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Blood, Sweat and Tears—Dual Slalom World Champion and BMX Star Wade Bootes Has Traveled the Hard Road to Success The transition from gypsy to World Champion has been a difficult, albeit a rewarding one for Trek Volkswagen's Wade Bootes. Bootes, who came to the US in late 1993 with nothing more than $2,000 and his bike, has steadily risen to the top of both the pro BMX and pro mountain bike circuits. By the early nineties, the wide-eyed teenager from Australia was already a ten-year veteran of BMX racing. "I came to a point in my career when it was time to see if I could hang with the big boys in America," said Bootes. His parents gave him the green light to spend the season racing abroad, under the condition that the minute he used up the $2,000 he had saved, his tour would be over. Without a sponsor, or a way to get from race to race, Bootes bought a rust-engulfed van for $350. Equipped with a bed, sink, icebox and closet, the van served as both transportation and lodging. "The bad part was every time I stopped to fill up with gas I had to add a quart of oil," said Bootes. By the time of the '94 season opener, Bootes had but a few hundred dollars to his name. Knowing that a good performance in the season opener might prolong his stay, Bootes swept the Single A Pro division and walked away with a $700 payday. But it didn't take long before the American Bicycle Association (ABA) took notice of Bootes' skills and offered a deal that would put an end to the van's nomadic days. "I traveled and stayed with the ABA, and they paid for my entry fees," said Bootes. "In return, I drove the rig at times, and helped build race tracks - I was living life!" Shortly after, sponsors sent Bootes free product, and he was officially a professional athlete. Bootes quickly ascended the ranks of the BMX elite, and claimed the titles of National and World Cup Cruiser Champion. In 1998, Bootes became interested in a sport that posed more of a vertical challenge. He dabbled in dual slalom mountain bike racing during the BMX season with moderate success. He again progressed through the ranks and in 1999 captured his first World Cup gold medal in Bromont, Canada. "That was a turning point in my mountain bike career," said Bootes. "It showed everyone that I was capable of winning at this level." The accommodations may be different from the early days, but Bootes' lifestyle hasn't changed much over the years. He has gone from a transient living out of his van, to one who lives in hotel rooms. He spends an exhausting 35 weekends out of the year at races. Bootes will continue to divide his time between BMX and mountain bike races this year. He justifies the hectic schedule as burnout prevention. "Between the two sports I can mix it up a little and break the monotony," said Bootes. "And because BMX and slalom both require similar short explosive power, I can focus my training." Bootes started the 2000 season on fire. He won four AA Pro BMX races in a row, the Sea Otter Classic Dual Slalom, and added another three AA Pro BMX wins after that. What could top such impressive results? Wade went to Spain and won the first UCI Dual Slalom World Championships, came home to capture five more AA Pro BMX wins, and five top three's on his way to claim the most prestigious award in BMX, the ABA AA Pro National Title. And oh yeah, he also won the NORBA Dual Slalom finals in Mammoth. So what does the man who won nearly everything in 2000 have planned for the future? Well, aside from defending his dual slalom title and further domination of the BMX circuit, Bootes also plans to start training for the 2004 Summer Olympics. Bootes hopes his powerful legs will allow him to represent Australia on the velodrome in Athens. Bootes' desire to be the best has carried him a long way since his days of touring the country in a van. His consistent results on the BMX circuit coupled with his immediate success in the dual slalom position him as a top dual-discipline athlete. Ever mindful of where he came from, Bootes continues to promote the sport that drew him across the pond nearly 10 years ago. Age:
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