2024 BMX Freestyle South African Champions Crowned at the Park Lines BMX Tournament

The 2024 South African BMX Freestyle Championships, held as part of the Park Lines BMX Tournament, saw a thrilling display of talent and competition over the weekend. This prestigious event, sanctioned by Cycling South Africa and UCI, was presented by LW Mag and Dragon Energy in association with Garmin, Balwin Sport, and DJI. The tournament concluded with Murray Loubser and Jenna Byrnes being crowned champions in the Pro Men and Women categories, respectively.

Event Overview

Hosted for the first time at the iconic Gold Reef City Theme Park, the event featured a specially constructed park in the Town Square. Riders had a variety of obstacles and line choices to showcase their skills in front of the judges. The competition saw 50 riders across Amateur and Pro divisions, judged on use-of-park, amplitude, execution, trick variety, and difficulty.

Amateur Division Highlights

The Amateur division, the largest of the day, highlighted the sport’s growth with significant improvements from the 2023 Park Lines event. Fourteen-year-old Patrick Wodrich impressed with his consistent riding and a debut Backflip, earning him 3rd place. Jabsi Louw, a first-time competitor, secured 2nd place with a dynamic run featuring a Caveman into the quarter and a Backflip Can Can. Last year’s 3rd place finisher, Duan Stapelberg, stepped up his game to win the Amateur division with a solid run, including a 360, Suicide No-Handers, a Toboggan, and a Tyre Grab. Stapelberg’s victory will see him advance to the Pro Men category next year.

Pro Women Division

Jenna Byrnes, the sole competitor in the Pro Women category, showcased her prowess by utilizing the entire park. Her run included a Backflip, 360, Barspin, Tuck No-Hander, No-Footer, and a Can Can, earning her the title of South African Champion once again. Byrnes remains the only female rider in South Africa to have landed a Backflip on a BMX.

Pro Men Division

A competitive field of top riders battled for UCI points and official SA rankings. Despite a predicted cold front cutting the final short, the qualifying scores determined the winners. Nkosinathi Nkosi‘s stylish riding earned him 5th place. Doran Mathewson‘s racing background saw him finishing 4th with a mix of Supermans, Tailwhips, and 360s. Malcolm Peters, a legend in South African BMX, claimed 3rd place with impressive tricks, including a 360 Tailwhip and an Opposite Flair, also earning the DJI Best Trick award.

Defending champion Vincent Leygonie, known for his speed and amplitude, secured 2nd place with a high-scoring run featuring a variety of big tricks. However, it was Cape Town’s Murray Loubser who took the crown. Loubser’s unmatched execution and use-of-park, with tricks like an Opposite 360 Lookback, Cannonball, and a Barspin to Fakie, earned him the top spot with a score of 85.20 points. This victory marks a significant achievement in the ongoing rivalry between Loubser and Leygonie, with both now having two Park Lines wins each.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

Ryan van der Spuy, the Park Lines organizer, expressed pride in hosting another successful event at such a remarkable venue. He emphasized the importance of these competitions for the development of BMX Freestyle, an official Olympic sport. The event not only provides a platform for local riders to earn UCI points but also encourages the sport’s progression and growth.

With plans for future installments, the Park Lines BMX tournament continues to be a pivotal event in the South African BMX calendar, thanks to the support of event partners and the dedication of competing riders.

2024 Park Lines Amateur Results:

1. Duan Stapelberg – 58.33 Points
2. Jabsi Louw – 54.66 Points
3. Patrick Wodrich – 53.25 Points
4. Chad Randall – 50.83 Points
5. Mathys Putter – 50.33 Points

2024 Park Lines Pro Results – South African Championships:

Pro Men:

1. Murray Loubser – 85.20 Points
2. Vincent Leygonie – 83.38 Points
3. Malcolm Peters – 82.16 Points
4. Doran Mathewson – 65.50 Points
5. Nkosinathi Nkosi – 59.58 Points
6. Dylan Lamb – 56.83 Points
7. Francois Bodenstein – 56.66 Points
8. Morgan O’Kennedy – 53.16 Points
9. Victor Sawkins – 53.08 Points
10. JD Baird – 50.33 Points
11. Damion Fourie – 49.16 Points
12. Mark Pienaar – 47.75 Points

Pro Women:

1. Jenna Byrnes – 46.83 Points

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