WCMX is a sport in which wheelchair athletes perform tricks adapted from skateboarding and BMX, usually performed at a skatepark.[1] It was invented by Aaron Fotheringham.[2]

Wheelchair skater Delmace Mayo balancing on his wheels on top of a skate ramp
Wheelchair skater Delmace Mayo on top of a skate ramp

Overview

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The sport has its own competitions and custom wheelchairs.[3]

History

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The term WCMX, a mash-up of wheelchair and BMX,[3] was coined by Fotheringham.[4] Fotheringham landed the first wheelchair backflip and the first double backflip.[5]

Australia

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Timothy Lachlan was the first Australian to land a wheelchair backflip.[6]

Tomas Woods a British athlete, part of WCMX GB was crowned #1 in the world in December 2023[citation needed].

Lily Rice was the first person in the UK to land a backflip.[7] She won her first world championship in September 2019.[8][9]

The first WCMX meet-up in the UK was in early 2019.[10]

WCMX originated in the US.[2]

Equipment used

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Riders use purpose-built wheelchairs called WCMX chairs to perform various tricks and stunts. Unlike standard daily use wheelchairs, WCMX chairs have a reinforced frame, grind bar, carbon fibre push wheels, skateboard or rollerblade wheels, suspension castors and a seatbelt.[11] The most commonly used safety gear is full-face helmets, elbow and knee pads and gloves. Full-face helmets are preferred as they offer greater protection against falls from any angle. For more dangerous tricks involving flips or mega ramps, riders should wear a neck brace and a chest/back protector to reduce the risk of injury to the spine.[12]

Categories of tricks

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This isn't an exhaustive list, new tricks and variations are created each day.

Backflip, Double Backflip, Front Flip, 180, 360, Flair.

Bowl and ramp tricks

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Handplant, Carving, Drop-In, Acid Drop, Bank Drop, One Wheel Drop-in, Layback, Blunt Stall, Fakie.

Flat-ground

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One wheel spin, Castor Spin, Layback, Duck Walk, Bunny Hop.

Grinds and slides

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50-50 Grind, 5-0 Grind, Footplate/Nosegrind, Hand-rim slide.

Balance

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Wheelie, One Wheel Wheelie, No-Handers.

Miscellaneous

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Upside-Down Wheelie, Upside-Down One Wheel Spin.[13]

Risks

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As with other skatepark sports, the risks involved in WCMX can be greatly reduced by wearing safety gear such as a full-face helmet and pads; and only trying tricks within the rider's skill level. WCMX chairs provide a wide base of support, making falls less likely unless the rider is trying tricks that involve shifting the centre of gravity, e.g. balance tricks such as one-wheel spins.

Culture

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In 2016, an online campaign for a Lego wheelchair skate park was rejected.[14] However, WCMX is represented in the Lego City Skate Park (60290) set, released 2021.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "Auricchio". ic.ufabc.edu.br. Archived from the original on 2020-06-18.
  2. ^ a b "Meet Aaron Wheelz Fotheringham the godfather of extreme wheelchair sports".
  3. ^ a b "Meet the WCMX Riders". 2 January 2014.
  4. ^ Our Lives: Defying Gravity, BBC1, 17 June 2020, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000k592
  5. ^ "WCMX: Taking Wheelchairs to New Heights". 18 January 2014.
  6. ^ "2018 - University student on a roll promoting wheelchair sport - Southern Cross University".
  7. ^ "Gravity-defying Lily stars in new BBC programme". 12 June 2020.
  8. ^ "'Wheelchair motocross changed my life'". BBC Sport.
  9. ^ "Lily is WCMX world golden girl". 2 September 2019.
  10. ^ BBC Newsround, "WCMX: 'I like when you go really fast'" https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47792219
  11. ^ "2018 - University student on a roll promoting wheelchair sport - Southern Cross University".
  12. ^ "Extreme adventures = maximum fun". 12 December 2019.
  13. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Aaron Wheelz - 2020 WCMX Edit. YouTube.
  14. ^ "Lego produces first minifigure with a wheelchair". The Irish Times.
  15. ^ "Review: 60290 Skate Park". 24 December 2020.
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