By It’s not everyday somebody from Aberdeen qualifies for a sport’s most prestigious event.
But that’s what Jordon “Mojave” Dahme has done in the world of BMX.
Dahme is in Glasgow, Scotland for the Union Cycliste Internationale BMX Racing World Championships. UCI is the governing body of bike racing.
Jordon Dahme at the 2022 BMX Nationals in Aberdeen. Dahme has qualified for this year’s BMX world championships in Scotland. Courtesy photo
That Dahme advanced during a U.S. qualifier event in Oldsmar, Fla., is interesting considering he didn’t exactly plan to enter the competition.
“The opportunity just kind of presented itself,” he said. “I knew there was a world qualifier in Florida, so I decided to sign up and see what happened when I raced. It just so happened that I qualified. I had always known about the world championship, but just never pursued it.”
MORE: Aspiring to be college kicker, Central’s Dallmann gets private lessons from top coach
Dahme will now be part of the BMX racing’s biggest event. Some 8,000 riders from 120 countries are expected to compete in pursuit of 13 world championships.
“It’s impressive, no doubt,” Dahme said of the world championships. “Every country that has any bike discipline — BMX, downhill mountain bike, road racing — will have riders there. For me now, BMX is a hobby and not a priority. I’m going to race and see if I can make it through to the top eight, which qualifies you for the international finals.”
Dahme will race in both BMX categories. They are based on tire size. There’s the traditional 20-inch division and the 24-inch “cruiser” division.
“It’s kind of like stock car racing,” he explained. “They’re a different ride and slightly different speed, kind of like Late Models and Modifieds in dirt track racing.”
MORE: Sports: Tweet from Neuendorf, former Roncalli coach, appears in ESPN series about Bill Walton
Racers at the world championships will also be in age categories.
Dahme, 35, began his days on the BMX dirt track in the early 1990s and has been a part of racing ever since. And he’s had plenty of success in Aberdeen and beyond.
“I started around 1992-93,” Dahme said. “My dad took me to the track, and it kind of became my thing. I was into other sports as well and was pretty active, but that first night on the track when I was racing alongside other kids, that’s a memory I still have and has kept me in racing.”
Dahme said his dad’s commitment is one reason he focused on BMX.
“I stuck with it probably because of my dad,” Dahme said. “It was just a cool thing to do growing up, racing and having him there to fix my tires or adjust brakes. He was my pit crew and, yeah, he was always there.”
For Dahme, BMX racing was year-round
For much of his time racing, Dahme didn’t let the snow and cold slow him down. He was willing to travel.
“It was year-round, for sure,” he said. “The closest indoor track was Minnesota, so I took frequent trips there. I’ve raced in Pennsylvania, Florida, Washington state, Oregon. The atmosphere no matter where you go is always pretty consistent. Everyone there is cheering for one rider, basically, so it helps you perform in different climates and situations.”
Nearly three decades into BMX, racing is becoming less of a focus. Dahme is a firefighter/paramedic for Aberdeen Fire & Rescue. He said he and his wife, Karla, are gaining perspective as they look forward.
Dahme scaling back his BMX racing
Jordon “Mojave” Dahme, in orange, is in Scotland to compete in the 2023 BMX world championships. Courtesy photo
“I love racing and always will, but at the right moment, sure, I’m ready to hang it up,” Dahme said. “(My wife) likes to travel, so this trip to Glasgow is one we’ll both enjoy, but that will change when we start a family. (BMX) pretty much shaped my younger years and I have loved doing it, but the time will come, and I’ll be OK with that.”
Even now, Dahme is more of an occasional racer at the Aberdeen BMX track.
MORE: Munroe leaps from Bahamas to Roncalli, sets 2 jump records
But that’s not to say, when given the chance, Dahme won’t give some of the new races a little taste of the old school.
“I don’t think I have a target on my back anymore,” he said “And I’m not really the fastest out here. (Aberdeen) has a good group of younger riders, but it’s nice to line up against them and give them a run for the money, for sure.”
Dahme’s first race in the world championships is Monday, Aug. 7 in the cruiser division. He starts racing in the 20-inch division is on Wednesday, Aug. 9.
To track Dahme’s progress as he races, visit tinyurl.com/f3a2jjcv.