SOUTH JORDAN, Utah (July 23, 2024) — USA Cycling, with support from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the local BMX community, has unveiled the first BMX Freestyle Olympic Training Facility in South Jordan, Utah. This state-of-the-art venue marks a significant milestone in Team USA’s preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
BMX Freestyle made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, where USA Cycling emerged as the top-ranked country for both men and women, with Hannah Roberts winning the country’s first Olympic medal in the sport. This success spurred USA Cycling’s determination to build a world-class training facility for BMX Freestyle athletes ahead of Paris 2024.
Despite numerous challenges, the project was completed in less than two months, thanks to the unwavering support of the local BMX Freestyle community and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. “We are thrilled to finally unveil this groundbreaking training venue,” said Jim Miller, USA Cycling’s Chief of Sport Performance. “Our athletes now have access to a world-class facility that has undoubtedly enhanced their Olympics preparation.”
The project was spearheaded by Joe Sirlin, a construction and development professional from Salt Lake City. As a father of two passionate BMX enthusiasts, Sirlin recognized the need for an Olympic-standard BMX park in the U.S. “When I first approached Ryan [Nyquist, USA Cycling BMX Freestyle Coach] about why we didn’t have a FISE-style course here in the States, I asked if I could help. That was in June 2023,” said Sirlin. “After that conversation, a passion burned to find local support and bring this idea to life. After I met Alex Short with AK Masonry in September 2023, I knew we had the best lead yet, and he was willing to partner with us.”
Sirlin continued, “Over the next few months, we all worked tirelessly to secure the funds and partners. Right after Christmas, Jim Miller called me with the green light to get started. We had a crew, design, and team ready, and we started building in mid-January and completed by March 1st. It was nothing short of incredible.”
The design of the park aimed to create the world’s best BMX facility, incorporating every possible feature that could appear in a contest within the 34-foot tall, 18,000-square-foot space. Building such a park in just eight weeks was a monumental task. A dedicated local crew of six full-time workers labored on-site daily for six weeks. John Bethers from SuperRamp led the construction, while renowned ramp builder Nate Wessel from Pastranaland designed the course in record time as a favor.
Hannah Roberts was amazed when she first saw the facility. “We were asked, ‘What obstacles do you want?’ Being able to have a say in the design makes it even more special,” she said. “There isn’t a skate park in the world that can prepare you better than this one. This is exactly what we needed to gain an advantage.”
This facility is more than just a training ground; it has established a true home for the BMX Freestyle team. Perris Benegas was stunned when she walked into the park for the first time. “I think it’s great to have a place where we can all come together and push each other and motivate each other,” she said. “The fact that these ramps exist, and this is our home base is just unbelievable.”
Hannah Roberts, Perris Benegas, Angie Marino, Justin Dowell, Marcus Christopher, and Nick Bruce have been training at the facility since March, preparing for the Olympic Qualifier Series. The team went on to qualify the maximum number of spots for Paris 2024, sending two men and two women to the Olympic Games. Roberts, Benegas, Dowell, and Christopher will represent Team USA in BMX Freestyle Park on July 30-31, 2024, in Paris, France.
