Southtowns BMX balances risk with community in Hamburg

As Liam Dixon sat with his legs dangling from his bike, staring off at Copenhagens skyline in late July, many things went through his mind.

He thought about the gate that held him in place, waiting to drop and commence the dangerous seconds-long sprints he has done thousands of times.

He thought about the youth career and familial sacrifices that brought him to representing the United States in BMX.

And he thought about how none of what was about to happen mattered.

Liam Dixon comes out of a corner during practice at Southtowns BMX in Hamburg on Wednesday.

Thats why, when on the first straight Dixon hit the back tire of another biker, collapsing violently, he got up, reset his bike and finished the BMX world championships.

It sucked, Dixon said.

But Ive gotten so much out of BMX.

...

It couldnt ask for anything more.

It all helps with perspective.

The sport has shaped his life, racing since the age of 6.

BMX defined his current worldview, creating a depth of perspective most other 16-year-olds cant maintain.

It is a product of the atmosphere the sport sponsors, but one that comes with an extreme tradeoff of peril and sacrifice.

Bicycle Motocross, or BMX, features riders on unmotorized bikes peeling through a windy course for a momentary race that injures a quarter of its competitors.

But it has been steadily growing in the U.S.

since being introduced as an Olympic sport in 2008, fostering a blend of diversity and compassion that no other athletic venue can replicate.

At any event, there will be athletes of all ages, genders, nationalities and ethnicities, cheering for one another as they take the starting line before a devilishly intense 20 seconds.

Under bike helmets and neck braces, they are all the same, bonded through intensive camaraderie.

Youre competing against everyone, but youre cheering everyone on, and youre the first one to help your competitor fix this bike or fix this chain.

That is pretty amazing, said Jennifer Dixon, Liams mom.

And thats a mindset the world has never needed more.

The Dixons are from Clarence, and they venture to the outskirts of Hamburg twice every week, where Western New Yorks largest BMX track resides.

For many, Southtowns BMX has given them everything.

But they each take away something different, which is why the Dixons encourage any kid to give it a try, regardless of the threat that looms.

It is an athletic venue that provides a means of staying in shape.

Infused with competition, its engaging and supports personal growth and commitment as those who aim to topple personal bests.

Hunter Worley catches air at Southtowns BMX in Hamburg.

BMX differentiates itself from many sports through individuality.

There is no one else to look at when you fall or lose.

Parents believe the sport infuses their children with maturity at a younger age.

Thats possibly why so many of the racers wandering Southtowns BMX any Wednesday or Friday the tracks event nights each week are on the younger end.

Still, it creates a diverse athlete pool.

Racers are grouped in motos, where they face others their age and skill level.

Southtowns BMX will have races for riders from ages 2 to 70 on the track at different times.

While the youngest and oldest competitors gave different answers about why they race (Henry Mitchell, 2: Wah and Stephanie Petrie, 44: to stay in shape), each rider benefits from how the sport functions as a cultural blender.

Learning about those who are different from you at a young age is invaluable, many parents cited.

Ive got friends in Arkansas, California, Pennsylvania, Liam Dixon said.

You meet so many different people and see so many places.

...

Its really changed my life.

Which is why, when he wrecked in late July, it didnt destroy him.

He has gotten so much else from the sport that winning is just a bonus, not that he doesnt enjoy the added touch.

As he crossed the finish line, other racers immediately consoled him.

His mom posted the video of the loss on Facebook because, in her opinion, it represents the beauty of BMX more than any of his victories.

Theres a level of care in the sports world, no matter who someone is or how they perform.

Whats unique about BMX is that its such a really healthy, nurturing environment.

Everyone is just always rooting for everyone.

Its not like youre competing, even though youre racing, Jennifer Dixon said.

The parents will come over and help you.

The kids will come over.

They coach you, they introduce you, show you how to do things, kind of take you under the wing.

And thats unlike any other sport that Ive ever encountered.

Mike Petrie chalks the race course during practice at Southtowns BMX.

But the sport is curtailed as it struggles to maintain a consistent base of athletes.

Mike Petrie, Stephanies husband, has volunteered at Southtowns BMX for years.

He describes attendance as an untrackable, ever-oscillating game that track operators have to deal with when preparing competitions week over week.

The sport never experiences consistent growth due to poor marketing.

That includes Southtowns BMX, which, like almost every other track, isnt putting itself out there, save for a Facebook page and the occasional flier.

In conjunction with that, schools naturally direct children toward more typical sports, with little to no mention of alternatives.

For many current riders, its a family operation, a passion that gets passed down through generations, Jennifer Dixon said.

Her husband biked and had Liam on wheels at 18 months.

Likewise, Petries children and wife ride because he got into the sport when he was 10.

But had Petrie not raced then, he doesnt imagine any of them would be involved now.

Its very much a family thing, Petrie said.

I showed it to my son, and he latched on immediately.

Then it was my daughters, and then it was my wife.

...

If you dont have that connection, its hard to learn of it.

BMX doesnt necessarily have affordability on its side, either.

Riders need a range of equipment, including helmets, pads, braces and a bike, which can cost anywhere from $400-$1,400, without even considering what most locations charge to race.

Southtowns BMX is a nonprofit organization and offers free rental equipment to those who pay to race.

Nevertheless, places in Western New York only heighten the financial struggle because committed bikers cant practice for a significant portion of the year due to extreme weather and a lack of indoor tracks.

Southtowns is only open from May to Halloween.

For those like the Dixons, who want to compete internationally, taking half the year off isnt an option.

So they fly across the country for weekends at a time, racing in more forgiving winter environments, like Texas and Florida.

But those bills are not for the faint of heart, Jennifer Dixon would tell you.

More notable than anything else, though, is the perception that BMX is a dangerous southern hick sport, as one woman said to a friend or family member sitting beside her in the stands on a recent Wednesday.

There is a clouded belief by some onlookers that extreme sports are for certain people, not those of certain perceived social classes.

The underlying judgment prevents some parents from letting their kids become involved despite their interest.

But the danger is real.

A 2024 study by the National Institutes of Health found that as many as 27.1 competitive riders per 100 sustain serious injuries (lacerations, fractures and contusions).

At the 2016 Olympics, the last games studied, that rate was as high as 37.5, and stories of injuries to top BMX racers dominate headlines regularly.

In comparison to the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA, injury percentages in BMX are more than double, with NFL studies placing the league closest with anywhere from 2 to 5 per 1,000 athletic exposures.

With access to all the numbers, Jennifer Dixons typical mom perspective prompted concern when Liam first became interested in the sport.

Its only heightened this summer as she watched another rider paralyze himself while Liam raced in Ireland, and admitted her heart stopped when he crashed in Denmark.

They tell you, as a parent, no matter what happens on track your kid falls you dont go out there, she said.

Its the hardest thing to accept.

...

Fear of them getting hurt never goes away.

Like everyone else at Southtowns BMX, the Dixons have a mental scale that perpetually weighs the benefits and detriments of BMX.

Any day could be the one that Liam takes a corner wrong and finds himself on the long list of BMX riders whose careers were cut short.

It is a fear that loosely occupies the back of Jennifer and Liam Dixons minds.

Liam Dixon catches his breath at the start during practice at Southtowns BMX.

But, as Jennifer Dixon contended, its better than TikTok or gaming, letting her son leave his bubble and kind of really experience more of the world.

With every race, Liam Dixon meets someone new, learns something he didnt know and becomes more sensible.

No matter the financial struggles and looming risk, the Dixons think anyone should make that trade.

Whether youre winning your race, Jennifer Dixon said, you really are winning.

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