Cruisin’ to glory

PEDALLING her way to the top of Australian BMX cycling, rising-star Phoebe Wallen climbed the national championships podium to cap off a sensational season.
Wallen, 12, from Upper Beaconsfield, competed earlier this month at the Australian BMX National Championships, held at the Sleemans Sports Complex in Queensland.
The tricky and technical course left no room for error, but Wallen had more than enough talent to push through – past competitors from across the country and especially considering she was battling older girls as a bottom-aged rider in the 13-14 girls’ events – to earn three silver medals.
Whether in Dynamites, Cruiser 24-inch or in the 20-inch disciplines, Wallen has emerged as one of the riders to beat in Australian junior BMX as she brushed aside torrential Queensland conditions to earn the additions to her burgeoning trophy case.
“I was really happy with the 20-inch on the Friday,” Wallen said.
“I was beating the girl for half of the track, which was pretty good and in Cruiser I happy with second as well, as I was leading, but I crashed in my first race, so I was really sore too.”“20-inch was hard as there was torrential rain and I came second in that.”
“I was pretty happy with that as I was behind the girl who has been number one in the world for three years.”
Wallen has finally got a little downtime off the bike – even though she’d prefer to keep riding every day – but will set her sights later in the year when state and national race meets come up.
She hopes to defend her Victorian title later this year and push through the ranks to earn a spot on the Australian Test Team to face the Trans-Tasman rivals.
“I want to get top two, because then you make it into the Test Team and you race against the same aged people, but from New Zealand,” Wallen said.
“The Aussies go race in New Zealand then they come over and face us.”
Wallen wanted to thank her sponsor – Lucky Bling and Yess BMX Victoria – and most importantly, her mum and dad and her little brother Seth for “standing there, watching me in the rain” and supporting her BMX dreams.
If anyone would like to sponsor Phoebe and her BMX pursuits, more information is available by email at charmi@tpg.com.au or via her Facebook page Phoebe Wallen #174.