You can find Makayla Brosius on her bike, whether at the Juan de Fuca BMX track in Colwood, at Langford\u2019s Jordie Lunn Bike Park, or on elite level tracks around the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoy the process. The people, the places I get to go, it\u2019s really good for my mental health, I love riding my bike,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
And she doesn\u2019t just love it, she\u2019s really good at it too.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis Saturday I leave to go to Brisbane, Australia, for the BMX World Championships and then a bit later in the year I go to Beijing, China, for the Pump Track World Championships,\u201d says Makayla.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pump track is like a time trial. The riders navigate the track individually and the best time wins.<\/p>\n
Watch the full story in the video below:<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year I qualified for the pump track championships and went to Switzerland,\u201d says Makayla. \u201cI was in the mix. For the first one I placed 20th out of 40-something people so I was happy with that, but I want to do better this year, obviously.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year, I was always really scared of pushing myself and I was scared of failure and I think last year I just wanted to try new things and get out of my comfort zone \u2013 and it\u2019s working out so far,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Makayla\u2019s success is having an impact locally as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s amazing. She\u2019s not only a reigning national champ, but she\u2019s also a very key part of our club,\u201d says Beth Hutton, who has known Makayla for years as her son attends the same riding club.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s somebody that a lot of the girl riders in particular \u2013 but a lot of the young riders in general \u2013 look up to,\u201d she says. \u201cTo see somebody from their home track accomplish so much in the sport, and still with so much to come, I have no doubt, it\u2019s very encouraging for them to say, \u2018Well if she can do it I can do it too.\u201d<\/p>\n
So what does it take to become a world-class rider?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to have really good endurance, lots of strength. I train in the gym lots, strong legs, lots of practice, training, having fun,\u201d says Makayla.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But it takes more than just physical strength, it takes mental fortitude as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, I just try to stay as positive as I can. I visualize my races, and they can go as best as they can. Any time I doubt myself I think about how hard I\u2019ve worked and that I deserve to be where I am,\u201d says Makayla.<\/p>\n
Beth says it\u2019s an attitude she\u2019s noticed as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s her dedication more than anything. She\u2019s always here and she always has a smile on her face. She rides to the best of her capabilities every single time she hits the track,\u201d says Beth. \u201cIt\u2019s an amazing thing for our riders to see.\u201d<\/p>\n