Kyle Baldock -- Life is Golden
Life is golden
In 2006, BMX pro Kevin Robinson earned two gold medals in X Games Competition (in BMX Big Air and Vert Best Trick). In the time since, no other BMX pro has accomplished double gold in an X Games competition. That is, until Australian Kyle Baldock arrived in Brazil last week. At X Games Foz, Baldock doubled up on gold medals in BMX Park and Dirt.
In 2006, BMX pro Kevin Robinson earned two gold medals in X Games Competition (in BMX Big Air and Vert Best Trick). In the time since, no other BMX pro has accomplished double gold in an X Games competition. That is, until Australian Kyle Baldock arrived in Brazil last week. At X Games Foz, Baldock doubled up on gold medals in BMX Park and Dirt.
Winning formula
"I kind of relate it to my early days in BMX, you don't really care, and you end up doing well because you're just focused on riding and not making excuses because everything's not perfect," says Baldock on his formula to winning double gold medals.
"I kind of relate it to my early days in BMX, you don't really care, and you end up doing well because you're just focused on riding and not making excuses because everything's not perfect," says Baldock on his formula to winning double gold medals.
Happy place
"At X I found that happy place and made things work. When you start to expect everything has to be perfect, from the course to bike, you start to lose what's real and you blame every little thing that goes wrong," said Baldock.
"At X I found that happy place and made things work. When you start to expect everything has to be perfect, from the course to bike, you start to lose what's real and you blame every little thing that goes wrong," said Baldock.
Baldock's zone
"The winner is usually the person who removes himself from making excuses for the way he is riding and is 100 percent in the zone and enjoying what he does best," says Baldock.
"The winner is usually the person who removes himself from making excuses for the way he is riding and is 100 percent in the zone and enjoying what he does best," says Baldock.
Baldock's struggles
Heading into X Game Foz, Baldock was dealing with the effects of a concussion suffered in March. "During practice I was really struggling with the park course until the last day. I couldn't do anything, I couldn't physically trick the box, I just wasn't dialing in the course," said Baldock.
Heading into X Game Foz, Baldock was dealing with the effects of a concussion suffered in March. "During practice I was really struggling with the park course until the last day. I couldn't do anything, I couldn't physically trick the box, I just wasn't dialing in the course," said Baldock.
Wrist injuries
Baldock also had to contend with wrist injuries during X Games Foz. "I just rode through it, although I did two runs in a row and landed a little flat and it smashed me," said Baldock.
Baldock also had to contend with wrist injuries during X Games Foz. "I just rode through it, although I did two runs in a row and landed a little flat and it smashed me," said Baldock.
A different approach
"I remembered what my girl Honey told me, which was to take the time to study what the other riders were doing and what tricks where, and ride smart instead of just trying to huck the biggest tricks on certain parts of the course, like I did in X Games L.A 2012. This time I didn't make the same mistake and I also worked on changing my runs every time, which helped."
"I remembered what my girl Honey told me, which was to take the time to study what the other riders were doing and what tricks where, and ride smart instead of just trying to huck the biggest tricks on certain parts of the course, like I did in X Games L.A 2012. This time I didn't make the same mistake and I also worked on changing my runs every time, which helped."
X Games Foz fans
"The crowd filled the stands and they went nuts at the end of every run. They want your helmet, gloves, signature, it was crazy!"
"The crowd filled the stands and they went nuts at the end of every run. They want your helmet, gloves, signature, it was crazy!"
X Games BMX Dirt
"When I talked to ESPN I was like, 'You have to bring back dirt in X Games forever,'" said Baldock.
"When I talked to ESPN I was like, 'You have to bring back dirt in X Games forever,'" said Baldock.
X Games BMX Dirt gold
"Everyone surrounded me after my final run in Dirt and riders I've looked up to for years were congratulating me and giving me props on my runs. It was so cool as I later found out the last person to win double gold at X Games was Kevin Robinson in 2006," said Baldock after taking the gold medal in BMX Dirt.
"Everyone surrounded me after my final run in Dirt and riders I've looked up to for years were congratulating me and giving me props on my runs. It was so cool as I later found out the last person to win double gold at X Games was Kevin Robinson in 2006," said Baldock after taking the gold medal in BMX Dirt.
Lessons learned
"The biggest thing I learned at this X Games was I need to work on my fitness more, spend more time swimming in the pool to build up my cardio. I was so hot and a lot of riders really struggled. I know I can do all the tricks, but pumping in and out of the bowls is really hard on your legs and body so I want to make sure I'm on top of my fitness for future events to make sure I can pull all of my big tricks on tap."
"The biggest thing I learned at this X Games was I need to work on my fitness more, spend more time swimming in the pool to build up my cardio. I was so hot and a lot of riders really struggled. I know I can do all the tricks, but pumping in and out of the bowls is really hard on your legs and body so I want to make sure I'm on top of my fitness for future events to make sure I can pull all of my big tricks on tap."
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