Park City’s Samuel McKenzie wins second consecutive BMX Freestyle National title

Park City’s Sam McKenzie, 15, holds his championship belts after winning the 2025 USA BMX Next Freestyle Amateur National Championship in San Diego on Oct. 11. McKenzie, who also won last year’s title in the 11–14 age group, now holds the 15–30 Amateur National title and plans to advance to the Expert class next season. Photo: Alisa McKenzie

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City teen Samuel McKenzie has achieved his second consecutive national title by winning the 2025 USA BMX Freestyle Amateur National Championship in the 15–30 age group. His impressive season included top finishes across six events.

The yearlong series featured three in-person competitions held in Tucson, Arizona; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and San Diego, California, as well as three digital contests where riders submitted filmed performances to earn points toward their overall standings. McKenzie secured three first-place finishes and three second-place finishes, which allowed him to clinch the overall title and solidify his status as one of the country’s top rising BMX athletes.

At just 15 years old, McKenzie was the youngest rider in his division. Last year, he won the Amateur National Championship in the 11–14 age group, showcasing his rapid ascent through the USA BMX Freestyle ranks.

“It means a lot,” McKenzie said. “It’s kind of the biggest award you can win for an amateur rider in the country. All my training and practice led up to this, and it feels amazing to win again.”

Moving Up in the Ranks

Having won the 15–30 age group title, McKenzie will advance to the Expert class next season, which is the next step toward reaching the professional level in USA BMX Freestyle. He also plans to compete in the Monster Recon Tour’s Sport class, a division for elite riders aiming to break into the professional ranks.

In addition to this, McKenzie is focused on international competition. He hopes to enter the FISE World Cup Series, a global circuit that serves as a pathway to the Olympic Games.

“I’d really like to start going to those stops and become more known on the international scene,” he said. “If I make it to the Olympics, it will probably be in 2032 in Australia.”

Supported by Community and Sponsors

McKenzie’s growing success has attracted sponsorships from COR Park, Monster Army, and Fuel, a Park City-based apparel brand focused on the action sports world. His family hopes to gain more local support as he moves into higher levels of competition.

“Park City values athletic excellence,” Alisa, McKenzie’s mother said. “Samuel is ready to represent that on the international stage.”

McKenzie continues to train at Woodward Park City and COR Park, where he is refining his precision and consistency for the next phase of his career.

“It’s really about putting in the hours,” he said.

Training on Utah’s Top Courses

McKenzie trains four days a week between Woodward Park City and COR BMX Park in South Jordan — the same Olympic-caliber facility that hosted last year’s national finals.

“Usually I’m on my bike for about an hour to an hour and a half,” McKenzie said. “I just work on my main competition tricks and make sure they’re dialed in so I can land them no matter what.”

Among his go-to contest tricks: the double tail whip, 360 tail whip, and the triple truck driver — a 360 paired with three bar spins.

“The triple truck driver is the most challenging,” McKenzie said. “There’s just a lot that can go wrong in the air. You’re moving your bars around a lot, and if you miss one of those catches, it can get pretty scary.”

Alisa, said watching her son “always makes me smile!”

“I always say he is a precision artist on a bike,” she said. “His riding is super smooth and stylish and every move he makes is done with exact precision.  It is truly beautiful to watch.”

Building on Momentum

McKenzie, who discovered BMX through YouTube as a child, has spent the past several years honing his skills at Utah’s growing network of freestyle parks. Woodward Park City continues to serve as his training base, offering foam pits and resi boxes for safe practice. COR Park, built ahead of the 2024 Olympics, provides a full competition course and access to elite riders from across the country.

“I am excited about Samuel’s future with BMX Freestyle,” Alisa said. “He could truly take his riding in any direction and find success.  He is driven and passionate. He loves to ride and train.”

With access to these two facilities, McKenzie believes he has everything he needs to keep progressing. “Each session, I just try to improve a little bit more,” he said.

As he sets his sights on the global stage, McKenzie continues to represent Park City’s next generation of Olympic hopefuls, demonstrating that persistence, passion, and local support can propel athletes far beyond the Wasatch.

Follow Sam McKenzie on Instagram: @samuel_mckenzie_bmx.