Sat Feb 11 2012
A Frankfort BMX bike enthusiast has claimed a spot on the national Dew Action Sports Tour.
Zach Newman, 20, competed in an open qualifier in Chicago on Saturday where he was ranked 16th in the vertical BMX bike contest. He will be one of 20 riders who will compete in the next event next month in Portland.
“I wanted to do this forever,” Zach says.
Zach and other riders hurtle down at 14-foot vertical ramp and launch themselves into the air performing acrobatic tricks. Doing an opposite tailwhip, in which the “the whole bike end spins around and you catch it,” may have helped score extra points, he said.
Doing it in reverse is even more difficult.
“It’s like throwing a baseball with your other hand.”
His score in Chicago means he’ll compete in Portland in August, Salt Lake City in September and the finals in Las Vegas in October. Zach said he’s always wanted to compete out west.
“Until this year I hadn’t been farther west than Paducah.”
In addition, he received a check for $1,100 – his first prize from a professional contest. Zach says he’ll use the money for travel expenses to Portland and will save some for college textbooks. He’s studying photography and business at Northern Kentucky University.
He looks forward to competing in more contests.
He has been riding BMX bikes since he saw a contest on TV in 1998. His father helped build a 6-foot half pipe ramp in the family’s back yard.
Comments
By Posting to this site, you agree to our Terms of Service Be polite.
Inappropriate posts may be removed.
State-Journal.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.
Login above or Register to comment.
0 Total Comments Home | Back
Copyright Frankfort Publishing Co., LLC 1995-2011. All Rights Reserved.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Dix Communications