22/05/2025
2 MINUTE READ, BUT WORTH EVERY MINUTE!
Kids and Winning – The BMX Edition
Right now, somewhere in America, a family is driving home from a national, gold cup or even a local race weekend. Everyone’s a little sunburned, the van smells like gear bags, and emotions might be running high. With hundreds of entries and only a few main event wins to go around, most riders are heading home without a trophy. It’s a tough pill to swallow.
Every season, we watch the scenes unfold—at staging, behind the finish line, or back at the pits. Some parents are frustrated. Some kids are in tears. And sometimes it’s heartbreaking. The results don’t always reflect the effort, the miles, the hotel bills, the vacation days used up just to chase gates across the country. But here’s the thing: BMX is supposed to be fun. It’s something we get to do with our kids, not something they owe us results for.
Your kid doesn’t know the cost of flights, entry fees, or that blown rear tire on the trailer. They don’t think about gas receipts or missed work. They came to ride, to hang out with their friends, and to chase that thrill only the track can give. You may have shown up with a focus on winning. Your kid showed up with a love for racing.
And sure, they want to win. But they need to hear they did a great job, that you're proud of their effort, not just their results. They need high fives for making that pass in the semi, not just for getting the podium pic. You won’t win every race—even if your rider’s been on fire all season, even if you’ve spent more on gear than your mortgage, even if you’ve got the sickest setup on the gate.
But win or lose, they’re still your kid. Still your little shredder. Still the reason you’re in this sport in the first place. So make sure they know how proud you are. That matters way more than a #1 plate.
We’ll see you at the next one. Travel safe. Stay grateful. And remember—
Winning might get you huge trophy and a photo in Pull Magazine. But losing your connection with your kid? That’s the biggest loss of all.
