How a legacy of putting people first shaped the way Westside BMX approached the 2024 GWM BMX Racing National Championships

With a facility that is the envy of clubs across Australia, and a strong and vibrant membership, Westside BMX is a club well positioned to host the 2024 GWM BMX Racing National Championships.

Just as important however, is the culture and legacy Westside BMX brings to this year’s premier BMX event.

Built on a tradition of putting its members first, Westside BMX has taken a people-centred approach to hosting the national championships, as club president Ayrton Bland explained.

“We've got a large rider base here in Westside, pushing around 300-members strong, and that makes a big part of who we are; we've got such a great, fun, inclusive community environment when it comes to our race nights at Westside,” Bland said.

“We've got previous committee members, presidents, and family members that have been a part of our committee and our community at Westside for such a long time now, and they're still floating around in one way, shape, or form.

“That history makes the club what it is. Having the people around to help guide us as a committee, with the way Westside is heading and being able to tie that back to our legacy, is something that a lot of clubs don't have.” 

Westside BMX, 2023 National Series (photo: AusCycling)

That collective knowledge base has enabled the club to continually evolve and improve over the years to house the capacity to host major events.

In 2017, Westside BMX worked with the City of Stirling to see the creation of a new $1.5 million clubhouse and canteen facility, and in 2019 it attracted a $30,000 federal government grant to upgrade lighting at the venue.

In the last 12 months, Bland says the track has undergone a full makeover, with new first and third straights, an updated second straight, and a fully sealed diorite surface, and reveals that ultimately the club would like to add “a UCI spec’d 5m hill, and hopefully also add an 8m gate to our facility as well, really cementing our future in BMX in WA.”

Drawing from the past to build towards the future has also been applied to hosting the GWM BMX National Championships, with Bland explaining how they used the experience of hosting a National Series round in 2023 to shape this year’s event.

Westside BMX, 2023 National Series (photo: AusCycling)

“The atmosphere at the National Series last year was fantastic. Westside's a great place to view if you're on the first, second, third turn or down the last straight, but we went, ‘well, we want to get more people involved. We want to have more spectators trackside’,” Bland said. 

“So, to add to our atmosphere, we've added a 230-person grandstand for the event down the first straight, which I think will really be part of spectator viewing, and the way they see the whole event.

“Westside worked closely with AusCycling to make sure that we've got spectator viewing all around our track. So, we won’t have track tents available. It will be viewing room around our whole track, to really try and add to the atmosphere of the event.

“AusCycling have also done a great job of working with GWM to have event activations, which is open to all people throughout the racing and will just add another element to the experience that is Westside for the national championship.” 

Bland says the club also worked with AusCycling to break up age groups over the week, so there is “good, strong racing on every day that's exciting to watch,” and to introduce a twilight session on Friday, “so people can see how spectacular Westside is under lights.”

Westside BMX at dusk (photo: Westside BMX)

The club president acknowledged the hard work of people behind the scenes who helped bring the event to life, including Marco Gemignani for “his exceptional commitment to maintaining our track and facilities,” and Alecia Crossman who had “picked up the pieces of everything that the committee and I are throwing at her for social media and just making it happen.”

“The support we've received from the City of Stirling and our local counsellors has [also] been a massive part in helping us secure Nationals, which I think really goes to show how much they are behind BMX in Western Australia,” Bland added.

With the national championships now just days away, the club president said he’s looking forward to seeing local riders take it to the rest of the nation, naming Westside’s Alyssa Howat, Zane Ratajczak, Jackson Hill, and Mandurah’s Amelie Reid as riders to watch, and said the sense of anticipation as the event approaches extends beyond the four walls of his club.

“Yes, there's a great sense of anticipation and there’s a sense of pride, but more than anything else, Westside – and not just Westside, but the whole WA BMX community – really want to showcase what BMX in Western Australia is all about,” Bland revealed. 

“It's the WA community of BMX getting behind us, helping out, lending a hand, even when it's just a kind word and a bit of advice. We are getting support from all clubs across Western Australia, because we really just want to show everyone how great BMX is in Western Australia, and what we offer the sport.” 

“My advice for the riders [coming to Perth] – and it's the same advice I give my four-year-old and my nine-year-old whenever we travel for BMX – is embrace the experience and have fun. At the end of the day, that’s what we're here for: it’s the experience and it's a fun time. And the friends we make now, throughout our sport, are friends that we’ll have for life.” 

2024 GWM BMX Racing National Championships

• Dates: October 7-13

• Location: Westside BMX Club, Balcatta

• More information: 2024 GWM BMX Racing National Championships

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The 2024 GWM BMX Racing National Championships are proudly supported by GWM Australia & New Zealand, the City of Stirling, and the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA.