If you don't know him yet, he was the Japanese representant at Beijing after he qualified from Asian-Pacific UCI races and all japan series in 2007-2008. I had the opportunity to meet him and follow a usual day of his training last week. First stop, the gym, 10:30 AM in downtown Osaka. As Akifumi, also called Gan his nickname, is just recovering from a pain in his back, he is training with a coach at the top of a city building. Gym routine is about one hour with a mix of stretch and muscular enforcement.
Daily progress controled by computer. He confessed gym is not the fun part of racing but he has no problem to do that because he feels the benefits once on the bicycle. His training schedule is planned from a french trainer who has been focused on BMX for years. Both language and distance are not hard to deal with according to him and he has felt a lot of progress because of his ne
w training style. Last but not least, now his trainer advise him to ride trails he also enjoys a lot to ride various stuffs. Until now, he always refrained himself despite he wanted riding trails, being scared of injuries. Next year, he will compete in the United-States for the ABA AA pro races. Now 26, he entered his first ABA race at 13 and had been competing each and every year over there. He is very enthousiastic about the next season, it is a real challenge as a pro rider and at the same time it is a childhood dream to compete with double A pros. His goal is to finish in the 15th at the overall ranking for 2009.
First we thought about shooting pictures at Kobe where there are some nice trails just right to the sea but the weather was as bas as it could and we wait until the rain stop to go to the sole Osaka race track. The photo session turned very good. Halu, the photograph was at first impressed by the speed because it was his first time shooting a racer, he is most like a flatland/ street photographer. Akifumi seemed to have a lot of fun riding the track even if shooting pictures require patience from a rider. It was his first time on the track lately due to his injury but we stay there until the night. 
As a proof of better recognition for BMX racing after the Olympics, the city council agreed to rebuild the entire track from January 2009. Akifumi did the design and even a pro section with bigger jump is supposed to be added. After his experiences abroad, he understood the necessity of better tracks in Japan to compete at the international level. The turns will be made of concrete due to the amount of rain in a country like Japan, it will make the rideable season even longer, a good new for Akifumi and all the Japanese racers! His Sponsors: UN AUTHORIZED, NIKE, ROCKSTAR ENERGY, KENDA, alienation, SPY, troyleedesigns.
By Laurent Dusserre.
Pics by Halu
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.