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Highlands Today

Like Riding On Air

Contributed photo.

Justin Stewart, 13, takes to the air during a recent BMX race in Naples. Stewart and his teammate Rebecca McKenzie will be one of 15 riders to represent Florida at the upcoming President's Cup In Lexington, Va.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: December 9, 2008

AVON PARK - The heart begins to race, as the body is amped up with adrenaline in anticipation of taming a track that has yet to be tamed.

The desire to defy gravity and literally walk on air as you ride around a dirt track in the hopes of holding the winner's trophy at the end of the day's ride is what motivates a BMX rider.

Justin Stewart, a 13-year old from Sebring, and his teammate Rebecca McKenzie have taken that basic of motivations and turned it into a passion that has led them to the brink of national recognition.

Stewart and McKenzie are going from a local dirt track to the national stage as they've qualified for Team Florida and will be one of 15 riders to represent the Sunshine State at the upcoming 2008 President's Cup in Lexington, Va.

"I'm excited and fearful of riding in the President's Cup," Stewart said. "I'm fast, but I've got a lot of work to do to compare to some of the other kids at the event."

It hasn't been that long ago that Justin accidentally fell into the sport of BMX.

Stewart knew he had a healthy curiosity in the sport when he accompanied his dad to the track last year, but one ride around the track was all it took for BMX to become a part of his future.

"I had played soccer but the season had come to an end and I just wanted to see what BMX was like," Stewart said. "I remember thinking that the track was bigger than I anticipated, but I rode it for the first time and I didn't fall. I remember wanting to ride it again and again. I couldn't get enough."

Justin's father David is the track director of the Highlands BMX course and his mother Sandy also volunteers, which has made this venture a family affair.

"It is really a family event and that's one of the aspects that really appealed to us," Sandy said. "We all travel to different tracks and are involved in helping Justin get on the track. That's what a lot of people don't realize about BMX is that the whole family can be a part of it."

Intense practice sessions have helped Stewart and his teammate McKenzie become two of the top riders in the state in their age division.

Stewart placed third in the 13 Rookie Division in the Florida State Summer Series and second in the 12 Rookie Division at the 2008 South Eastern Championship in South Carolina.

McKenzie took the top spot in the 12 Rookie Division in the Florida State Summer Series and eighth place at the South Eastern Championship in South Carolina.

Justin's mother Sandy didn't worry about her son on the track in the beginning, but it wasn't until he started "defying gravity" that her motherly instincts kicked in.

"He didn't take to the air his first year, but once he did it was tough to watch at first," Sandy said. "It looks worse for the parents than it does for the riders."

Stewart says that he kept getting pushed to get air by the other riders, but kept resisting their demands until one day he decided to go for it.

"I remember flying through the air and once I landed I immediately loved it," Stewart said. "It is an amazing feeling. I can only imagine that this is what a bird experiences when they're flying."

The advantage of having one of the top BMX tracks in the state is something that Stewart understands that not every kid has and is making the most of this opportunity.

"Highlands BMX is one of the most difficult tracks in the state," Stewart said. "The key is going fast, but with going fast you also have to be able to control that speed. You have to have the drive to get around that track and the will to win."

Highlands BMX has quickly become one of the most popular tracks in the state, as riders from around the world converge on the track during the regional and national qualifiers.

"We get around 970 riders for the two-day state qualifiers and it keeps getting bigger," Sandy Stewart said. "Highlands BMX is the most centrally located track in the state so we get people from Miami and from Jacksonville coming here to race.

"We've worked really hard to build a solid program here and the kids really seem to enjoy our track because of its difficulty and variety they don't get at many of the other tracks in the state."

Florida is a hot bed for BMX racing, as the state has the most BMX tracks of any in the country with 27 when most states are lucky to have four.

The number of riders and tracks was the reason for the creation of the Florida State Summer Series that is sanctioned by the National Bicycle League, which governs the sport.

Currently, Stewart is sixth (641) in the 13 Rookie Division in the series. The series runs through May.

Wipeouts are a natural part of BMX and every rider has their crash stories, but Stewart doesn't like to dwell on those experiences.

"I've had some bad wipe-outs. I'd rather not talk about those," Stewart said. "I just treat the wipe-outs as part of the sport and get back on and keep riding."

Stewart has had one-on-one instruction from professional riders in Tampa and will need every bit of experience to be successful at the President's Cup, but he understands that even he will only go so far.

"Some kids would do anything and I mean anything to win," Stewart said. "I've seen kids forced off the track and get hurt in the process. I ride a clean race and won't get caught up in that part of the sport. I want to win, but I'm going to win because I'm the best rider.

"I will do my best to represent Florida in a positive light and hopefully come home with a win."

Stewart and McKenzie are enlisting the help of the community in their quest to represent Florida at the President's Cup. Donations and sponsorships are needed to offset the cost for gas, food and hotel expenses for the weekend of Dec. 25-28.

For sponsorship information or to make a donation, please contact Sandy Stewart at 471-6027 or Sherri Edwards at 257-1665.

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5837 or choffman@highlandstoday.com

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