North Webster Boy No. 1 BMX Racer In Nation
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
A shy 10-year-old boy, North Webster resident Austin Long lets his actions speak for him.
The son of Eldon Long and Christine Kistler, Austin is both a normal 10-year-old North Webster Elementary student who loves playing outside, and one who is already serious about his career choice.
Given his accomplishments thus far, his dream of becoming a professional BMX racer is not far-fetched.
After winning the novice division at the National Championships in Louisville over Labor Day weekend, Austin is ranked No. 1 in the United States in his division.
Aproximately 50 BMX racers competed in Long's 10-year-old novice division. Long competed in a number of elimination races - which are called motos - and won the championship race, which consisted of eight riders.
"He's got a lot of talent," said friend and supporter Mike Gelbaugh, who has been working with Long for four years. "He listens well and is easy to coach. He's real good in the way he's able to listen to instuctions and apply them. He has a lot of drive. He really wants to win."
Long began racing BMX bikes at the age of 5, and right now calls Warsaw's Hire Park his home track. He also races out of Fort Wayne.
So far this year, Long has competed in states such as Kentucky, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee and Indiana.
"He eats, sleeps and breathes BMX," said his father, Eldon Long, who used to race at Hire Park and is now a mechanic at Bogg's Automotive in Warsaw. "This is all he wants to do. I enjoy it. I enjoy taking the time and going places with him and traveling."
The next national event Austin will compete in will take place the first weekend of October in Springfield, Ill., and is a three-day event.
According to his father, Austin has competed in nearly 15 national events so far this year.
So thirsty for BMX racing is Austin that after racing 12 motos at Hire Park this past weekend, he stayed afterward to practice.
"He's very dedicated," said Gelbaugh. "He's got a lot of drive. It's quite an honor that he's going to be putting the No. 1 plate on his bike. The next big step is to defend it (No. 1 ranking). He has to come back and prove it, back it up."
While being interviewed, as Austin's mom stood by and listened, Austin sat at a picnic table and answered questions with one-word answers while his dad was stuck in traffic en route to Hire Park.
When his dad got there with his bike and 6-foot trophy that he won in Louisville - a trophy that was so big Eldon Long said it had to be disassembled for the drive home - the younger Long wasted no time in taking the bike and making a few laps prior to a photo shoot.
His favorite BMX racer is Kyle Bennett, who has appeared in the X-Games and who is "one of the top dogs in dirt racing," according to Gelbaugh.
Austin said one of his favorite parts of racing is jumping, and it's clear right now he's flying above the rest of the competition. [[In-content Ad]]
A shy 10-year-old boy, North Webster resident Austin Long lets his actions speak for him.
The son of Eldon Long and Christine Kistler, Austin is both a normal 10-year-old North Webster Elementary student who loves playing outside, and one who is already serious about his career choice.
Given his accomplishments thus far, his dream of becoming a professional BMX racer is not far-fetched.
After winning the novice division at the National Championships in Louisville over Labor Day weekend, Austin is ranked No. 1 in the United States in his division.
Aproximately 50 BMX racers competed in Long's 10-year-old novice division. Long competed in a number of elimination races - which are called motos - and won the championship race, which consisted of eight riders.
"He's got a lot of talent," said friend and supporter Mike Gelbaugh, who has been working with Long for four years. "He listens well and is easy to coach. He's real good in the way he's able to listen to instuctions and apply them. He has a lot of drive. He really wants to win."
Long began racing BMX bikes at the age of 5, and right now calls Warsaw's Hire Park his home track. He also races out of Fort Wayne.
So far this year, Long has competed in states such as Kentucky, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee and Indiana.
"He eats, sleeps and breathes BMX," said his father, Eldon Long, who used to race at Hire Park and is now a mechanic at Bogg's Automotive in Warsaw. "This is all he wants to do. I enjoy it. I enjoy taking the time and going places with him and traveling."
The next national event Austin will compete in will take place the first weekend of October in Springfield, Ill., and is a three-day event.
According to his father, Austin has competed in nearly 15 national events so far this year.
So thirsty for BMX racing is Austin that after racing 12 motos at Hire Park this past weekend, he stayed afterward to practice.
"He's very dedicated," said Gelbaugh. "He's got a lot of drive. It's quite an honor that he's going to be putting the No. 1 plate on his bike. The next big step is to defend it (No. 1 ranking). He has to come back and prove it, back it up."
While being interviewed, as Austin's mom stood by and listened, Austin sat at a picnic table and answered questions with one-word answers while his dad was stuck in traffic en route to Hire Park.
When his dad got there with his bike and 6-foot trophy that he won in Louisville - a trophy that was so big Eldon Long said it had to be disassembled for the drive home - the younger Long wasted no time in taking the bike and making a few laps prior to a photo shoot.
His favorite BMX racer is Kyle Bennett, who has appeared in the X-Games and who is "one of the top dogs in dirt racing," according to Gelbaugh.
Austin said one of his favorite parts of racing is jumping, and it's clear right now he's flying above the rest of the competition. [[In-content Ad]]