Ryan Nyquist on how BMX riders decide a “plan of attack” for a winning freestyle run 

Improv, experience and skill come together to create winning BMX freestyle runs.

When BMX freestyle is contested at the upcoming Olympic Qualifier Series ahead of Paris 2024, riders will drop into the course to put down their best run in 60 seconds. But, unlike a highly choreographed artistic gymnast's floor routine or a figure skater’s program, the BMX athlete's competition runs will mark the first time they have completed their runs alone on the course from start to finish.

In this creativity-driven sport, riders arrive at the competition venue without a predetermined mapped-out run. Instead, they utilize practice time in the days before the event, usually just a few sessions, to feel out the course and create their winning runs.

Ryan Nyquist, head coach of the USA BMX National freestyle team and 16-time X Games medalist, explains how winning runs come together in an interview with Olympics.com.

• Qualification and points system unveiled for Olympic Qualifier Series
• How to qualify for BMX freestyle at Paris 2024

As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.

Practice sessions are where the competitors' runs come together

Before the Olympic Qualifiers Series, coaches and competitors are provided with a rendering of the course to review. Courses must follow the criteria outlined in the UCI BMX Park Guide, which defines the field of play, including basic parameters concerning the layout and construction, for the sport of BMX Freestyle Park. However, the guidance doesn’t call for carbon-copy parks, leaving room for creativity in how the professional course-builders use the space.

The rider's first look at the course comes during the initial field of play walk-through, where competitors can walk the course without their bikes. Nyquist explains that it’s a chance to “get eyes on the course so you have a better idea of what you’re dealing with,” He adds that this is where competitors start putting together a “plan of attack” for practice.

Practice sessions are scheduled leading up to the competition. Nyquist says, “We have about an hour and 45 minutes each day per group of about 12 riders.”

“Typically, practices are crazy—just all-out war,” says Nyquist. “It’s the scariest part of the actual event because everybody is trying to get stuff figured out, and nobody has any kind of advantage, so they're all starting from ground zero trying to get used to the speeds, the size of the ramps, and the layouts of the ramps—and you have minimal time to do that.”

During practice, competitors ride with their heads on a swivel to avoid collisions. “You're in midair, looking around, seeing if you can try to link your line together with this other ramp that’s across the course while trying to keep in mind that there's someone else who might be heading to that ramp with 100-per cent commitment—it gets pretty hectic,” says Nyquist.

The process allows for creativity

Nyquist says this process can be understood as a rider translating their strengths and personal style to the new course. He says, “The idea that one single course with set ramps could yield such different runs is pretty awesome—it really lends itself as a creative, artistic outlet for these guys and girls."

Nyquist likens the course to a blank canvas. “You're given 60 seconds to create whatever it is that you can with your tricks, style, creativity and originality.”

The process allows for a range of riding styles to be on display during competition. Riders use the course in entirely different ways, says Nyquist, “from a rider who’s doing the biggest, craziest tricks while traveling back and forth to a rider who doesn’t necessarily do the craziest flips and spins but uses the course in such a creative and stylish way that their run sets them apart from the entire rest of the field.”

Riders often link up their complete runs for the first time in competition

It’s not until the actual qualifying rounds that competitors have the course to themselves to put together their minute-long runs for the first time. Nyquist says that the general vibe isn’t so much anxiety but more of a feeling of, “Wow, okay, I get to ride this!”

As the qualifying rounds progress and the field of riders is reduced, "The more relaxed it gets," says Nyquist. While the competition is definitely heating up as riders vie for a spot in the finals, Nyquist says, "They now have their runs pretty figured out to a certain point, and they're getting a bit more predictable.”

It's hard not to compare this freestyle approach to the practiced and perfected floor routine of a gymnast or a figure skater's program. For many, one of the draws of the sport is this creative and freestyle approach, which only adds to the enjoyment of watching these competitions.

Riders often have a plan for leveling up during competition

This fluid and improvisational process also allows riders to increase the difficulty of their runs, or “level up,” during competition as their fellow competitors start showing their cards.

When the competition gets heated, Nyquist says, “A rider might bring out a brand-new trick, one that they may have done during a training session, but not during competition.” Innovation is part of what the judges are looking for.

If the rider attempted the trick in practice, there might be a buzz about whether they’ll do it in competition. Riders might also feed off of the energy of the competition and try landing an altogether new trick for the first time ever.

“When all eyes are on you, and the pressure is on, it becomes a lot more difficult. And riders will expect to be rewarded for that effort,” Nyquist says, “On this stage if you can make it happen, you definitely have an advantage.”

How to watch BMX in the Olympic Qualifier Series

The two-part Olympic Qualifier Series runs from 16-19 May in Shanghai and 20-23 June in Budapest. You can stream all the action live globally on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for mobile devices.