Toowoomba coach helps shape Australia’s elite

Chance encounter leads to lifetime of cycling fun

Former Toowoomba man Wade Bootes (left) congratulates Aussie riders Brandon Loupos and Logan Martin on their performances at the 2019 Freestyle World Championship team in China in November. PHOTO: Liam Quinlivan/Australian Cycling Team

CYCLING : As a child Wade Bootes didn’t have any real interest in BMX riding – as a sport.

His parents, however, had different ideas, signing him up at a Toowoomba BMX Club Day he attended to see a friend in action.

The then seven-year-old placed third in his first race – kickstarting what continues to be an impressive career in cycling.

“I was only there (the Toowoomba BMX Club Day) to watch a friend who invited me along,” Bootes said.

“Mum and dad signed me up though and by the end of the day I had a heap of laps around the track and finished third in the last race.

“When I think back those club days are some of my clearest memories.

“The freedom to be able to just ride your bike and have fun with it was great.

“And once I realised you could travel all around the country, riding new tracks, meeting new people and making friends it was even better.”

Bootes went on to compete at all levels of the sport nationally before making what would prove to be a groundbreaking move to the United States.

“We (Bootes’ family) moved to Sydney when I was in year 8,” Bootes, 45, said.

“I spent year 10 and 11 in South America as an exchange student and when I came home to Australia I started riding again.

“That’s when I first started coaching a little bit.

“I’d run clinics after school, it was my way of making an income instead of working in a supermarket or something like that.

“By my late teens I was basically a full-time racer in Australia and then I made the move to America.

“The pro Mongoose team came to Australia and I raced against them a few times.

“At the end of their tour they said we (a number of Australia riders) should go to the States and compete.”

After weighing up the proposal Bootes decided to make the move.

“We decided we would head over to the Grand Nationals,” Bootes said.

“I was supposed to go with a few friends but in the end I went over by myself because they couldn’t make the move.

“I went over with a bit over $2000 in my pocket and a one-way ticket – I figured I’d just come home when I was out of money.”

Bootes’ stay proved to be longer than expected with the Aussie buying a van and touring the country before being picked up by a professional team and becoming the first Aussie to win an AA Pro title.

After retiring from the United States circuit, Bootes returned to Australia where he eventually made a decision that would take his life in a new direction.

“I was in my 30s and BMX was going to be at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing,” Bootes said.

“It was still a year away though and I had to decide if I could hold for another a year and try to qualify.

“At the same time I was offered a coaching scholarship with the AIS and in the end I accepted that.”

Bootes is now the Cycling Australia’s technical director of BMX (racing and freestyle) – a role he relishes.

“I really enjoy coaching. BMX has given me a lot of opportunities and great experiences over my career,” he said.

“And I figure if through coaching I can provide other young riders the chance experience some of the things I did that would a good thing.

“There’s less hands-on coaching in my current role as TD – it’s more about making sure the riders have the necessary support and systems in place to succeed, but I do enjoy it.

“Right now we’re facing some pretty big challenges with COVID-19 but we’re working through it as best we can.

“The biggest problem is with Olympic qualification.

“We don’t know exactly where we stand in relationship to how many riders we have qualified because the process wasn’t finished.

“There’s a lot of questions unanswered at the moment so we’re just focused on supporting our riders and encouraging them to keep doing the work they can do.”

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