Caden "The Cannonball" Young Started racing BMX in April 2012 at 5 yrs old. Turned Expert in Dec. 2012 2012 State Champion 2013 State Champion 2014 State Champion Favorite Riders: Sam Willoughby, Josh Klatman, Lain Van Ogle, Mason Meininger, and Steve Clark. Favorite Tracks: Penninsula Indoor, Columbia Basin, and Bakerview. Other Sports: Soccer, baseball, and basketball.

I started racing BMX in the mid 1970's in the St. Louis area. I continued to race through the 1980's and stopped racing once I began my career. I did return to racing in 2005, but have since retired. I received my Bachelor's Degree in Recreation and my Master's Degree in Sports Management; both from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I began my career in public parks and recreation and later moved on to campus recreation. From there I moved into athletics administration and eventually became a college athletic director. I left the sports world in 2007 for a short time before going to work for USA Cycling. I was with USA Cycling for two years before joining the American Bicycle Association in 2009. I remained there through 2017 as the Chief Marketing Officer and Director of New Track Development. I operate Grand Valley BMX in Grand Junction, Colorado. My family and I have operated the track since 2006 and have been a Top 10 track since 2008. Additionally, I became a certified USA BMX Coach in 2014. I enjoy teaching kids of all ages and enjoy attracting new riders to the sport. I can attribute much of my success to the lessons I learned on a BMX track and enjoy giving others the same opportunity. I have worked with numerous athletes, was the manager for the Team USA World's Team in Medellin, Colombia in 2015 and am also an Elite National BMX Commissaire. I believe in the fundamentals of sport and believe that to be successful in any sport you must have a strong fundamental base. While training and fundamentals are a key to success, you also have to mix in a little fun. I enjoy the many aspects of coaching and working with kids and adults of all ages on improving their skills.

Since a very young age, Australian Sam Willougby’s dream had been to race in the USA and become the No.1 Pro. It’s been a long and tedious journey - one that he has worked very hard to achieve. Incredibly, he’s made it come true. In fact, that dream has come true three times so far. While working his way to the top of the Australian ranks, Sam became the first rider to win back-to-back Junior World Titles (2008 and 2009), before moving up to the Elite ranks. It was in 2010 - now with full factory support from Redline Bicycles, that Sam won his first No.1 pro title in America. His soaring 2011 results helped pull Australia to the highest ranked BMX nation - and Sam capped things off with a UCi World Championship; only three months out from the London Games. Full of confidence, Willoughby made his Olympic debut in London where he would again tackle the world’s best, and did his best to chase down Latvia’s Maris Strombergs. Sam wound up with a silver, for his first Olympic try - and upon returning to his new home in the U.S., proceeded to win another National No.1 Pro title in USA BMX. 2013 could very well be Sam’s best year ever; as he kicked off Day 2 of the Winternationals with a AA-pro win and wouldn’t stop winning until 13 races later. Sitting out Southpark to prepare for the Worlds, officially ended Sam’s win-streak, but he would start a new one with a late-season charge of 5 consecutive wins, clinching yet another No.1 Pro Championship. His 13-consec win-streak would shatter the previous Pro record, held by John Purse - and his 18 Win total for the year places him in 2nd place for “most wins” in a season. While the 2013 Cup was his third ever, his 2-in-a-row feat places Sam in good company - joining Brian Patterson, Gary Ellis, Pete Loncarevich, Christophe Leveque, Warwick Stevenson and Bubba Harris. While Sam surely has nothing else to prove - and has already put his name in the BMX history books, he’s definitely not done dominating the sport. There was a lot on the line in 2014: Could Sam tie Bubba Harris’ lone record of 3-in-a-row? At the same time, would he put a 4th No.1 Cup in his collection amd add his name alongside Ellis and Loncarevich as the only 4-in-a-lifetime Pro Champions? Sam went to Tulsa looking like the favorite - winning the 2014 ROC, but was struggling a bit out of the gate in a couple of races. Unfortunately, a bad gate start in the all important Grands semi forced Sam to make up some ground from mid-pack, and while in the 4th place transfer spot he would up casing the berm-jump and going OTB. His weekend, his year and his quest for a record-setting No.1 Pro title was no over. In 2015, Sam is again on target for the No.1 title - and we'll find out in November if he can earn himself a 4th No.1 Pro championship.

BMX Racer for Life... Raced off and on since the early 1980's. Past experience (20+ years) as Volunteer Firefighter / EMT. Current employment is in the IT Industry with emphasis on Computer Security and Systems Management.

I was introduced to BMX by a California kid named Sloan Roy when I met him at the bikeshop we worked at in the small town of KingsvilleTexas the late 70's and early 80's. I built a 26" BMX cruiser out of an old beach cruiser and goofed around on the local dirt piles and trails when I wasn't riding my roadbike. We didn't get a track in our town until 1982 but I already had my drivers license and a 67 Mustang. My bikes were retired except for the ride on the beach at Padre Island between surf sessions. I could fit 2 beach cruisers in the trunk of that old Mustang! I had built bikes for all my kids in the 90's and early 2000's but nothing like the race bikes of that era. I thought BMX was dead and gone until I rediscovered it at Bakerview BMX in Mt. Vernon WA in June of 2012. I introduced it to my youngest son, Joshua Wilbur-Henry. He was a natural at the sport and we embarked on this new bicycle addiction that is still going strong.