Daviess County High School junior Cullen Sumner has claimed the title of USA BMX Freestyle National Champion in the expert class, the highest amateur division in the country, after a season that took him from Texas to California and everywhere in between.
Sumner, a 16-year-old from Whitesville, earned enough points across the national series to capture the overall championship despite placing third at the finals in California. The win crowns a season of consistent podium finishes and years of dedication to the sport.
“It’s just crazy because I’ve worked so hard for it,” Sumner said. “It kind of lifted a heavy weight off my shoulders because I’ve been working toward that for so long, and my dad and I put so much time and energy into it.”
The USA BMX Freestyle series includes competitors from across the nation, spanning youth through adult divisions. Last year, Sumner finished second nationally in the 15-30 age group before advancing into the expert class, one step below the professional level.
His father, Eric Sumner, said the accomplishment reflects years of training and travel.
“Cullen’s been competing all season toward the overall national championship,” he said. “He placed third at the finals in California, but his overall points for the year earned him the national title.”
In addition to the USA BMX circuit, Sumner also competed in the Monster Recon Series, finishing third overall among the country’s top amateur riders.
Sumner practices four to five days a week, often riding two- to three-hour sessions and occasionally traveling to train with friends in Louisville or Ohio. But balancing schoolwork and training isn’t always easy for the Daviess County High student.
“It’s not a school sport, so it’s hard to get out of school to go places,” he said. “Usually I just ride during the week and sometimes on weekends.”
For a time, Sumner was able to train indoors in Whitesville, where he and his father built ramps inside a former school gymnasium to maintain conditioning during colder months. They also have a series of half pipes in their backyard.
Eric said that the indoor setup proved crucial during earlier preparation for the Pan American Junior Games — an event likened to the Junior Olympics — which Cullen had qualified for before flight cancellations prevented U.S. athletes from competing.
Looking ahead, Sumner plans to compete in the Monster Energy BMX Triple Challenge, an open professional-level event, and aims to participate in all three national stops next year. Though still classified as an amateur, he’ll be riding alongside pros.
He’s also preparing for the release of a signature titanium bike frame and parts series through Wild Child BMX and Dan’s Comp, expected to debut next month.
The next milestone, Eric said, will be finding sponsorship support to make international travel possible.
“At this point, he’s going to have to start competing on a world scale,” he said. “The next step is finding a corporate sponsor that he can represent and ride for.”
Sumner said his long-term goal is to turn professional within the next few years — a path built on dedication, family support, and a deep love for the sport.
“I’m just going to keep working towards going pro,” he said. “That’s been the dream.”
Cullen’s rise has been steady over the years. His early progress was featured in a previous edition of Owensboro Parent, which you can read here for more background on his journey.
