MOSES LAKE – Alli Kay Tatum started riding dirt bikes in 2021 when she was 12 years old. Four years later, she is going the UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.  

“It was just surreal, it finally happened. I never thought it would happen, but I was just really excited,” she said.  

In January, she qualified for the championships at a race in Florida. She was motivated to qualify after moving up to the girls' expert level, she said. She remembered a friend of hers who qualified last year in the same race.  

“As a 16-year-old, it was a little frightening, going all the way down there and not knowing what the outcome would be. But I definitely had more confidence in racing as soon as I got out there on the track with the other racers,” she said. 

Alli Kay said if she did not qualify, she was prepared to attend a second qualifying race in February.  

When she started going to the track at Moses Lake BMX, she was encouraged by a track operator to start competing in races. From there, she enjoyed the competition found in the BMX. She said it was something she enjoyed because she is a competitive person.  

She said one of the challenging elements to learn early on was getting out of the gate at the beginning of the races. According to Tatum, it’s important to get a fast start out of the gate to control other riders’ speeds throughout the track.  

As she has become more experienced in BMX, Tatum said she has found a supportive community in riding.  

“I have a really good friend in Spokane, Harley Stevens, and we've always raced each other. But when we're on the track, we know we're not, like, friends, and we like racing each other, but outside of racing we're friends. So, I think that’s a good part of BMX is that you can be friends off the track, but like, when you're on the track, there’s a competitive spirit,” she said.  

Tatum’s mom, Carrie Tatum, said she is her biggest fan when it comes to BMX.  

“I love to watch her race. It's one of my favorite things, and I love her competitiveness. I also love the sportsmanship of the race. After each race, (riders) all gather, everybody who raced together, and they say, good job. It's not just family, but it's a really good sportsmanship game as well,” Carrie said.

She said when Alli Kay qualified for the world championships, it was the only race she had ever been nervous watching. 

“I don't typically get nervous in my kids’ sports. I'm excited for them, but I don't typically feel nervous. I knew how hard she had worked. She trained every day at the gym for that qualifier, so it was pretty incredible,” she said. 

As Alli Kay prepares for Copenhagen, she said she is building a new bike just for this race. She is also excited to meet other riders at the race and compete on a bigger stage, she said. 

“I'm looking forward to meeting other people from different countries, and just seeing a bigger aspect of it, because the biggest thing I've ever gone to is a national competition,” Alli Kay said. 

She said riders will get to have two days of practice in Copenhagen on the official track, which she feels will be helpful in her preparation. According to Alli Kay, every track is different, and it will be beneficial to fine-tune anything she needs in order to succeed.  

The races are on the first weekend of August, and she will be competing in the 17-24 age group. Alli Kay said she is excited to see how other riders compete and hopes to learn a lot for her first time at the event. She said she hopes to do well but has aspirations of returning to the event in future years, too.  

“I've been thinking about doing worlds (championship) a couple more times, and like trying to place higher if I don't place as best as I could this round, try to get better each time at worlds,” Alli Kay said.  

    Alli Kay Tatum takes a fall during a race after trying to turn a corner on the track. Tatum’s mom said falling is part of the sport and a lot of racers will wait at the end of the track to check on their fellow riders.
  

    Alli Kay Tatum going through a track before a race. Tatum said she is a competitive person, and she enjoys that element of BMX racing.
  

    Alli Kay Tatum leads the pack of racers as she takes on bumpy terrain on a BMX track. Tatum said getting a fast start out of the gate is crucial to winning a race and controlling the speed of her opponents.