup more than any other state combined and has some of the fastest riders in the World.

On this Florida team was an 11 year old girl named Sarah Gross who is from Cape Coral, Florida. She won 1^st place in everything she raced in and took home a beautiful gold cup. (Shown in the picture above) Sarah has only been racing for one year and is currently #1 in the state on both her 20 inch and 24 inch bicycles. How about that for a girl…a “pretty tough” girl!

Filed under: BMX by Valerie
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The “National Series” is the highest level of BMX racing in the USA. Earning the NBL (National Bicycle League) National Champion plate is the pinnacle of racing in America. Riders can earn the highly coveted National #1 Plate while racing against riders of their same age and proficiency. 

Riders qualify for final rankings and awards by racing a preset number of events that culminate at the NBL Grand National each year. The “Grands” are hosted in Louisville, Kentucky.

The next National race is the Spring National in Morristown, Tennessee on March 1^st and 2^nd.  After Tennessee, the NBL heads to sunny Florida for back to back weekend racing in West Palm Beach on March 14^th - 16^th and Orlando on March 21^st - 23rd.  Are you ready to start racing? For more information please visit www.nbl.org

Filed under: BMX, Cycling by Valerie
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Sport: BMX Racing
Home: Florida
Age: 23
Hobbies/Interests: Volleyball, Football, Coaching Youth Sports, Mountain Biking, Snowboarding, Surfing, Motocross/ATV Racing, Anything Outdoors, Reading Books, Writing Poetry

Career Highlights: 1999-2003 Junior Olympic Volleyball Player, 2000 Offensive MVP for Football, 2001 District Volleyball Champion, 2001 Regional Volleyball Champion, 2001 State Volleyball Championship 4th Runner Up, 2001 Division Runner Up for Basketball, 2002 MVP for Volleyball, 2002-2003 Most Athletic Prom Award, 2002 Senior Achievement Award, 2003 1st State Team for Volleyball, 2003 BCAA All Star Team for Volleyball, 2003 Captain Award for Football, 2003-2004 College Coaches Award for Volleyball, 2004 *International Poetry Award, 2004 World Cup Champion for Football on the USA TEAM, 2005 1st Female Coaches Award for P.A.L Football, 2005 *International Poetry Award, 2006-2007 1st Female Coaches Award for N.G Football, 2007 Division Champion for Football, 2008 SWFFL Champion, 2008 BMX Southeast Nationals 1st Place, 2008 BMX Southeast Nationals 2nd Place, 2008 State Series Qualifier 1st Place, 2008 State Series Qualifier 1st Place, 2008 Currently #1 in the State for BMX, 2008 Currently #1 in the Region for BMX, 2008 Currently #2 in the Nation for BMX.

Favorite Track: Okeeheelee BMX in West Palm Beach Florida
Favorite Athletes: Johnny Unitas, Tara Llanes, Mia Hamm,
Favorite College Team: University of Florida
Favorite Sports Drink: Cherry BAWLS or Monster
Favorite Quote: “Never Give Up”
Favorite Number: 24
Favorite Band/Singer: Kenny Chesney
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Author: Nicholas Sparks

Best Moment: BMX- Beating the #1 National girl at a National Event when I have only been racing for a couple of months.
Football- Winning the World Cup for Flag Football in Dominican Republic on the USA Team.
Volleyball- Playing Junior Olympics for 4 years and also getting a full ride scholarship to College.

Do you have any advice for athletes?
I am deeply passionate about sports and I pour all my heart and soul into things that make me happy. So if something brings you joy and happiness don’t waste time trying to figure out why. Enjoy every game, every race, and every moment spent doing what you love. “Never give up!” Always reach for your goals and conquer the obstacles you never thought you could because in the end there is only one life to live, so live it to the fullest!

Filed under: BMX, Pretty Tough Team by admin
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Sport: BMX Racing
Age: 19
Hometown: Visalia, CA
Competing Since: 2000 - ABA Girls Pro/NBL Elite Women
Favorite Car: Lifted black Chevy truck
Favorite Magazine: ABA BMXer and BMX Today
Favorite Trick: Tabletop and Turndown
Favorite Event: Silver Dollar Nationals (ABA)
Best Moment: I have had way too many “best moments” in my racing career. I couldn’t possibly choose just one.
Favorite Riders: Mark Melton, Donny Robinson, Warwick Stevenson, and Randy Stumpfhauser
Favorite College Team: Reedley Tigers
Favorite Pro Team: NHL’s Colorado Avalanche
Favorite Sports Drink: Monster Energy drinks
Favorite Movie: SLC Punk
Favorite Workout Music: I love to workout to punk or rock music. Anything that gets me pumped up.

Hobbies and Interests: I compete in almost every extreme sport you can think of. I also compete in hockey, baseball, soccer, and volleyball. When I’m not active in sports I love playing the guitar, bass, drums, and piano. I love writing and photography. Politics, art, music, and culture intrigue me. I like hanging out with my friends and going to concerts. When I’m not doing all of those things I’m in school. I have already received my AA in Journalism and my AA in Criminal Justice. I’m currently finshing school to become a firefighter and completing my BA in Political Science.

Superstition: I don’t really have any superstitions but I am deathly afraid of penguins for some odd reason.
Favorite Books/TV Shows: Fahrenheit 451/George Lopez or Spike’s Most Shocking Videos
Pet Peeves: I cringe when people bite their nails. I just can’t stand to watch it.
Dream Job: Firefighter

Filed under: BMX, Pretty Tough Team by admin
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Sport: BMX
Home: Wisconsin
Age: 14
About Me: I like the colors Green and Blue. I really enjoy school and going out for school sports like cross country and track. I have managed to be on the honor role for 3 years. I like to scrapbook and cook.

Competitive Highlights: 

• #1 State Championship Award first year racing. Also qualified for Redline CUP my first year.
• Making my mains at the 2006 Midwest Nationals and finishing 6th on Saturday and 5th on Sunday.
• Land of Lincohn Nationals placed 6th both days on my 20 in. and placed 4thin cruiser on saturday.
• Currently 3rd in District on my 20 in. and I am currently 1st in district in cruiser in the 2006 season. Also I am currently rated #1 in cruiser and class for state for 2006.
• Winning the #1 2006 State Championship Title for 14 girls and 14-16 girls cruiser.

Filed under: BMX, Pretty Tough Team by admin
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Alise Post, a combination of talent, charisma and work ethic, is soon going to have to choose between gymnastics and BMX racing.

Alise looked down a BMX starting ramp for the first time when she was 6 years old, and chickened out.  Her older brothers, who had encouraged her to start BMX bike racing, were not about to let her back out a second time. Post went through with it and, as they say, a star was born — an unusual two-sport star.

Now a high school junior, Post is also a gymnast who has won two state Class 2A vault championships in a row and placed third and fourth, respectively, in the last two all-around competitions.

This golden girl’s charisma and natural talent attract an audience whenever and wherever she competes - whether it’s on the balance beam or racing BMX and winning her second consecutive Women’s Pro Title at the ABA Grand Nationals.

Read Full Story

Filed under: BMX, Gymnastics, Profiles by jane
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