WCMX (sport)
WCMX is a sport in which wheelchair athletes perform tricks adapted from skateboarding and BMX, usually performed at a skatepark.[1] It was invented by Aaron Fotheringham.[2]
Overview[edit]
The sport has its own competitions and custom wheelchairs.[3]
History[edit]
The term WCMX, a mash-up of wheelchair and BMX,[3] was coined by Fotheringham.[4] Fotheringham landed the first wheelchair backflip and the first double backflip.[5]
For UK WCMX, visit www.wcmxgb.co.uk
Australia[edit]
Timothy Lachlan was the first Australian to land a wheelchair backflip.[6]
UK[edit]
The UK now has its own WCMX organisation called WCMX GB www.wcmxgb.co.uk
Tomas Woods a British athlete, part of WCMX GB was crowned #1 in the world in December 2023!
Lily Rice was the first person in the UK to land a backflip.[7] She won her first world championship in September 2019.[8][9]
The first WCMX meet-up in the UK was in early 2019.[10]
USA[edit]
WCMX originated in the US.[2]
Equipment used[edit]
Riders use purpose-built wheelchairs called WCMX chairs to perform various tricks and stunts. Unlike standard daily use wheelchairs, WCMX chairs have a reinforced frame, grind bar, carbon fibre push wheels, skateboard or rollerblade wheels, suspension castors and a seatbelt.[11] The most commonly used safety gear is full-face helmets, elbow and knee pads and gloves. Full-face helmets are preferred as they offer greater protection against falls from any angle. For more dangerous tricks involving flips or mega ramps, riders should wear a neck brace and a chest/back protector to reduce the risk of injury to the spine.[12]
Categories of tricks[edit]
This isn't an exhaustive list, new tricks and variations are created each day.
Air[edit]
Backflip, Double Backflip, Front Flip, 180, 360, Flair.
Bowl and ramp tricks[edit]
Handplant, Carving, Drop-In, Acid Drop, Bank Drop, One Wheel Drop-in, Layback, Blunt Stall, Fakie.
Flat-ground[edit]
One wheel spin, Castor Spin, Layback, Duck Walk, Bunny Hop.
Grinds and slides[edit]
50-50 Grind, 5-0 Grind, Footplate/Nosegrind, Hand-rim slide.
Balance[edit]
Wheelie, One Wheel Wheelie, No-Handers.
Miscellaneous[edit]
Upside-Down Wheelie, Upside-Down One Wheel Spin.[13]
Risks[edit]
As with other skatepark sports, the risks involved in WCMX can be greatly reduced by wearing safety gear such as a full-face helmet and pads; and only trying tricks within the rider's skill level. WCMX chairs provide a wide base of support, making falls less likely unless the rider is trying tricks that involve shifting the centre of gravity, e.g. balance tricks such as one-wheel spins.
Culture[edit]
The WCMX community is a worldwide community. With riders from a diverse range of cultures and backgrounds, with varying disabilities. The youngest known rider began WCMX at 18 months old, the oldest current rider is in their fifties. There is a growing number of LGBT riders emerging worldwide.
In 2016, an online campaign for a Lego wheelchair skate park was rejected.[14] However, WCMX is represented in the Lego City Skate Park (60290) set, released 2021.[15]
References[edit]
- ^ "Auricchio". ic.ufabc.edu.br. Archived from the original on 2020-06-18.
- ^ a b "Meet Aaron Wheelz Fotheringham the godfather of extreme wheelchair sports".
- ^ a b "Meet the WCMX Riders". 2 January 2014.
- ^ Our Lives: Defying Gravity, BBC1, 17 June 2020, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000k592
- ^ "WCMX: Taking Wheelchairs to New Heights".
- ^ "2018 - University student on a roll promoting wheelchair sport - Southern Cross University".
- ^ "Gravity-defying Lily stars in new BBC programme".
- ^ "'Wheelchair motocross changed my life'". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Lily is WCMX world golden girl".
- ^ BBC Newsround, "WCMX: 'I like when you go really fast'" https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47792219
- ^ "2018 - University student on a roll promoting wheelchair sport - Southern Cross University".
- ^ "Extreme adventures = maximum fun". 12 December 2019.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Aaron Wheelz - 2020 WCMX Edit. YouTube.
- ^ "Lego produces first minifigure with a wheelchair".
- ^ "Review: 60290 Skate Park".