YEAR 7 STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN CONFIDENCE BUILDING BMX SKILLS WORKSHOP WITH CURRENT BRITISH BMX FLATLAND CHAMPION

60 students recently attended an hour-long workshop in groups of 12 to raise self-confidence and provide a sense of achievement. The workshop was structured to accommodate basic riders all the way up to people who have developed some skill and want to learn how to get to the next level. 

The five workshops were run by Fusion Extreme who provided all equipment which enabled students to complete a range of BMX trick challenges whilst having fun and building confidence. As well as the biking, they leant how to find courage to overcome the fear behind each trick and to notice any negative self-talk and flip their language to motivate. Over the course of the hour-long session, students pushed themselves out of their comfort zones and showed active engagement and determination. 

The day was run by company director Matti Hemmings. Hemmings is a professional Flatland BMX rider and 3x Guinness World Record holder. Matti competes in international competitions, plans and hosts extreme sports events and performs shows at the highest level all over the world. Matti starred in hit Nickelodeon TV show ‘Get Your Skills On’ as ‘Matti Axel’, breaking Guinness World Records and showcasing his skills around the country.

Mr Birdsall, Richmond School and Sixth Forms Associate Assistant Headteacher for extra-curricular engagement, said: “Once again, our students were excellent ambassadors of the school and displayed our core values of Creativity, Resilience Excellence, Determination, Independence and Teamwork in abundance.

“The sessions were received positively by students across all tutor groups of Year 7. It was great to see both male and female students take part in the workshops throughout the day, all with varying levels of skill. The students were often heard saying ‘I can’t do that’ and very swiftly, with determination and a shift of mindset, were standing on their bike frames and handle-bars in no time! 

“It was a pleasure to have Matti Hemmings deliver the sessions. A personal highlight of mine was seeing a student who had never ridden a bike before work with Matti and end the session frantically pedalling around and even standing up to do so. 

“It is an absolute pleasure to be able to offer these enrichment opportunities to the students of Richmond School and I extend my biggest thanks, once again, to the trustees of Richmond School and Sixth Form College who made this day possible.”