Generation BMX

On the day she turned 7, Sarah Wilson took her first trip around a bicycle motocross track. Since she didn’t yet have her own bike, her dad borrowed one for her.

She was hooked.

Since that initial spin, she has immersed herself in the world of bicycle motocross or BMX. Today, the 14-year-old bundle of energy has a top-of-the-line racing bike, her own personal trainer, and spends hours each day devoted to her sport, whether she’s on her bike practicing, or in the gym doing cardiovascular and strength training.

She has won hundreds of races, countless titles, and is ranked second in the nation among girls in her age group by the American Bicycle Assn.

A non-motorized version of arena motorcycle racing, the sport incorporates many aspects of motorcycle races, including high-flying jumps, banked turns and dirt tracks.

That the sport is dominated by 12- and 14-year-old boys doesn’t faze Sarah.

“I always beat the boys during practice, and in local competitions,” she said. “And they hate it. I’ve actually seen boys cry after I’ve beat them. They do not like getting beat by a girl.”

After a few dips over the years, the sport, which started in the 1970s, is on the rise again.

Now, thousands of teens like Sarah are participating in the sport across the country. There are also thousands of adults involved in BMX. Racers say that’s the beauty of BMX--anyone can do it.

California leads the nation with more than 36 BMX tracks, according to the ABA, the largest BMX-sanctioning body in the nation, with more than 60,000 members. The organization says there are currently about 250,000 men, women and children from ages 4 to 70 competing in the sport.

Mike Redman, who trains Sarah as well as several top BMX teams, attributes the rise in the sport to “the focus on extreme sports. It’s all about pushing the envelope. That’s one of the reasons that Sarah is so successful in the sport. She has a great talent on the bike but she’s also got the competitive juices in her.”

The daughter of Mark and Sally Wilson, Sarah has three siblings: Erik, 28; Jen, 15, and Cassie, 8.

“We encourage her in the sport because she loves it so much,” Sally Wilson said. “Yes, it can be somewhat dangerous. But so can crossing the street. If you know what you’re doing and have had the training and wear protective gear, it’s fine. But it can be a very expensive sport. We’ve spent about $12,000 each year that Sarah has been involved in the sport.”

On a recent weekday evening, after spending a couple hours practicing at the Orange Y BMX track, and in between socializing with friends and other riders, Sarah discussed why she rides.

“The best way I could describe it is that it’s the love of the sport,” she said. “You do what you love and you love what you do. Also, most girls hate getting dirty but I like it. I love dirt.

“Plus, there’s nothing in the world like winning. And when you’re competing, you feel like part of the bike. You have to trust the bike and your abilities. A lot of people would be happy with being ranked No. 2 in the country. But I’m not happy with that. I want to be No. 1. I’ve been No. 1, and I will be again.”

She also enjoys the travel that’s necessary to get to competitions, and the fact that she and her father have grown closer because of the time they spend together.

“We’ve hit every single state throughout my competitions,” she said. “I attend about 18 competitions a year on the national level, so there is a lot of traveling involved. In the beginning, my mom tried to go to all of the competitions with me. But then it became something that my dad and I could share.”

An eighth-grader at Spring View Middle School in Huntington Beach, Sarah said there are a few keys to being a success in BMX.

“I would say that it takes dedication, strength, mental ability, and family support,” she said. “Fortunately, I have all of those things.”

The bursting-with-confidence teen knows all about dedication. She once competed wearing a cast for a broken arm. Another time, she raced despite broken ribs and a concussion that she sustained earlier that day while riding a mountain bike. And once, she competed the same day she received 11 stitches after running into a nail embedded in a wall.

“I feel like I have to compete,” she said. “Nothing will stop me. And my favorite time to practice is when it’s raining because it makes everything harder and more challenging.”

Brian Gass, BMX marketing manager for GT Bicycles in Santa Ana, said Sarah’s dedication is what makes her so successful.

“It takes an incredible amount of hard work to make it in this sport,” he said. “Sarah works hard, is a great competitor, and has an intense drive. Plus, she hates to lose.”

Even though she’s only 14, she has her career all mapped out. It goes like this: Turn pro in BMX at 15, which means she can get endorsements and would be able to compete for cash instead of merely trophies; within a couple of years, begin training to possibly compete in the Olympics in mountain biking; ultimately, sign a contract with a large sports company and race mountain bikes professionally.

“Well, I know it’s pretty lucrative,” she said. “I’ve heard of people making up to $1 million a year once they turn professional. But whatever happens, I cannot imagine myself ever not riding. I’ve seen people in their 70s doing BMX. That will be me one day.”