Henderson boys ascend BMX ranks, gear up for Reno races
On a cool September night in Boulder City, the lights over the BMX track shine on riders and parents awaiting their next race.
Jayden Hunt, 6, the current state champion in his age group, sits on a wooden table next to the track. He plays around with friends, showing no signs of anxiety and no lack of confidence about his race.
“I’ll get first” he says, matter-of-factly, his baby teeth gleaming behind his smile. “I’m faster than the other kids my age.”
This is the routine for Jayden , as well as for his close friend, 8-year-old Drake Matzke. Jayden and Drake regularly race at the eight tracks around Nevada, and they finished first and second, respectively, in their age groups at the USA BMX Nevada state final Aug. 26 at the Ed Fountain Park track, 1400 N. Decatur Blvd. The two met at the Arroyo Grande Sports Complex in Henderson.
“I’m his best riding buddy, and he’s my best riding buddy,” Jayden says, arm wrapped around Drake’s shoulders.
While Jayden has been on a bicycle since he was 2, Drake only started riding in January, Drake’s father, Chad Matzke, said.
“I wish I would’ve started him sooner because he wanted to do it,” Matzke said. “But I wanted him to have experience with team sports, so he would know how to work with a team. So he played flag football, but it just wasn’t his fit. He’s always been that extreme sport sort of kid.”
USA BMX hosts races for children and adults across the U.S. Riders earn points for finishes at the local, state and national levels.
Riders are put in age groups and can move into novice, intermediate or expert levels. To move from novice to intermediate, riders need 10 first-place finishes. Twenty first-place intermediate wins is needed to move up to expert. Racers often avoid participating in low-level races in order to move up the ranks quickly, Jayden’s grandfather, Jeff Hunt, said.
Jayden, in the six-intermedate class, and Drake, eight-intermediate class, are nearing the move up to expert. Hunt and Matzke said they plan to wait for bigger races on the state and national levels to expose Drake and Jayden to higher-level competition before the two make the jump.
“When they get to expert, then it becomes work. I want (Drake) to have more experience, not just throw him in with the sharks right away,” Matzke said. “It’s a strategy, but at the same time you don’t want to hold them back too much.”
Jayden and Drake are looking forward to the Blackjack Nationals Pro Series in Reno from Oct. 13-15. National races allow riders to compete against a bigger talent pool and move up the USA BMX rankings.
”We expect to get first,” Jayden says, referring to the Reno race.
Hunt rewards Jayden for winning races with Hot Wheels toy cars. After Jayden’s most recent win, Hunt bought him something he wanted even more: a fire-bellied toad. Another win, and Jayden will get a second toad, Hunt said.
Winning isn’t guaranteed, and the boys can be hard on themselves after a loss.
“(Drake) usually cries (after losses),” Jayden says with a wry smile.
“You’re the one who cries,” Drake retorts, inciting laughter from the parents.
Jayden, after winning his preliminary race in Boulder City, jubilantly munches on popcorn. Drake comes in second in his preliminary, good enough to qualify for the main race.
As the main event approaches, Jayden and Drake line up with other racers in their groups, waiting to take another first-place finish.
Hunt nervously watches as Jayden releases from the gate. As he rounds the first turn, Jayden takes the lead and cruises to a first-place finish.
“I get another froggie,” Jayden says, excitedly, after the race.
Drake’s race is next, and he speeds his way past the others for a first-place victory.
“I always recover,” Drake says.
The boys collect their trophies, both unsurprised at the result; this night’s race is just another step on the road to the expert level and moving up the national rankings. Their dream, both say, is to ride for Team USA at the Olympics.
“They have what you can’t teach,” Matzke said. “You can’t teach a kid to love it. I think, in their souls, they have that passion.”
Contact Diego Mendoza-Moyers at dmendozamoyers@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0496. Follow @dmendozamoyers on Twitter.
USA BMX
To register as a racer, visit usabmx.com, create a profile and choose your membership. Races are $10 per rider or free for spectators. Call USA BMX at 480-961-1903.
