Six-year-old BMX rider Maya Gadbois is used to competing on an international stage. Two years ago she became the youngest person ever to qualify for the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) BMX World Championships at Rock Hill, South Carolina as a member of Team USA. She’s also competed at the Canadian BMX Championships.
Now, the Santa Clarita Valley resident was again selected as a member of Team USA, and will compete at the 2019 World Championships in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium in the 5-7 Challenge Girls division.
Born into a BMX family, Gadbois has been riding since she was two years old.
“It’s been more than just natural ability. Her brother has been racing, she was raised pretty much on and around a track,” said Chris Gadbois, Maya’s father. “She just has that natural drive to go out and compete.”
While Maya sometimes trains at Central Park, she has to travel quite a distance to practice on a BMX track, either to Simi Valley or Bakersfield. The Gadbois family has been pushing for a BMX track in Santa Clarita for a few years, and Chris is hopeful it’ll be built soon.
Maya will put her training to the test at the World Championships from July 19-28. Her competitiveness and confidence will be on full display as she races with people from around the world.
“She has a very good friend named Payton and they race all the time. Payton was crying after a race and she said, ‘I’m never going to win a race,’ and Maya said, ‘Sure you will, if I’m not racing,’” Maya’s mother Camie said. “She’s very confident and I love that about her.”
Maya will rely on private funding to help send her to the World Championships. It’s estimated that her trip will require between $6,000 to $8,000 for airfare, entry fees, lodging and uniforms.
For those interested in learning more, email Chris at [email protected] or visit Maya’s GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/team-usa-bmx-world-championships-for-maya.
