Whether he was qualifying for his first Olympic Games, collaborating with NASCAR on multiple occasions, or speaking to young students off the track, Mongoose athlete Cam Wood had an amazing 2024.
Last Friday, Cam capped his big year by becoming the first Mongoose pro racer to win the USA BMX #1 Pro Title in almost 30 years! Mongoose legend Robert MacPherson was the last to achieve this feat back in 1996. After the dust settled from another successful Grand Nations in Tulsa, we sat down with the new #1 to talk racing, Mongoose, and his great work off the track!
What was your thought process going into the Grands this year?
CAM: I knew it was going to be tough obviously being in a three-way tie with Izaak (Kennedy) and Kam (Larsen). They're very strong and fierce competitors, so I knew it wasn't going to be easy at all and I think that's kind of how I approached it. Yeah, I just kind of fell back on everything that was providing results later in the year, and one opportunity came and I executed at a very high level, so it felt amazing.
What do you think changed from the year you turned pro into taking the USA BMX Pro Men’s title?
CAM: Man, there's been so many little things. This was my third year with of a realistic shot at the title. So I think the way I composed myself this year versus years past, not putting any external stress or pressure on myself, and just having a better picture of what was really important, and focusing on competing. I just think the whole night show (at the Grands) in general and the race was a little bit more relaxed. I was really confident in my abilities and in my process, and there wasn't really anything that distracted me from that. I was winning at a pretty sustainable rate for a while leading into the Grands and it just gave me that confidence I needed when all the pressure was on. I just felt really comfortable in my own skin and executed at a high level. With the standard I’ve set for myself, I couldn't feel better walking away with the win.
How about the fact that this is the first time Mongoose has had an elite pro title win since Robert MacPherson in 1996?
CAM: Yeah, so it's been 28 years since Mongoose has walked away with the pro title, and when someone first brought that stat to my attention, it was really cool and really special. I'm just so privileged to be able to be representing this brand. It means so much to me to have everyone behind the scenes that stuck with me throughout the last 4 to 5 years, and couldn't be more proud to represent an iconic brand in the sport. I think a pro title was long overdue and I'm so blessed and thankful to have that role with Mongoose and bring it back home!
Talk a little about the stuff you’ve been doing outside of racing with the USA BMX Foundation.
CAM: I know there was a lot this year, and that's part of why representing Mongoose and USA BMX Foundation is so special. It goes way beyond me and BMX racing. We’ve been in the NASCAR industry. We promoted the sport of BMX to kids across the country. I have an opportunity to not only be a brand ambassador, but ambassador for the sport in general and get kids on bikes, which is something I'm very passionate about. When I picked up my bike at 3-years-old in Bozeman, Montana, I would've never imagine how far it would take me in my life, and having that story makes it really easy for me to show how valuable this can be for some kids out there.
You took the USA BMX Title on…well, a Mongoose Title. This is an alloy frame spec’ed just like the stock ones. Tell me a little about getting these frames how you like them.
CAM: Everyone at Mongoose has done an amazing job with the product. We have one of the most affordable retail frames on the market and I've raced the stock retail frame for the last five years and the equipment is everything I've ever needed on the professional level. We've done a great job with product development. We're continuing to elevate our game and step it up and adapt with the evolution of BMX racing and once again that's credit to everyone behind the scenes.
I just think we're going to continue to elevate the game and keep coming out with product that's on par with what's out there. I've always been an aluminum guy, and I've never ridden a carbon bike. The Title Elite and Title Team series is all we need.
Congrats again. Now that you get a moment to breathe and celebrate. What is your mindset going into 2025?
CAM: I'm definitely going to soak this one in for a while. Our race season doesn't start till late March next year, which is my longest off-season I've ever had. I realized how important it is really to celebrate wins that come along like this. There's a lot of things that have to go right and there was obviously a lot of adversity I faced this last year – the last two years to be honest. I just feel proud and I'm able to reflect on everything that's transpired leading to this point. It's a feeling that I haven't ever experienced as a professional. I'm definitely celebrating it, but after that, obviously the show goes on.
I'm 23 years old and I still have a lot more left in me in my career, and a lot more to look forward to with so many other goals that I'm still striving for. I'm looking forward to resetting myself and continuing to push myself and evolve as a rider and as a person. You know it's valuable time away from sports to focus on my relationships a little bit more with my family and friends and people that are important to me. As soon as a few weeks goes by, I'll be pretty fired up and ready to go again and see if we can do it again next year.
Photo credit USA BMX / PULL BMX & NHR Racing
