TRURO - Proper prior planning prevents poor performance.
For the past month, Drew Bezanson has been living by those six Ps to get ready for what lies ahead of him this week - the 2012 X Games.
The 23-year-old Onslow Mountain native kept his schedule open and competition free throughout June to focus on and get ready for the event, which kicks off tomorrow in Los Angeles.
"I feel as if I did my homework this year," Bezanson said after riding his first day of practice Monday.
Bezanson and the 19 other BMX park competitors ride a final practice session today at 4 p.m. local time before Saturday's 2 p.m. final. The event, expected to attract about 150,000 fans, includes other BMX disciplines, skateboarding, motocross and rally racing.
Bezanson, highly motivated before any competition, is even more so for the 18th edition of the X Games. He's been one of just 20 riders from around the world invited to compete for the past two seasons. But after riding injured and finishing 20th in 2010 and missing last year's event due to injury, Bezanson is on a mission to medal this week.
"There is definitely drive to do well," he said. "I want to prove to myself that I belong and deserve to be there."
His resume would certainly say he does. Bezanson, one of the most popular riders in BMX for his creativity and fearlessness, has won Simpel Session in Tallinn, Estonia, for the past three years and has taken two of the past three Toronto BMX Jam titles, while finishing second in 2011.
Earlier this year he posted a podium finish at Red Bull Empire of Dirt in London, England, giving him eight top-three finishes in his last 11 competitions, including six wins.
But since X Games success has been an achievement that's eluded him thus far, Bezanson has been focused on making the third time a charm, moving to California and increasing his off-bike training.
"I'm feeling great and I've had an amazing year so far," he said. "I'm coming in healthy and with my head in the right place. But I'm just looking forward to having fun."
It will be important for Bezanson not to put too much pressure on himself. He rides BMX for the fun of it, because it's his passion. To get caught up in winning and medals isn't the point of being on the bike.
"I just need to ride my own race," he said. "Just do the tricks that I want to do and just focus on having fun because that's when I ride my best.
"If at the end of the day I ride my bike the way I want to, what place I end up in is an added bonus."
sports@trurodaily.com
