Being new to this gig is interesting.  I remember 25 years ago tooling around a BMX track with my neighbor Brian Speas but it wasn't like this.  

To have the gear, the specs, the skill sets and the drive these kids have, you'd think they'd be riding for 10 years already, but they haven't.  It's be more like 10 weeks!  What is more mind boggling is how firece the competition is.

We're currently in the 5& Under Novice class ... let me repeat.  5 & Under!!!!  No, there's not just 1 or 2 other kids tooling around on thier Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Wal Mart bikes.  More like a full class of at least 10-15 LEGIT 5 or under kids at most races.  And that's not counting the 5 and under kids who are intermediate or expert class (won either 10 or 20 total races).  There's 210 "BOYS" just in the district alone!

Bikes are sleek, highly designed machines that are intended to maximize speed, power output, handling and responiveness.  No no, not something you'd EVER think of taking to the car wash bike jumps of yesteryear.  

Competition is fierce, kids are literally battling to win while still trying to understand the mechanics and physics behind thier motion.  What's great is when your kid wins.  The joy, the thrill all comes back.  But here's the hard part, which gets sticky, and I know ALL of us parents are not only experiening it, but concerned about getting it right:

  • Sportsmanship
  • Handling defeat graciously
  • Learning from mistakes
  • Keeping and maintaining a positive attitude

It's hard to see your kid come in last, or not qualify for the main event.  And if in the main, not get place on the podium.  There are tears, screams, fits, anger and sorrow all coarsing through that little body all at the same time and all with the same amount of severity and potency as the next.  Thier world is OVER, there will be no next time in thier minds, it's done. 

But ... I'm thankful of this sport that still allows for these lessons to be taught.  These days we've engaged in several sports that ultimately poor teams with many bad attidues and everyone EXPECTING an award, trophy or pat on the back for doing nothing and being bratty about it the entire time.  

So at that moment, when tears are flowing and the mental state is at it's lowest when experiencing loss... at that very moment we get to pick them up, teach them personal responsibility, how to get back on the bike an ride again.  I can't believe Beckham is 5, riding competitevly and learning that from loss you gain.

I'm not sure who needs the lesson more right now, myself or Beckham ... and for the age old question 'Are we there yet" ... Yes, I think we have just arrived.