GILROY – Ashley Cohen is a pretty sharp 11-year-old. The
sixth-grader at Brownell Middle School in Gilroy seems to have her
priorities in order
– a college education is at the top of her list. And, she is
quick on her feet. When it comes to conversations she tends to
steal the show with a quick wit and timely responses that often
make her parents giggle.
GILROY – Ashley Cohen is a pretty sharp 11-year-old. The sixth-grader at Brownell Middle School in Gilroy seems to have her priorities in order – a college education is at the top of her list. And, she is quick on her feet. When it comes to conversations she tends to steal the show with a quick wit and timely responses that often make her parents giggle.
But where she finds her comfort zone is sitting on a bike at the starting gate with 1,250 feet of dirt track in front of her.
“It’s a fun sport and it’s much better than sitting on the couch and watching TV,” Ashley said.
She inherits her talkative personality from her dad, who can’t say enough about his two children – a smile extends from ear to ear as he listens to Ashley share her most recent success.
Ashley took first place earlier this month at the American Bicycle Association’s BMX Redline Cup finals. She faced riders from Nevada, Arizona, Oregon and California.
Combining three of her best times – one from a qualifying race earlier this year and two from the Redline Cup – Ashley’s first-place showing, earned her a No. 1 plate that is displayed on the front of her bike, a jacket and a trophy that is showcased in the family’s living room. She was also crowned the USA West Coast Cup Champion in the 11-year-old Expert division. That distinction, she said, has bolted her to a ranking of 11th in the nation, as seeded by the American Bicycle Association.
BMX racing runs in her family – a passion her dad, Adam, passed down first to her 15-year-old brother, but a passion Cohen soon found inside herself.
She took up BMX racing at the age of 6 after she grew bored of sitting on the sideline watching her brother.
“My brother started racing a year before me and I was just sitting on the bleachers cheering for him,” Cohen said. “For five hours I would just sit there and talk to my mom and it was boring. I liked the sport. I wanted to make new friends and race.”
The sport has taken the family of four on road trips to Arizona, Oregon, Las Vegas, and even on flights to Kentucky and Minnesota .
“When my teacher asks me to write about something I did over the summer or what I did on the weekend, I can always write about racing,” Ashley said. “I like that because it’s what I do 24-7.”
Ashley practices her sprints Monday through Thursday, and one or two Saturdays out of the month are dedicated to racing in events.
“I like the whole BMX sport because just like in any other sport, you get out of it what you put into it,” Cohen said. “It’s just like anything in life. That’s what I want (Ashley) to understand. If you don’t do your homework for school you won’t get the good grades. It is the same way with training.”
The message of the importance of hard work rings loud and clear for Ashley who isn’t hesitant to put in the extra effort to become better than her competition.
“There is this one girl that I really want to beat,” Ashley said. “I did 20 extra sprints every day before that race. I’m right there. I used to be so far away from her but now I’m right on her tire.”
The 45-second sprint from start to finish doesn’t leave much time for thinking, but there is one thought that runs through the confident rider’s mind as she speeds through the course.
“I’m thinking I want to be in the front so everyone can look at me,” she said laughing. “I’m just having fun out there. I know I’m competing, but I’m also enjoying it.”
Even at her age she already knows that she doesn’t want to be a pro rider participating in the sport for the fame and the reward – an education is what she desires most.
“I think I want to do this until I’m 16 so I can focus on college,” Ashley said. “I don’t want to be racing as a pro just for the money. My top priority is to go to college and finish school.”
BMX racing has transcended just the dirt track and the trophies. For the Cohens it is an opportunity for their family to stay connected and a way for them to build memories with their children as they grow older.
“It is a life lesson,” Cohen said. “It is a family thing . It keeps us together. It is that way throughout the BMX community.”
Ashley’s next major race is in Oklahoma at the Grand Nationals during Thanksgiving weekend.
“I want to hear them call my name in front of everyone,” she said.
