Tauranga is sending six talented BMX riders to the USA for the world championships.

Tauranga BMX Club riders Charlie Withington, Daniel Mason, Hannah Mason, Karl Thurston, Rico Ryan, and Will Skipper will be representing New Zealand in the 2024 UCI World Championships that will take place in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA with racing set for May 12-15.

“All 6 of us are from the Tauranga BMX club but I think there are 55 riders from BMX clubs all over NZ heading over to compete,” says rider Charlie Withington.

Charlie Withington

“I am 12 years old, I qualified to go and compete at the World Champs by competing at our BMX Nationals in NZ this year and finishing in the top eight this year,” says Charlie Withington.

Charlie was three when he started BMX, and he has been competing since he was five years old.

“My dream would be to become a professional BMXer, but I also enjoy playing rugby and basketball.

“We are very lucky In Tauranga to have a couple of BMX coaches that base themselves out of the Tauranga Club, I have been training with Andrew Hickey or Kurt Pickard for the past 5 years.

Tauranga BMX Club rider Charlie Withington. Photo supplied.

“My strengths In BMX are pumping, track speed, and the mental side of racing as well.

“I haven’t been to the USA before but have raced at the world champs in 2022 in France.

“It costs a lot to go travel around for racing I have just been over to Adelaide to race as the captain for the NZ Mighty 11’s team against Aussie and only got home two weeks ago.

“I enjoy BMX as I have made heaps of friends all over NZ and Aussie, well all over the world now as riders come from everywhere.

“I enjoy travelling around NZ and possibly going to places we probably wouldn’t go if we weren't racing there.

“I enjoy the challenge to make it through each round and to make it to finals.”

Charlie wishes to thank his mum and dad for their support and everyone that had his back on his ‘t-shirt fundraiser’.

Will Skipper

Will Skipper is 18 years old and first started racing when he was three at the first meet of the Tauranga Winter Series.

“I qualified as a junior elite they had three trials and accumulated points.

“I had to submit an application to CNZ and was selected on their ranking after the three trials. 

“I would love to become a professional

“My coach is Andrew Hickey and have been training with him for about four years.”

Tauranga BMX Club rider Will Skipper. Photo supplied.

Will is going to university and is working part-time on top of training, which he says is a lot.

“Routine and scheduling everything helps.

“I am looking forward to dialling it down for a wee bit after competing with the aim of getting university done while keeping long-term BMX goals in my sights.

“My strengths are track speed and a calm attitude 

“I have already been to the USA and competed in 2017 

“I am very fortunate to have been able to compete at a few world Champs before this will be my 5th world champs.

“Its costs a ton to able to go and compete,” says Will.

“Flights, accommodation plus entries and team tent hire it all adds up!

“I haven’t fundraised - firstly I find it hard to ask for help - this has been my journey and dream so it feels like it’s my responsibility.

“Secondly our announcement comes out so close to going that it is a very tight turnaround to organise anything with my schedule.

“I am hugely lucky to have received the Adastra scholarship with Craig’s investment partners this helps a lot and I am very grateful for their input, workshops and financial support. 

“I work part-time to pay for coaching and support myself too. 

“I love racing for the thrill, the community and the challenges.”

Karl Thurston

“I am 35, I qualified to go and race at Rockhill, by competing at our Nationals here in NZ,” says Karl.

“I started BMX when I was around 5 years old until roughly 25 and had a break until I was 34, but have been racing again over the last 2 years.

“Who does not want to become a professional sportsperson unfortunately we can’t all be with life’s journey.

“I have never had an official coach but that’s the beauty of sport, everyone shares their ideas and everyone around me has had a positive input over the years.

“Balancing work, training and a family is tough. But they have all been very supportive and worked with me to train for the World Champs.

Tauranga BMX Club rider Karl Thurston. Photo supplied.

“I would say my main strength is the mental side,once I'm at the gate for a race everything switches off and it’s all focus and I feel my life journey has taught me that skill!

“I have never been to the USA before.

“Why do I love BMX? I can't give you a reason why I wouldn’t love BMX- the adventures travelling around NZ, the friends you create for life, the adrenalin rush, the cheering of the crowds and let's be honest there is a bit of showing off we enjoy whether it’s our bike or gear or jumping with big air.

“BMX is exciting and thrilling and there is no, you're putting yourself out there to do the best you can.

“I’m not interested in just participating – I want to challenge myself & strive for 1st! Those are only some of the reasons I love BMX.

“I race for myself mentally- for friends & family, past and present and to make my wife and kids proud; and to remind them how cool I am,” Karl laughs.

Hannah Mason

Hannah Mason is 16 years old and racing in the Junior Woman Category (Junior Elite which is Under 19 years of age).

Hannah had to go through rigorous selection criteria which saw her racing in Australia for one of the three trials.

She was competing against riders who train at the Sleeman’s in Brisbane track up to 4 x times a week.  Her only chance to practice in Brisbane was cancelled due to the weather. 

So before her first ever Junior Elite race, she only got to roll down the ramp twice and was straight into it.

She has to race off the 8m Super cross ramp at the World Champs (the challenge riders ride off a 5.00m ramp)

Hannah competed at her first major event when she was in the 8-year-old girl’s category at North Island Champs in Taupō in 2015 where she made the final and finished in 8th place.

Tauranga BMX Club rider Hannah Mason. Photo supplied.

At this stage, Hannah is focusing on the upcoming World Champs and balancing this with schoolwork work Year 12 at Ōtūmoetai College. 

She is also in the 1st X1 Hockey team and 1st X1 Cricket team, as well as learning to drive her schedule is pretty hectic!

Her coach over the past 18 months has been Kurt Pickard who she started working with in 2022 with track sessions, gym programmes and sprint programmes. 

Under Kurt’s training, and her own determination Hannah made the 2023 BMX World Champs 16 girls final in Glasgow earning herself a World #8 ranking. 

Her skills have improved a lot over this time.  Over the last few weeks, she has also had training sessions with Tim Fergusson from Cambridge and one of her mentors is Scott Silver from Te Awamutu BMX Club. 

Hannah and her brother Daniel are also long-time members of the NBR (Nelson Brothers Racing) Team run by Boyd & Sarah Nelson originally from Cambridge.

Daniel Mason

Daniel Mason rides in the 15 boy’s category. 

He began riding BMX bikes when he was 5 years old and his first event was also the North Island Titles in Taupō 2015 where he made the semi-finals in the 6-year-old boy’s age group. 

Daniel qualified for World Champs in 2024 from his top 8 placing at BMXNZ National Champs in 2023 in Tauranga. 

This is Hannah and Daniels's first time going to the USA. 

He also competed last year in Glasgow where he made it to the quarter final rounds coming in 20th from 101 riders. 

Although he doesn’t have a World Champs ranking he is putting in the hard yards at the gym and on the bike.  

He is balancing school work (Y10 at TBC) hockey and mountain biking events. 

Tauranga BMX Club rider Daniel Mason. Photo supplied.

Daniel would love to be a pro mountain biker in the future, but for now he is enjoying BMX racing, especially the recent Cran kit Series run by Tim Fergusson. 

He has been coached by Kurt Pickard (2012 BMX Olympian) and Tim Fergusson (Previous BMX World Champ) for the same time as his sister and fully enjoys the technical side of their expertise.

Both Hannah and Daniel are members of the UOW Adams Centre for High Performance at Mt Maunganui.

They both love the adrenalin aspect of BMX racing and the social side of the sport where they have made many friends over the last 10 years from all over the country. 

The trip is fully self-funded by the family.

Rico Ryan

Rico Ryan is 12 years old and qualified for the world championships by being the national champion in 2023 and 2024.

Rico started BMX at six years old and says he aims to become elite and race in France or America.

His coaches Andrew Hickey and Kurt Pickard have been working with him for two years.

He is still in school however, he says he has to do lots of online learning that has been given to him by his teacher.

Rico says he is a tactical thinker and backs himself 100 per cent.

Rico loves all types of racing, “It’s the battle and challenge to be number one against all top racers.”

The team of six Tauranga BMX riders are off to the USA. Photo supplied.