BMX racer keeps his focus on the track

How does a 7-year-old win first place in a BMX race?

“Pedal and pump hard,” said Kaleb Young.

Kaleb, an Atlas Elementary School second-grader, took the lead in his age and class category at the BMX 2006 State Championship Finals in August. For the first time in more than a decade the event was held in North Idaho rather than the more populated South, where BMX has been popular for years. With the construction of Coeur d’Alene’s Cherry Hill park on 15th Street, the track was able to show enough racing participants to qualify to hold the state event.

Kaleb is a member of Team Bustout BMX, whose members practice and travel to out-of-state events together. He began bike riding at age 4, but said he couldn’t master the skills needed for racing until he was 6. Flying downhill as fast as you can holds an appeal.

“It’s fun, and it gets my legs stronger,” Kaleb said.

BMX, bicycle motocross, was derived from motorcycle motocross, an off-road sprint race on a dirt course. BMX will make its debut as a sanctioned medal sport in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Steps and levels are built into the sport, which keep riders motivated to achieve. Kaleb started as a novice and has moved into the intermediate class in his age group this year. He will advance to the expert level after 25 first-place wins. He’s already gathered 18 wins with an ultimate goal to reach pro level.

Although each downhill race lasts only about 30 seconds, Kaleb thinks it has helped his overall fitness and he can run faster now. He participates in Coeur d’Alene’s annual Leprechaun Scurry fun run and did 3.2 miles in 30 minutes last spring.

Kaleb finds that the hardest part of racing is staying upright on some of the hills. Although his races do not include tricks and flips like some races do, the riders do stand on their pedals the majority of the time. The bikers traverse rolling hills, curves and turns.

“It’s downhill, so it’s really fast,” he said.

Kaleb rides a super-light, titanium, gearless bike and wears a full-face helmet, chest guards and long sleeves. Numb elbows, occasional gouges and bruises are the price to pay, but Kaleb hasn’t had any serious injuries. He does refer to his brother, Colton, as “Crashton” though, for his frequency of spills. He credits his older brother with inspiring him to race. Colton, 15, placed third in the competitive expert class in August’s state finals.

The boys love the speed, and their mother, Anne, finds it doesn’t make her as nervous as when her sons used to fly through the air in gymnastics classes. Their BMX racing nearly always keeps two wheels on the ground. It was the boys’ idea to get into the sport, but she accepts and supports it. The family often travels to other areas to enter events or to practice at indoor tracks in the winter.

“It’s a good family activity and a fun way to spend the weekend,” Anne said. “It gives the kids something to do. They’re constantly learning things and conquering fears.”

Besides being a great athlete, Kaleb has also proven to be an invaluable helper around the Cherry Hill track, according to track operator Randy Cain.

“He frequently shows up early and helps me set up the equipment required to run the races,” Cain said. “At 7 years old, he could easily set up everything by himself, and it is no easy feat. We have full-grown adult volunteers that couldn’t handle it.”

During summer, the Youngs visit the track two or three times per week to practice, and make time when they can during the school year. Races continue throughout the fall on Saturdays, and Kaleb has a slew of trophies to show for his efforts. The largest one is from the state finals and hits him at chest level. Kaleb safeguards his winning strategies, but will divulge one thing that helps, especially when cheering spectators are around.

“Focus on the track,” he said.