Ride Like A Girl: 01.27.14 #BMXinSCHOOL Wadsworth Elementry School

Looking back on the last few days I am so thankful to see where BMX has taken my life. I had the privilege of racing for 24 years and thinking about when I started and how far I have come has inspired me to reach out to kids in schools and tell them how they can get started in BMX Racing.

My journey begin with an invite to a local school from a BMX parent from Daytona BMX. Kory Bush works at a school and contacted them about me coming in to talk about BMX racing to the kids. I was so excited to hear the school welcomed me with open arms. So I got some materials together thanks to Chris Luna at USABMX to give as handouts to the kids. These handouts had information about both Daytona BMX and First Coast BMX that is in St Augustine, FL. I packed my car and headed East to Flagler County in Daytona Beach Area of Florida.

I was welcomed at the door by the Secretary Cindy Cashman and she was very excited to introduce me to the school and get my day started at Wadsworth Elementary School. I love meeting people in schools who love their job and you could see the smile from ear to ear that she loved what she did for education. Kory Bush a father of KJ Bush a local from Daytona BMX helped me get set up and ready for the eventful day. I am very thankful for his connection to this school I was able to talk to about 1,000 kids about BMX from Kindergarden to 6th Grade.

They gave me a large area in the gym to set up and I had my bicycle as well as a strider bike to show the students and some sweet handouts from my sponsors. Erma Miller was awesome enough to lend me a strider since I was going to see kindergarten classes to help them work on their balance.

Once I got set up I took a school selfie to post on Instagram about what was about to go down! Once I posted this on social media no lie my phone began to blow up! People were texting, emailing, facebook messaging me interested in how they could get me to come to their schools and I am so thankful so much interest was wanted for this. I am going to make a plan to hit more schools along the east coast this year and make sure I get back in contact with everyone once that happens.

My day started with some very attentive 3rd graders at 9am. As they started to fill the gym I could see this was going to be an awesome day with how big their eyes were for the things in front of them. Questions were being shouted as the kids were settling down about my bike and my banner hanging. My adrenaline was starting to raise as if I was in the gate at a national hoping I was not going to trip on my words.

Just like when I am in the gate I took a deep breath and relaxed, the gym teacher introduced me and I started with a big old GOOD MORNING!!! The kids responded with a big good morning in return then from there the rest was good. My confidence was full as I talked about a sport I am completely passionate about. The kids were all very respectful not to talk over me and had tons of great questions. I left them each with a pamphlet about BMX racing and how to get started an about 30 minutes of knowledge about BMX racing and bike safety.

My talks started with bike safety and the things riders need to be safe on a bike. First and most importantly a helmet, I explained how the helmet works and things to inspect to make sure their helmet is in good working quality. I also explained how to tighten the straps to make sure their helmets fit properly. I then went on to talk about pads and I showed them how my G Form pads work and why I wear my Novik Gloves when I ride to protect my hands. As I talk about my equipment I then passes them out for the kids to touch and even try on.

My next adventure began with a girl named Carly in 1st grade class. When talking about bike safety I asked the kids if their was anyone who had never ridden a bike before and little Carly raised her hand. As she came to the front of the gym I could tell she was a little nervous. As I bent down to put my helmet on her I told her what we were about to do and she was ready to do something awesome. As I explained to the class what she was about to do I could tell she was getting excited to ride the strider bike. Talking about the importance of balance when learning how to ride a bike I gave her a few directions and off she went. For never riding a bike she took about 3 laps and did awesome, even in cowgirl boots.

After the ride she gave me a big high five and with a smile that warmed the room the class gave her a big round of applause. When she returned to her seat you could see all her friends were so proud of her and I left her that day with a little more confidence then she came into school with. Once the class had left the teacher said how awesome it was to see her and how well she did on the balance bike. I told the teacher about the kids on my team and the kids who race on the tracks and she was amazed to hear little kids ride the same track I do.

As the kids got older I opened my 40 minutes to talk about goals and how to live your life to the fullest. I talked to the 5th graders and 6th graders about how they are living in the "free time in life" and how they can better utilize this time to build a better future. It was encouraging to see I had all ears when I was talking about it. Looking back on my life I see things I would have done to better my career and I want kids to learn for my experiences so they can live life to the fullest.

So at the end of each session I would reward the kids who listened the best with some great goodies thanks to my sponsor. The kids were so pumped on the large Kid Dynamite stickers and the Dan's Comp stickers and my signed post cards. I would ask them questions about the safety gear, things they need to come to the BMX Track, my career number, the parts on my bike and when they got it right they went home with some sweet goodies.

My next class was a rowdy group of Kindergarten kids who were so siked to hear about BMX! I was able to keep their attention as I talked about my bike and about the sport. Then I asked the same question is there anyone who had never ridden a bike before and I had the cutest kid raise his hand. When I brought him to the front of the gym one of the teachers were worried about my selection but he ended up being a great kid for the balance exercise. When he got on the bike he needed some instruction but once he took a couple of laps he started to figure out how to put his weight on his seat and balance getting his feet off the ground. Check out his video of him shredding on the Strider bike.

www.instagram.com/p/jsrR9ePzb9

Once he was done he was all smiles and big thumbs up for the camera. I was excited to see this kid so pumped to learn something new. I wish I had more then 40 minutes with each class I think I could have gotten this kid on board with riding a bike by the end of the day. I hope to see his smiling face out at the track soon. I was very excited to meet so many kids this day. I was given many hugs as well as high fives and it was encouraging to see so many girls siked on trying this. I invited the entire school to come out to the track and give BMX a try for free.

It was so awesome to see familiar faces at 6:30pm for practice that night at Daytona BMX. We had 3 brothers come out Xaan, Christian, and Jaden and then a kid named Alex that picked it up very quickly. I am so thankful for the locals who brought out extra bikes that night to make sure kids had sweet bikes to ride for the night. I gave each rider a little instruction and encouragement to get around the track and they all successfully completed a lap before they left for a night. I would call a successful night of practice to get 4 kids who just learned about BMX just hour before practice came out to the track. All the kids left with a new rider magazine and some information about coming back and getting more experience on the track. Unfortunately the weather was not on our side this week and with rain being on the radar it probably kept parents on the sidelines of coming with fear of rain.

Thanks to all the volunteers at Daytona BMX who made this possible! Big thanks to Kory Bush to introducing me to the right people so I could come to the school and meet so many amazing kids. I am so excited to to start this new adventure with going to schools and getting kids pumped about bikes and BMX Racing.

The kids loved my little demo's on how to ride a bike it was really cool when I bunny hopped to feel the energy of the kids and hear their excitement as they shout.... do it again!!! Huge thanks to all of my sponsors who make this all possible. Kid Dynamite for making the coolest clothes for kids, Dan's Comp for giving me amazing swag to give out to all the kiddos, and 24Seven Design Lab for making my amazing bike to show the kids. I also wanna say thanks to G Form for making pads that kids are pumped on riding these kids were really excited about the technology of the pads and they get to feel them and try them on. When kids are excited on their protective equipment they are more likely to wear it to keep them safe.

For more information about the school please visit their website http://wespanthers.com/

Thanks to all my sponsors who make this possible!!!
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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

01.27.14 #BMXinSCHOOL Wadsworth Elementry School

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