BMX, Beers & B******t - The Official Podcast

A few weeks back racers and their families, who collectively had spent millions dollars to race the 2024 UCI BMX World Championships, experienced Swiss efficiency and precision at its finest as a quarter of them had their race day cut short and participation ribbons handed out to everyone who bothered to show up to presentation on that auspicious Wednesday afternoon.On half of the podcast team was there, and this is his story. Not yet complete as the silks become embroiled in a battle of "watch what you say son". Still, we tell the story of others that we heard from after the rug was pulled out from under them, and we relay the thoughts of some racers and parents who were there and felt robbed, but are afraid to speak out for fear of repercussions. Never mind the tens of thousands that they spent. This is KY's, and anonymous(s)  stories..... 

We get together after Tulsa to discuss what went down (a lot of riders in reality), and KY talks about his upcoming shot at the Master's title at Rock Hill and whether it's the real deal. We then dive into what it takes on race week to be successful at the World Championship level. How you make the most of your practice and how to manage race day. This all from a rider that has raced the biggest show on earth.Then the juicy stuff, the aproaching-60 half of the podcast has become peptide curious in his quest to live past 100 years old, while still riding BMX. 

Don't be fooled by the clickbait title, everything in the Boy's BMX world is just fine. They just wish it was 1984 still and QANTAS still sponsored the Aussie champs. Clips weren't even a twinkle in Darryn Hill's eyes, and the meat wagon didn't cart off corpses after every crash. Been a long gap between episodes, so lots to catch up on and of course the 4 World Cup rounds. The old guy only mentions his 600mm a couple of times and puts his hand out for funding for a Rock Hill trip. #GFM or is that #GMF for you hippies?This might be the only podcast for 2024, who knows? If you don't perform, you get dropped from the program pretty quick. 

USABMX welcomes back Khalen with open arms at the 2023 Grands and says we still love you even if your own association wants to collar you for taking a breather on the track in Shepp during practice.  Shepp and Tulsa are world's apart in distance, a USABMX and AusCycling are galaxies apart in their attitude and approach to BMX racing. In this wrap episode the Boys try to explain why USABMX makes every effort to welcome the rider, and fans to their race, the #greatestraceonearth and leave no doubt that the rider is the centre of attention, be you 8 novice Johnny, or Joris Daudet. Again, they just get it. Every rider feels special and the race is beyond magnitude and the Boys tell you why it should be on your bucket list BEFORE the Aussie national champs. The Grands also reinvigorate KY for another year and inspire the old guy not to transition fully to gravelist. 30 foot training will be in full effect in 2024.  Standby for more gym selfies.Thanks for tuning in and thanks to LUXBMX for their continued support of Australia's #1 BMX racing podcast. 

Izaac Kennedy hit up the Boys and said he had a few things to say, and could he come on to give an insight on what it's like to be in the Australian BMX high performance program under Sam and crew. Of course we grill him on what's the special sauce that has seen him rise to be the fastest elite racer that Australia has currently and how his rehab from the Reno injury is going. Izaac also explains what he feels is lacking in the Australian domestic program and the "pathway" that young riders should potentially take to rise to the level that sees Izaac making world cup mains and podiums. We also learn about his BMX history in his home town of Brisbane and the key points in his journey to being Joris Daudet's team mate on the world's most coveted team, Chase BMX.  This candid insight is a must listen for young riders (and parents of), and it might just change the thinking of the environment that racers/parents think they need to exist in to development the speed, skills and tactical ability of an elite main maker. Many thanks to Izaac for taking time out of his busy golfing schedule to speak with us. 

Jayce Cunning needs no introduction to Aussie BMX race fans! He's a crowd favourite, the kids love him and the mums want to cuddle him. Plus he's fast as fuck and he wants to know why AusCycling doesn't get out there and promote the F out of BMX racing as the perfect foundation for kids learning to ride a bike. WTF is riding does under a pool noodle do to promote bike handling he wants to know. Send that kid off a 8m hill and he/she will soon figure out what it takes to manoeuvre around a car backing out of a driveway.He's a thoroughly likeable young chap who wanted to come on and get a few things off his chest about his recent experience at the QLD state champs where he had a crew there filming everything that is awesome about BMX. What is it with some people? Refreshing, that's how we would describe Jayce and we think he's one of the genuine talents on the Aussie BMX scene.  

There is probably no one else with the combination of professional AND racing credentials than Dr J. As well as a successful career as a Pro BMX racer in the 90s and into the 2000s, he's a psychologist that has helped many BMX athletes reach their personal, and performance, potential. KY reached out to Jason during his career and he recalls how it set him down a better path. We talk about addiction, both healthy and unhealthy. We talk about mental strength and the need to adapt in certain situations, and stations, in life. Discussions cover the various Federation programs and the success of the French, and the drop off of both the Australian and USA's (male's) depth and breadth in recent years, and how "struggle" might be the key to rebuilding the once strong programs. Boy, at just shy of 2 hours, there's not much we didn't discuss, yet there's plenty more to perhaps. Riders, parents of riders (especially parents) should tune in to this special episode where we don't mention AC once, and is bereft of Khalen's favourite adjective. Thank you Dr J, this was an incredible unpacking of your years of experience as both an athlete, and as a therapist helping current and past riders. 

The Boys aligned their busy schedules of FIFO work and SFA work to record a quick synopsis of the 2023 World Challenge Champs so far, and chat about (predictably) the massive chasm between development and the current Aussie elite squad. Plus they self appoint themselves as Australia's #1 BMX race podcast, and how they stay humble in the face of ever increasing popularity. 

In your teens you had no fear, in your 20s you have a niggling sense of self preservation at the back of your mind. 30s? You have  a mortgage and dependents, and past 40? Well shit just hurts getting out of bed the next day after gates.Welcome to your future if you're a young whippersnapper, if you're as old as the older of the the two hosts, then you're already there.KY throws out his back lifting a kettle bell back onto the rack, and the really old fucker gives himself a rotator cuff injury making coffee in the morning. Don't bother cloning us, we're fucked.Looks like it's yoga and pilates from now on for the boys. 

The Boys are back to chat grass roots BMX race programs and the void that exists where gold could be dug. Speaking of which, we lord Boyd Hilder and his X Games gold medal and challenge him to race because he's too fit for freestyle. Then KY wonders who runs BMX because it seems that smiles were rationed over at the WA national round, or weren't packed by the AC roadshow. We're ill-informed, uneducated BMXers, and probably just plain ole naïve,  but we just want BMX to be it's own identity within the dark empire. Use the Force Luke, unbridle us from the clutches of lycra and set us free in the universe. 

It's ANZAC Day and the Boys are diving into Aussie BMX history with our mate Howie Waye posting some epic shots from BITD and they lament (again) of the lack of appetite for local racing history, and try to pinpoint what makes our friends at USABMX HQ so passionate about their past. And ask where is the love from our overlords? Then they ramble more about nothing really relevant and keep this episode in the lane of BMX, Beers and Bullshit. 

Someone at LUX has an addiction and there's an intervention looming. The Boys uncover Sylvain's plans for the Master's Olympics and set the record straight on a spicey topic from the podcast's evil twin's Facebook group on expectations of track performance in the modern era. That, and not much else. We're a couple of old BMXers just turning laps and making each other laugh.  Oh yeah, of course we discuss racing from Houston, and THAT move. Keep it low and slow and out of the emergency room folks. 

"Look, it's potentially life threatening, but go race, and we'll get you checked over when you get back." This episode is a little dark as the boys talk about the loss of Jade, and a couple of other mates who are facing  a battle from their own losses or illness.  Fucking life eh! Salty gets a reality check from his doc a couple of weeks out from the Aussies, and gets some sobering news from the pump doctor on his return, "cut back on the beers for a few weeks until we throw that body on the dyno." Does he take his advice? Or change cardiologist? Tune in and you won't be surprised to learn that the boys are both thankful for their massive extended BMX family who pick us up when real life rears its head and reminds us that we only get one lap, so make the most of it.  Warning: Themes of blood pressure and cholesterol are talked about. And maybe a little AC niggle.

KY cops a BMX fine for being too fast and the Boys vow at the start of the episode to only briefly refer to the matter, then rabbit on about it ad nauseam. Of course there's discussion about what BMX means to the both of them deep down and how they wish that USABMX could just appear Downunder and start a contra league. A BMX league where you're welcomed, and the rider is the focus of the show. Where the only #PBs are the lap times and not how fast the mob can run a moto and high-five each other when they see the 40+ crew laying on the ground in search of oxygen. But then there's the good stuff, you legends dipping into their pockets to support the podcast team and grassroots BMX. You're all deadset champs, every single one of you the messaged us, and/or donated. Brought a tear to our eye.#keepbmxbmx

This maybe the last you hear from the boys as they exposed  what it means to be a racer in Australia in the modern era,  #nothingbutthetruthsohelpmegod

Two time Olympian AND World Cup winner Mr David Graf joins the Boys from a undisclosed location where no matter hard you try, you'll never get an advantage from a tailwind. This Swiss genius dumps all his racing secrets during this epic podcast that might just be our best to date (that bar is really low, we know)! We knew he was a thinker and a tinkerer, but boy did we have our eyes opened up and immediately after we finished recording, KY got out the hacksaw and cut his bars down to 24 inches in an attempt to beat the laws of physics and carve through the air like a Euro fighter! Dave recaps his career and his theories of speed as he attempted to gain the edge down the hill. If you wake up in the morning and your first thoughts are "what gearing will save nine thousands of a second of my hill time?", then you are going to have your mind blown during this breakdown of fork offset and bike set up.We go deep down the mental rabbit hole of the emotional rollercoaster a rider rides throughout the day of racing a World Cup, World Championship, and Olympics and David really opens up how that journey for him changed as his experience grew at that level. His honesty and openness is a lesson for us all at any level and totally relatable.  He also reveals that he's been listening to our podcast and has been taking notes to apply to his new role of Swiss National BMX coach. He also reveals an incredible statistic of Swiss BMX and their achievements, despite a rider count for the country that is on par with one of the biggest clubs in Oz! Did we say already that we think this is one of our best? Massive thanks to David again for his time and there are plenty of lessons for parents of youngsters on development, and how to take a kid from 10years old to the Olympics. 

This episode the Boys (capitalised, the pretensiones of these guys) discuss the last 42 years of the Australian National Championships. They try to pinpoint the beginning in this oral history of the sport they both love and discover more than a few gaps in the knowledge base.  Luckily between the two of them they can tap into the brains of the legends of the sport of BMX in Australia and find the answers. Who's won the most male Australian National Championships ? We acknowledge all the winners through the eras and tip our hats to the pioneers. Then there's a quick recap of Oldsmar and a look towards the last few races of the year, here and OS. 

This week the boys have yet again failed to secure a guest for the show! They just don't have the budget of the big players in the BMX podcast market to pay the starting fees of the B1 stars. Anyways, a few subjects they gnawed on include the weekend's racing in Bogota, the various state titles happening across Australia currently, the BMX HoF and how race and freestyle is being melded back together. Plus other shit that we forgot about because it's been a few days and we've been on the road. As usual, an unscripted ramble on BMXOh yeah, AC has changed the date of the Aussies. That part we do remember chattering about. Thanks as always, for listening. Especially you Blake Moore.

In another scheduling nightmare scenario, the Boys finally get together many weeks after the World Championships and repeat several things they probably already covered in the last show. PLUS, why let the truth ruin a good ole BMX rumour.  Will the Aussie HP team be on Meybos in 2023?? Will the Boys get any facts right? One thing is for certain, they'll never schedule the Aussies and the Grands on the same weekend for as Aretha Franklin sang R.E.S.P.E.C.T Dropped just in time for that long drive home from Alice Springs. This show is dedicated to the mums and dads that drove our sorry arses all over this big, brown country we call Oz to race the sport we love #BMX.

Well, not really live because we didn't get on the AC gravy train and score a #francefreebie!It's Friday and the Challenge Class riders are all but run and done so the Boys get down to talk Elite prospects. But only the male..... Why? Are they about to be cancelled? No, it's because KY needed to run off and do sprints and work on dropping a few kegs in his attempt at the #2022aussies. Sorry girls, we love ya, but we were rushed in order to get this podcast out because our social media team are saying the metrics are better if we drop this prior to the Elite racing.  Salty drops #Revelbrewing a few times in an attempt to score free beer, and finally gives a shoutout to the LUXBMX warehouse crew coz they're a pack of GCs. Entertaining? Debateable. Factual? Barely. BMX? Got that covered.

After a long and protracted negotiation period between the West and East Coast, we finally secured one of the OG BMX Olympians from the 2008 China Games. A true out and out character of the sport, Kama started late, but went hard. From the trying to outride the cops on the streets of Browns Plains, to staring down the barrel of guns in Brazil, BMX certainly took this lad to all corners of the globe.  KY and Kama open old wounds, rub salt into them, then wave the healing wand over them. If you want to hear the fairy tale, it ain't here. Nothing but the truth your honour. An unfiltered look at BMX racing for a decade at the highest level from 1999 t0 2019. What a ride. * Warning. Adults themes and concepts in this brutally honest recount of a life on the road. 

2016 Australian BMX Olympian Bodi Turner  joins the boys for a chat that lifts the lid on the selection process at the elite level and indicates that it might need a little tweaking.... Recorded just prior to the announcement of the team that will represent Australia at the 2022 World BMX Championships in France, Bodi recalls both his recent races in Glasgow and Papendal, as well as the Olympic experience in 2016 in Rio where he admits that that race was at a level he was never expecting.  Now 6 years down the track since those Olympic games, Bodi also gives us a raw look into his ASADA suspension for failing the Whereabouts test for classified athletes who fall into the testing pool. Now in 2022, Bodi is still giving it his all as he is still a young buck, and even though he's racing riders just like his younger self, he reckons he's riding better than ever and is pushing harder to prove he still has the right stuff.  A great chat with an Aussie BMX good guy. 

This week it's just the two old washed up BMXers pontificating on the Papendal World Cup race and then grabbing the hammer to place another nail in their AC career coffin as they discuss the state of play of rider development from age 14, through to racing World Cups. Lesson? You gotta eat the elephant in the room a bite at a time.

This episode the boys chat to Barry Nobles. A racer that really doesn't need any introduction. He's going all out for this year's #USABMX Vet title and tells us his approach to riding these days and how's his training has changed compared to his years in the Pro class. He's recounts his X-Games days (not that long ago, but a small pandemic has seen all our lives upended for a couple of years). Khalen and Barry have been mates for years, sharing a place in Murrieta for a while. A couple of travelling BMX racers bonded by the goal to win, and party. We look at the current crop of Elite racers, the latest race in Glasgow and how Barry has been recruited by USA Cycling for the next round in Papendal to help the young USA team navigate the tough and unforgiving world of UCI SX BMX racing. We expand into BMX race development and what it really means, and look at what our respective countries are doing to foster it. Plus we talk training with one of the best coaches in the world, Sean Dwight, and how he's helping Barry gun for that title. Speaking of guns, there's a coyote story, and chat about beavers. Quite the naturist is Bazza. Another episode that brings insight, and imparts wisdom, from a couple of racers that have lived a life and definitely lays our a couple of lessons for any emerging racer looking to battle in the Pro/Elite classes. 

Kahlen and the ole fella are back after a mandatory rest enforced by WADA for having too much enthusiasm for BMX. In this episode the boys chat about the recent #USABMX race in Tulsa and how the Aussies handled the big track. Other topics include Sam's appointment and, well to be honest, we can't remember, so we'll listen back along with you. It's raw and unedited BMX. Just like the fans tell us they like it. Oh that's right, Kahlen also analyses Palm Dog's performance in Tulsa. Our Canadian listeners will enjoy that.  

This episode the BB&B crew chat the boy that went from Minto all the way to the ABA Pro Championship title and along the way banked well over $200K (USD) per annum in the good years, all from BMX racing. That's close to the entire Aussie HP race budget in 2022! A chance meeting with UK legend, and now USA head coach, Jamie Staff, ignited a dream for Warwick of heading to America to race BMX and he tells his story of working and banking every spare cent to scrape together the airfare, then surfing couches and working for the ABA to get himself going in the US. From his battles with Luke Madill here in Oz as a 14 year old, to winning the Elite World Championship, this episode is another story of Aussie grit and a BMX dream fulfilled. Warwick chats about his heroes growing up, pivotal career moments when you first beat the champ and stories of the god times as a top USA Pro in the sport. It's a long one, and a few adult themes as usual, but a great history lesson of the years from the early 90s to the mid 2000s. Sit back and crack a Tooheys New, we really enjoyed this one.

We welcome our old mate Dale Holmes to the podcast this episode for a right old rambling about his teleportation from damp and dreary England to the sunshine of California, and his time as a Pro rider in the 90's and across into the new millennia. Khalen has history with Dale and we discuss the path that Pros took BITD as they camped on floors and couches before signing contracts that afforded them the opportunity to purchase palatial mansions in California, complete with wings dedicated to stashing their fat BMX cheques in! Relive the good old times of MSN message boards and good ole fashioned beef, with Khalen upsetting the stiff upper lip of the Pommies.  Plus we lift the lid and have a good sniff of the current scene as the boys discuss the paradox of multimillion dollar facilities being built, while race winning cheques haven't moved in 40 years. Talk about deflation! Listen in and hear Khalen drop that he wants to hit the Grands and touch up the Mosquito and Bazza. Boy oh boy, he better get on that #sprintblock! We're all over the place like a 51 novice off a 5m hill, but boy we had a laugh. 

Yeah, it took a while for the next episode to drop, but we're busy dudes. Between being full-time BMX Pros and modelling commitments, the BB&B boys are busy! But in this episode we Zoom in USABMX legend, and 2x Olympian, Nic Long, as he gives us the skinny on what you give away when you switch to flats. From one foot slingshots, to pulling the foot off that crucial 2nd pedal, Nic doesn't paint a pretty picture when it comes to running flat pedals in Vet Pro on the USABMX circuit, but he's dedicated to keeping it OG. And we got plenty of love for that!Tune in to hear what makes this veteran tick and what it was like to have Khalen as your team mate back when KY was digging trenches down the dirt ABA start hills instead of digging them for Twiggy. Beware, there's some cuss words mamma. 

Our fledgling podcast has finally cracked 10 episodes and what a way to celebrate by having Sam Willoughby dial in via the Pacific telegraph line to give the boys the lowdown on his stellar career, from where it started, to the day he looped out just weeks after the Rio Olympic games, and beyond, as we uncover what a true fighter this Aussie BMX legend is. With Khalen and Sam sharing the Olympic stage in London, where one grabbed a silver medal, and the other tasted the grimy Pommy dust, there's a shared history to delve into and the insights into how these two approached BMX racing at it's highest level is golden, from USABMX Pro titles to the Olympics. We get deep into mindset, and how Sam's processes saw him win multiple rainbow jerseys, including both his Junior Elite years of 2008 and 2009. But this is only the start.We also get deep into the current situation of elite racing here in Australia and the decline of depth at this level. We explore the differences of culture from when these boys were firing, to the sad situation of having just one male place at the recent Tokyo games. From coaching to mentors, from family to mates, we find out what makes this champion tick.  

The boys have recovered from their Pirate Life adventures and get together to discuss what's happening in domestic BMX racing and who's driving the direction of BMX in Australia at the moment. Two money classes at the National Champs. What's up with that? Superclass and Elite. What's happening with the U23 class? Why didn't AC give that a run so that at least we could get a few points on the board. And while we're at it... How about some local UCI options to give the Aussie boys and girls an opportunity to earn some points so that their families don't have to mortgage the sheep station, again(!), just so we can send the chosen few to the worlds. Seems like racing is now at the very bottom of the budget totem pole. 

In this episode is a first for the boys as they packed the camera and their bike bags, then flew into Adelaide to film the latest podcast at Pirate Life Brewery.  As guests of the Sam Willoughby track building crew, Recreation Living, the morning of the podcast recording Khalen and the old guy test rode Australia's latest SX track build to give it the BMX, Beers and Bullshit seal of approval.Then with the backdrop of one of Pirate Life's conference spaces, there was a line up of 3 Australian Olympic BMX racers on the couches (Anthony Dean, Brian Kirkham and host Khalen), along with the SW91 track builder (s) Trent Lupton, and main test pilots Max Cairns, Jake Svens and David Gosling. This track is being built, and ridden along the way and we chat about how the f*#k you get a $6M project off the ground and what hurdles and challenges the crew have overcome during the build. What changes were made from the plan and when it's likely to be up and running for the SA BMX community.Then the boys that repp'd Australia at the O-Show chat about life during their careers, and what they're doing now days. A real insight into what it's like to represent your country and whether the sacrifice was worth it. Compulsory watching for those new to the sport to learn about the history of BMX as it entered into the Olympic era.Massive thanks to Pirate Life Brewery for giving us a cool spot to record, and supplying the beers to lubricate the chat. And to Trent from Living Recreation for the weekend and sneak preview of the SW91 trackYouTube link to watch the podcast recording - https://youtu.be/CQ1c-ylESCc

The Boys have had a break to reassess their BMX racing goals and aspirations after the head of Podcast High Performance called a meeting and opened several spreadsheets. As the Boys sat with the heads down, being berated for their pitiful download percentages, they silently vowed to return as fitter, stronger, and nastier BMX podcasters. This week they get the alloy and carbon bats out and take a big swing at BMX race development in Australia, or lack there of. KY discloses that he rebuked a generous salary package offered to be state coach. Saying that you can't buy my love that cheaply. Salty reminisces about his first Aussie title in 1984, and is worried that the current administration might travel back in time and tap a phone call when he says something about the shit track in Malaga that was all concrete and tarmac. Pissed that Tyrone Butt wearing pink race gear beat him at a club night before the big one at Byford. We chat about that MC Pistol Pete and our old mate the Wildman. Plus Salty adds up the death count from last week's Queensland State Titles, where the loser was the QAS as they watch the Ipswich ambulance fleet's depreciation cop a hammering from all the extra miles they did carting out the bodies from the Hacksaw Ridge BMX track. The Boys are on the Soapbox and rambling. They get the felling there will be another meeting called and their beer funding might be in jeopardy.  

The Boys have Anthony Dean on minutes after announcing his retirement from Pro BMX racing. He recaps his Pro BMX career and talks about what it meant to him to represent Australia at two Olympic games and the struggles of taking on the world from Downunder. From the distance us Aussies have to travel, to the selection process that riders have to endure just to earn a sandwich and a cold bottle of water from the high-performance esky. It wouldn't be BMX without controversy, and there's plenty in this episode. Grab a beer, sit back and listen to Deano's story.

This week the boys tackle the big issues. Global warming, border closures in Australia and of course, who's coming in hot for the 2021 Elite World Champs. Plus, they drop the news on who their first guest will be! Tune in to see if the boys got any stats right, and if AusCycling has started to share the show on their social media. BMX, Beers and Bullshit. It says it on the tin, though contents may have settled during transport. 

It the post Olympic BMX show! Who won? Who lost? Who's dropping their resume off to Starbucks to start their career as a barista? KY and Salty break down the semis and finals in the racing. Then look over the top of the spine at the cool kids in the park and marvel at the glittering GOLD that Aussie Logan Martin won and wonder how much the sprinkle of high performance coaching landed on that polished Hyper frame. Look out, Khalen is driving the bus without a license and no one is safe. 

The Boys rip open a couple of cans and discuss what went on in the motos today at the O-Show. Who made it, who's heading back to the village in search of love. 

The 2020/21 Olympic Games have begun, the BMX athletes are in the village and in this episode Khalen looks back his pathway to competing at the 2012 Games in London. Giving his insight into navigating the qualification process, and lifting the lid on missing selection in 2008, and his career turn around to be selected for 2012. Did the Games change his life? Did it bring fame and fortune? Then the Boys turn their attention to the upcoming event in Tokyo and check in on a bunch of current and old school crew for their predictions of gold, silver and brown medals. Then they take a punt and look at a couple of Aussie online betting agencies to see if they got it right. Then they closeout with looking at what went so wrong for Australia to qualify only ONE male rider for racing when the previous three O-Shows have seen 3, 3 & 3 go. Cover the young one's ears as this episode has a language and content warning with words starting F, C and acronyms AC, CA and BMXA. 

A short intro to the hosts of the BMX, Beers & Bullshit podcast where you'll hear the boys chat about what the show is about (the title should give you a good hint) and a little about their BMX backgrounds. Plus what future podcasts will bring.