Today, USA Cycling unveiled a revolutionary BMX Freestyle Training Facility in South Jordan, Utah. This state-of-the-art venue, which has been under wraps until now, marks a significant milestone in Team USA's preparation for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
When BMX Freestyle debuted in the Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020, it propelled the sport onto an exponential growth trajectory. In its inaugural Olympic appearance, USA Cycling emerged as the top-ranked country for both men and women, with Hannah Roberts securing the country’s first Olympic medal in the sport.
Since then, USA Cycling has been determined to construct the world's premier training facility for BMX Freestyle athletes in preparation for Paris 2024. This ambitious project faced significant challenges and at times seemed unattainable. However, with the unwavering support of the local BMX Freestyle community and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, the park was created in less than two months, setting a new standard for BMX Freestyle.
“We are thrilled to finally unveil this groundbreaking training venue,” said USA Cycling’s Chief of Sport Performance, Jim Miller. "Our athletes now have access to a world-class facility that has undoubtedly enhanced their Olympics preparation.”
Joe Sirlin, a construction and development professional from Salt Lake City, spearheaded this project. As a father of two with a family who is passionate about BMX, Sirlin became acutely aware of the lack of Olympic-standard BMX parks in the U.S. when his 14-year-old daughter began competing internationally. “When I first approached Ryan [Nyquist] about why we didn't have a FISE-style course here in the States, I asked if I could help. That was in June 2023,” said Sirlin. “After that conversation, a passion burned to find local support and bring this idea to life. After I met Alex Short with AK Masonry in September 2023, I knew we had the best lead yet, and he was willing to partner with us.”
Sirlin continued, “Over the next few months, we all worked tirelessly to secure the funds and partners. Right after Christmas, Jim Miller called me with the green light to get started. We had a crew, design, and team ready, and we started building in mid-January and completed by March 1st. It was nothing short of incredible.”
Unlike the last Olympics, the drawings for the Olympic BMX Park were not going to be made available months in advance. The design aimed to create the world's best park, incorporating every possible feature that could appear in a contest within the 34-foot tall, 18,000-square foot space. Building a park of this caliber was no easy feat, especially within an eight week timeframe. A dedicated local crew of just six full-time workers labored on-site every day for a full six weeks. John Bethers from SuperRamp was the lead builder, playing an instrumental role in the entire process from design and preparation to metalwork and overall execution. Renowned ramp builderNate Wessel from Pastranaland, designed the course as a favor and did so in record time.
Hannah Roberts was amazed when she first saw the facility. “We were asked, ‘What obstacles do you want?’ Being able to have a say in the design makes it even more special,” she said. “There isn't a skate park in the world that can prepare you better than this one. This is exactly what we needed to gain an advantage.”
Creating this facility was about more than just providing a training ground; it established a true home for the BMX Freestyle team, something they have never had before. Perris Benegas’ jaw dropped when she walked into the park for the first time. “I think it's great to have a place where we can all come together and push each other and motivate each other,” she said. “The fact that these ramps exist, and this is our home base is just unbelievable.”
Hannah Roberts, Perris Benegas, Angie Marino, Justin Dowell, Marcus Christopher, and Nick Bruce have been training at the facility since March, in preparation for the first stop in their Olympic journey, the Olympic Qualifier Series. The team went on to qualify the maximum number of spots for Paris 2024, sending two men and two women to the Olympic Games. Roberts, Benegas, Dowell, and Christopher will represent Team USA in BMX Freestyle Park on July 30-31, 2024, in Paris, France.
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For inquiries related to the facility, contact Joe Sirlin at joe@cor-athlete.com.
