The big sports deal for many young athletes today is risky action. If they can pull off some twists or multiple flips on their BMX bike or skateboard, they can become stars — rich ones. The field is now opening for competitors as young as 12 and 13.
The newest event to challenge the Dew Tour, X Games and other displays of unbelievably risky tricks is the Nitro World Games, which just made its debut in Salt Lake City. Founded by the legendary Travis Pastrana and Mike Porra, the show features young competitors who have been invited to qualify. Most of them are upcoming stars who are the future of action sports. Aside from its emphasis on youth, the event has an innovative and unique set up, with ramps and compacted drops that allow the event to be squeezed into a space the size of a football field.
One of the top athletes is Colton Satterfield, who finally, at the age of 26, has begun winning at BMX, and has for the past two years won Big Air gold at the X Games. He also has a serious message for those who want to work their way up the ladder of success in the lucrative action sports shows.
Satterfield turned pro in 2007. At first, he was middle of the pack or lower. But gradually he began moving up. You’ll be hearing about this rising star, who lives in Salt Lake City. But more than his own athletic skills, he has an important message for kids who want to eventually turn pro. Parental support is a necessity to be successful in this game, where good gear and travel money are highly important components for winning.
But according to Satterfield, the most crucial part of rising to success is something he calls ‘mindset.’ The first part of having the right mindset is overcoming fear.
“Everyone gets scared, even professionals,” Satterfield says. “But what counts in BMX — and all action sports — is having the mindset to overcome the fear. Everyone gets scared. It’s having the ability to laugh at that fear when the only thought in your head is fear of wrecking. You have to be able to feel the fear and do it anyway.”
Satterfield forced his mindset to the positive, so the fear was easier to handle. It was that concentration which allowed him to cope with fear.
“I think fear is always in the back of your mind,” Satterfield says. “But the more you make a habit of not letting the fear get to you, the better you’ll get as an athlete.”
Satterfield advises parents to give their children full support if they want to try action sports as a career. First, it must be something they are passionate about. Only that passion and parental support will guide them to success. He adds, “I’m ranked number one in the X Games for BMX Big Air. I’ve won that event for the last two years. I practice pretty much every day. The best part is doing what I love and getting paid for it.”
He has a good message for beginners: “I’m real big on pushing inspiration to kids or to anyone with a dream. Every single person in the world has the potential to do what they want. But the one thing that’s most important is your mindset. Because everyone was once a rookie. Michael Jordan, he had a first time to pick up a basketball. There’s nobody that starts off as a professional.”
And Satterfield says, “Anyone who can control their state of mind and keep it fun, and is willing to work as hard as it takes to make their dream come true, they will get their dream. The number one rule is never give up, and you will get everything you want in this world.”
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Wina Sturgeon is the editor of the online magazine Adventure Sports Weekly
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