BMX on the rise in South Gippsland

THE South Gippsland BMX club has received $4000 from the South Gippsland Shire as part of their Community Grants Program. 

Despite being the only club of its kind in the region and one of only 20 in the state, the South Gippsland BMX club has grown since its establishment in 2019 and is on a steady upwards continuum. 

This is hugely thanks to the work of club president and founder Nathan Evans, who spoke to the Sentinel-Times recently on what the grant means to the club and what it will be used for. 

“It means we can add to the foundations we’ve already established with the club, being our member base, we’ve got just under 50 active members now, we’ve got a core group of committee members as well, and we’ve got activities in the warmer months,” he said. 

“The funding will support us in putting together a strategic plan for the next five years, we’re a new club we’re starting with nothing, we have half a track and no facilities, and we have a vision.

“We want to be a self-sufficient club that’s capable of running our own club races and open events (which other clubs attend), so to do that we needed something on paper to outline it, that’s the purpose of the strategic plan.” 

Evans is extremely passionate about the sport of BMX and strongly believes it can thrive in the area, and across the state. 

Although, in a region dominated by mainstream sports such as football and netball, BMX still has room to grow, and Evans proposed just how easily that could be done. 

“On the Eastern side of Victoria, you’ve got these big regional towns that have got a population that could sustain a club, but there’s just no club, there’s nothing,” he said. 

“Now in terms of how to change it, that’s what I’m trying to do, that’s why I started the club and now the committee that have joined in and we’re trying to do our part for South Gippslanders.

“There are facilities all around the place, there’s the old backyard tracks, there’s competition tracks, there’s assets around this area that could be the starting point of more BMX clubs.

“What I’m hoping is in time a bit of interest might get sparked up by other cycling clubs that could start to offer BMX racing as part of their club.

“You’ve got to crawl before you walk, so using assets that are already there, sparking a bit of interest, getting the people together, establishing the club and building from there, that’s how I see it fixed, there’s potential there.” 

BMX has grown in popularity globally since its debut in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, but it hasn’t quite experienced the same increase in popularity at a grassroots level, at least in eastern Victoria.

“In all honesty, it’s new to the area, we are the only club in South Gippsland and the only BMX racing club, if you head east, until Batemans Bay in NSW, so we’ve got a massive area of Victoria where BMX is non-existent,” Evans said. 

“So, in terms of how it’s going, I think we’re going alright as a club, but in terms of the sport and BMX racing, I think there is so much more to be done, there’s so much more that could be achieved.”

Evans’ passion shone as he encouraged people to get involved with his beloved sport. 
“Don’t think twice about it, just get involved, have a go, if you’re curious about it, have a go, we do have a few bikes and spare bits and pieces that we lend out, so people can try before they buy,” he said.
“I would also recommend jumping on YouTube and actually seeing what BMX racing is, in USA and Europe its huge, the World Titles were on recently in France watch those.
“We had two riders from the Frankston BMX club, one of them is 12 or 13 and they’ve just started at their local club, just like footy, they’d go and train every Wednesday night.” 
“The sky’s the limit with this sport, it’s very easy to get involved even as a rider that might not have the ability to win every single race, you can still achieve things, it’s accessible to everybody no matter their age, gender or ability.”
Evans has done a mountain of work for his club; however, he has many people he wanted to thanks for their assistance along the way. 
“I, the club, the committee and its members would like to thank the South Gippsland Shire, Sophie Bolding, GippSport, Michelle Harris and Gene Parini and Ag Giramondo and Melissa Ward from Auscycling,” he said. 
“Also, I’d like to thank, as founder and president of the club, the club committee for their extra hard work on the strategic plan, we had a few extra meetings to really emphasise ‘our club, our sport’ on the plan.”
The South Gippsland BMX club is located at 88 Horn Street, Leongatha and can be contacted on Facebook at South Gippsland BMX Club or through AusCycling for any inquiries.