BMX: Bethlehem College's Bruno Nemedi ready for world champs in Belgium

Tauranga BMX rider Bruno Nemedi is looking forward to the UCI BMX World Championships in Belgium in July. Photo / Adyn Ogle

At just nine years old, Tauranga BMX rider Bruno Nemedi is getting ready to represent New Zealand at the world champs.

He has just over 15 weeks before he's competing at the 2019 UCI BMX World Championships in Belgium, which means getting in as much training as possible in that time to prepare for the July 23-27 event.

The Bethlehem College student will be training every day in the lead up to his races in the Boys 9s section, which is the same age group he is the New Zealand champion.

Bruno, who was four when he was first introduced to BMX by a friend, has some big goals for his worlds campaign, saying he is looking forward to making the final at the world championships.

"Since then I have been really enjoying it," Bruno says.

"I will have to practice seven times a week, and the hardest bit is probably when I have to do lots of pedalling. I used to be worried about jumps. Once I was close, but not too close, to breaking my neck."

Bruno, a Tauranga BMX Club rider, is getting some key support in his campaign, being coached by former New Zealand representative Kurt Pickard, who made the quarterfinals at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Pickard says Bruno has a lot of talent and is aware of himself in the sport.

"I have worked with Bruno two or three times a week for the last three years, there are not many kids like Bruno that come along," Pickard says.

"His self-awareness is very good. You tell him to do something and he knows how he is moving and what he is feeling. For kids at that age, that is the biggest thing to overcome. He has that with the work ethic and the natural talent, that is a good combination.

"I have to be careful to keep it fun, although he has a long path ahead of him I cannot get carried away. You make friends for a lifetime and travel the world and that is a big part of it as well."

Pickard says the basics are important for young riders.

"Generally it is a lot of fundamentals, learning how to move properly and then adding in the skills and increasing the intensity. It is putting them into race situations and trying to get them to a point where they are training how they are racing."

Before July's world champs, Bruno has another competition to look forward to. He will be among the 29 Tauranga BMX Club riders competing at the The First Windows and Doors BMX National Championships in Auckland at Easter Weekend.

Two Tauranga riders – Hannah Mason and Willow Bourke – will also trial for the Mighty 11 New Zealand team. If selected, they will travel to Australia in June to race against Australian riders in the Trans Tasman series.

Bethlehem College is supporting Bruno's trip with fundraising events and a Givealittle page has been set up to help cover costs.