Today we can announce the dates and venues for the 2024 National BMX Freestyle Series, with the addition of two new ‘video contest’ rounds to encourage further growth in participation in the series.
Through the two video contests, which will take place throughout the months of July and September, riders will be invited to submit a video clip of their run (plus a best trick in certain categories), which will then be judged against the normal criteria. The videos can be recorded at a park or street of a rider’s choosing, and entries will be accepted into both the park and street categories.
The National Series will begin at Junction 4 In Darwen on the weekend of 8-9 June, and after the video round in July, round three will then take place following the Olympic Games on the weekend of 25-26 August. This round will take place in the West Midlands, with the venue to be announced. The fourth round of the series will then be by video submission in September, before round five at the recently- upgraded Asylum Skatepark in Sutton-in-Ashfield on the weekend of 26-27 October.
The final round of the series will then take place at Adrenaline Alley, training base for the Great Britain Cycling Team, on the weekend of 23-24 November. The weekend’s competition will also incorporate the National BMX Freestyle Championships, where world champion Kieran Reilly and Olympic champion Charlotte Worthington will look to retain their national titles.
To further raise the standard of competition the National Series rounds at Junction 4 and Asylum Skatepark will be delivered as UCI C1 events, and feature on the UCI calendar alongside the national championships. The series will be delivered in partnership with the team at Backyard Jam, who bring many years of experience delivering high quality BMX contests.
British Cycling’s BMX Freestyle Olympic Development Coach, Greg Illingworth, said:
“The addition of the video contests is an exciting evolution for the series, designed to make it more inclusive, increase participation, raise the standard of riding in the UK and of course to capitalise on the exposure BMX will get around Paris 2024.
“We’re really pleased to again be working with world class venues and hosts, which each play a vital role in supporting the growth of BMX freestyle in their area and will undoubtedly pull out all the stops to ensure a good time for the riders and spectators.
“With our Olympic team competing on the same ramps as young people and even first time riders, we've created a really special and supportive environment at every round so far, which we’re determined to continue. We’re thankful to our partners at Backyard Jam, Sport England, UK Sport and all of the volunteers who make the events happen. I cannot wait to get the season started and see everyone together again.”
Full guidance for the video contests will be published in due course, and in the meantime you can contact our team at events@britishcycling.org.uk.
Full calendar:
- Round 1: Junction 4, Darwen – 8-9 June
- Round 2: Video submission – July
- Round 3: West Midlands (TBC) – 25-26 August
- Round 4: Video submission – September
- Round 5: Asylum Skatepark, Sutton-in-Ashfield – 26-27 October
- Round 6 and National BMX Freestyle Championships: : Adrenaline Alley, Corby – 23-24 November
