FAIR OAKS, Calif. — Nathan “Arson” Larsen, an 8-year-old BMX rider from Fair Oaks, California, has qualified to represent Team USA at the prestigious UCI BMX World Championships. The young athlete secured his spot on the team during the qualifiers held in Lexington, Virginia, this past weekend. Nathan will compete in the 8 Challenge age group at the 2024 UCI World Championship in Rock Hill, South Carolina, scheduled to take place from May 12th to 18th.

The UCI BMX World Championships is a high-profile event that attracts over 3,500 riders from nearly 50 countries. Competitors will battle it out on the Rock Hill BMX Supercross track for the chance to be crowned a world champion. Nathan Larsen is set to showcase his remarkable skills while representing his country on the global stage.

Nathan’s passion for BMX racing began at a very young age. At just two years old, he taught himself how to ride a bike. By the age of four, Nathan was competing in races at his home track, Oak Creek BMX in Roseville, California and was invited to join the Terrapin Technology Racing team as their youngest rider.

The 2023 season was Nathan’s fourth full year of racing and first year that he double classed, which means he raced on both a 20” class and a 24” cruiser bike. He turned expert in March by winning his 30th race at the Metro BMX National held in Bakersfield, California.

In November, Nathan finished second in the 7-year-old and under cruiser class at the USA BMX Grand Nationals, the premier championship race in the country, which has been held annually in Tulsa, Oklahoma over Thanksgiving for a quarter of a century. The race brings in more than 3,600 athletes from all 50 states and 25 different countries, from amateurs to Olympic-level athletes. Nathan’s strong finish at Grands, combined with points earned throughout the year, resulted in a national ranking of 3 for his age group and 99 out of all male riders on a 24” bike.

Nathan’s dedication and drive for the sport at such a young age is truly exceptional. The BMX season lasts 50 weeks a year and most weekends the Larsen family will travel to a track somewhere in California for the state series or to one of the numerous national races across the country; Nathan has even raced in Canada! He trains weekly with Men’s BMX Pro Nick Adams, an Orangevale local, who rides for RIFT/Tangent and was the 2022 USA BMX Pro Rookie of the Year.

“Having someone of Nick’s caliber locally to train with has been such a blessing and a total game changer,” said mother Amy Larsen. “Nick provides guidance on everything from bike setup to mental preparation. The mentorship and support from him have undoubtedly contributed to Nathan’s success on the track.”

When he’s not racing, Nathan can be found honing his skills on local mountain bike trails and practicing tricks on his dirt jumper at nearby bike parks. His athletic prowess extends beyond BMX, as he also excels in baseball, soccer, basketball, golf, mountain bike racing, and swimming. He is a straight-A 2nd grade student and his favorite subject is no surprise — P.E.

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