US based BMX rider Gavin Lubbe returned to South Africa last week ahead of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup season opener in Pietermaritzburg on 8 and 9 April, determined to do his country of birth proud. Lubbe and his family crossed the Atlantic in 2004 and after originally setting up home in Atlanta they eventually settled in Monterey, California where they have spent the past five years. All this came about after BMX-obsessed Lubbe watched the 2001 World Champs in the United States and then made up his mind that the USA was where he wanted to pursue his BMX dreams. “I spoke to my Dad about exploring the possibility of him finding a position in his line of work in the States and then in 2004 an opportunity came his way which we jumped at,” explains Lubbe. “It’s been fantastic being over there but South Africa will definitely always be my home.” “Over there you have a major race at least once a month where the world’s fastest racers come together and
Name: Sarah Walker Age: 22
Hometown: Cambridge, New Zealand
Sponsors: BikeNZ, SPARC, Beef+Lamb NZ, Nike, ABD, Sony
You're running number 96, is there any special reason behind that number?
Sarah: At the age of 8, our school class studied the 1996 Olympic
Here's another example of what can happen once a sport makes it to the Olympics. On Friday the BMX Supercross track was officially openend at the Olympic Training Facility in Papendal, Holland. 300.000 Euro it cost, funded by the NOC NSF. The track was made by Tom Ritz, the person who is also going to build the Olympic track for London this May. The plans were already available and the Dutch BMX selection now has a training facility that they can use to prepare for the 2012 Olympics in London. 
South African team coach Jonathan Chislett is optimist that the local riders who will compete at the event will fly South Africa's flag high, despite the loss to injury of superstar Sfiso Nhlapo. When all the action gets underway at Alexander Park in Pietermaritzburg on 8 and 9 April the bulk of the host nation’s hopes will rest on the shoulders of talented Gavin Lubbe, whom Chislett expects will almost certainly be aiming to at least qualify for the final, with the likes of Kane Herbert, Teagan O’Keeffe and youngster Kyle Dodd carrying a portion of the weight as well. “The fact that Skizo (Nhlapo) won’t be there is obviously a great pity but this hasn’t affected the way the rest of the guys have been preparing in anyway. They’ve all been working really hard since mid-December to be ready for the nationals which are just around the corner and then the Supercross shortly after that so they’ll definitely be one hundred percent ready,” said Chislett.
“Gavin Lubbe’s been training hard in the States and has had Kyle
Name: David Herman Age: 22
Hometown: Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Sponsor: Intense Bicycles
Since BMX has become an olympic sport a lot of racers have stepped up their training programs making the competition tougher as we move towards 2012. Can you explain how
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.