The Top 8 Up-and-Coming BMX Riders

Image via Complex Original

Punta Arenas, a small town in the South of Chile, is not a place one would associate with breeding champions, but Camila Harambour has quickly become one of the most respected female BMX riders to come out of Southern America. Her recent expatriation to the breeding ground of of BMXing, Greenville in NC, has provided her with the facilities and fellow female support to motivate and perfection her riding skills. In one year she scooped three major contests, namely the Simpel Sessions, which she dominated, with a run comprising of a tuck no-hander, a double peg stall and a huge back flip.

This young Essex lad, with his skinny frame and dark curly hair, could be mistaken for any other teenage Brit. However, he became an overnight success following a series of BMX videos of him riding, posted on the Internet. Jack manages to illuminate the grizzly Essex parks with an outstanding display of tricks that aren't deprived of amplitude or technicality. Citing the rider du jour, Mark Webb, as his idol, England looks to be importing another fireball of talent into the upper echelons of professional BMXing.

Jai Bradley burst onto the scene 2 years ago, at the tender age of 12 with a video that sent shockwaves throughout the world. Proof that the 'tweens domination' was not exclusive to the pop music phenomenon, Jai proposed a video of himself shredding his local parks on the Gold Coast in Australia with a style as mature as his peers.

Already mastering whips and 360 bar spins, his impressive riding skills definitely make him a rider to watch out for. Should BMX freestyle ever makes it to the Olympics, he would be one of the likely candidates for a place on the podium.

This California native made his mark at the VANS Rebel Jam pulling the first ever 720 whip to bars then swiftly followed that up during a contest in Costa Rica of this year, pulling the first ever 720 double tailwhip (despite the sketchy landing). With Daniel Dhers quoting him as being his current rider of choice, Sandoval is gaining credibility from his peers making a strong impression on more than the spectators with his technical park skills. With an invitation to the Dew Tour coming up, the Californian will have to be more than a one-trick wonder to beat the big boys.

Hailing from Dumbarton in Scotland, Kriss Kyle became hooked on BMXing at 10 years old and would take a train for three-and-a-half hours every day in order to ride the nearest park. Ten years down the line, those initial long train journeys have definitely paid off, climbing the ranks, with his brakeless style riding, throwing down of slick wall rides and unique lines. The ‘Wee’ Scot describes his set up as 'kind of like a basket ball, I like everything as tight as it can be," applicable not just to his bike but equally his riding. The young Scot has invariably been labeled as the newest "ones to watch."

In a very short space of time, Chad Kerley has gone from a relative un-known to one of the most envied riders, breaking on to the scene with a memorable part in Nikes ‘The Hunt,’ laying down seriously technical lines and rolling out endless nose manuals with ease. The San Diego ‘wunderkind’ started out in racing, but was quickly distracted by his fellow counterparts riding the BMX Park. The crossover to park riding came naturally to Chad and he quickly evolved in the discipline, mastering the ramp and taking second place in BMX Street at the 2012 X-Games.

Related: How Chad Kerley Is Changing BMX

In 1967, Pat Casey famously became the first man to bench press over 600lbs. Forty- five years later, a young BMXer from Placentia California became the first rider to land a double decade in the park. Whilst the former would have had more of a chance of entering the Olympics, the Californian Rookie has become a regular on the competitive scene, in both Street and Dirt. His versatility to compete in several categories has led him to become one of the most complete riders out there. With comparisons to the current X Games Champion, Scotty Cranmer and a ridiculous itinerary of tricks on dial, Casey will soon be climbing the top spot of the most prestigious contests.

Meet Kyle Baldock. At only 21 years old, he’s the forerunner of the current Australian domination in BMX. This Dew Tour breakout sensation has ridden his way up the ranks, quickly becoming a reference in both park and dirt. Quoted by a leading BMX magazine as one of the most "innovative riders in the world," he's one of the hardest players in the game, with a track record of 22 broken bones to prove it. He recently scooped first place in BMX Dirt at the Worlds in Cologne, in front of the "dirt shredder," Brandon Dosch. After narrowly missing out to Scotty Cramner for the Dew Tour title last year, all eyes will be on him this year to see if he can take his revenge!