US BMX freestyle trained in Utah before winning medals in Paris

PARIS — People travel from all over the globe to mountain bike in Utah, including Perris Benegas, who won a silver medal in BMX freestyle at the Summer Games and then talked with Alex Cabrero.

Utah’s diverse mountain and desert landscapes are well know for trails from forest peaks to slick rock trails. But USA Cycling built a BMX freestyle training facility in South Jordan that Benegas said definitely helped her succeed in Paris.

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Benegas, a Nevada native, earned the silver by putting up the tricks and moves that she said the Utah facility helped her perfect. Riders don’t know the specific layout of the Olympic course ahead of the competition but the South Jordan facility presented every foreseeable obstacle possible in Paris.

That includes box jumps, spins, grinds, manuals and tailwhips. You name it.

But more than that, Benegas said it’s great for the team to have a home where riders can spend time and train together — progress together. And she said so far, she loves Utah.

Perris Benegas is sideways in the air on an multi-level BMX track with a large crowd in the distance

PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: Perris Benegas of Team United States competes during the Women’s Park Qualification on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Place de la Concorde on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images)

“It reminds me of home. The weather is crazy, just like Reno,” she said. “You wake up, it’s sunshine and in the afternoon it’s snowing. It’s just awesome to be there and the outdoors and so much to do. It’s nice to have that outside of riding and be able to spend time together in a beautiful place.”

The entire USA Cycling team will not be based in South Jordan, just the BMX freestyle team inside the larger USA Cycling organization.

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