Future BMX Bikes

The Venezuelan BMX veteran built his own bicycle park. Now he's creating the ongoing future of his recreation.

Daniel Dhers has been around the BMX scene for a time. He began operating at 12, joined his very first competition in 2003, won his very first X Games silver medal in 2007 and became a podium mainstay consistently in the future. He’s seen everything. And just what he views today offers him cause of concern.

“i do believe BMX is certainly going through most likely one of the worst recessions in quite a while, ” he claims.

Dhers attributes this recession to a change in the public perception of BMX due to the rise of road biking. As he respects and enjoys street BMX, he concerns its rebellious mindset could be slowing the development of a fresh generation of cyclists. Hopping fences and dodging safety protections creates exciting video footage, plus it’s definitely helped the street scene develop. But also for the parents of younger bikers, and some possible sponsors, it's often a turnoff.

I do believe BMX is going by most likely one of many worst recessions in quite a few years.

And it’s not just the bad-boy behavior. Moms and dads, rationally or not, bother about their particular children’s wellness when driving BMX. Even with appropriate gear and security precautions, the stigma is challenging shake.

“It’s among difficulties [BMX faces], trying to work and teach people that, yeah, you could get harmed, just like any other sport, ” Dhers states. “That doesn’t allow it to be any longer dangerous than soccer, where somebody’s coming at you, wanting to strike you.”

Dhers is up with this challenge, and he’s working to produce a secure area for young cyclists to understand the sport. in Holly Springs, N.C., an indoor/outdoor center available to BMX bikers, skaters and hill riders. The complex greets amateurs and positives alike, and will be offering classes and guidance for aspiring cyclists.

After over a year of operation, the complex is growing. Dhers says the reaction from cyclists, and their moms and dads, happens to be good, and they appreciate the alternative to street the facility provides.

“i prefer driving street, too, " Dhers claims. "i may not battle a protection shield, but, you realize, i've hopped over things too, eventually in my life. However now, a parent comes and states, ‘Really, I bring my child right here, i understand he’s safe, I'm sure he’s not receiving in big trouble with police or any other men and women.’ ”

Dhers believes the design that center has generated, supplying formal instruction to younger bikers, will the sport bust out of their slump and commence to cultivate again.

Daniel Dhers Takes some slack in Lima © Enrique Castro Mendivil/Red Bull Content Pool

The system is not perfect, however, but Dhers is putting in the job to really make it take place. it is difficult to juggle living of a business owner and that of a traveling, competing professional driver — back-to-back-to-back competitions have required Dhers to get across continents without having any genuine break — but he consistently push toward mastering just what he’s began because of the complex. As soon as their formula happens to be completely nailed down, he desires to spread it.

“i do believe I want to perhaps have another one in the us, ” he states. “Then i do believe it could be awesome to have one out of European countries, one in south usa [and one in] Asia — Asia, I think, is a fairly much untapped market.”

That global vision, one that could raise the profile of BMX on a worldwide scale, is some tips away from becoming truth. But in the meantime, Dhers is attempting to make his Action Sports elaborate a place to guide the game he loves — and in which he spends several hours every morning to enjoy it himself.