Today is World BMX Day, and 25-year-old Mumbai champ Annul Pale’s passion for the sport remains rock-solid despite lack of funds that are holding him back from becoming an international name
Annul Pale
Freestyle sports remain somewhat of a blind spot on India’s sporting landscape. You might not find the next Tony Hawk in the subcontinent anytime soon, but many a Sehwag protégé is fairly visible. In an age of cluttered sports, where the spotlight and focus remains on mainstream sports viewed by a mass audience, 25-year-old Annul Pale is pursuing his dreams on a BMX bicycle.
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The BMX high
“As a kid, I started off with some B-boying, followed by a bit of skateboarding,” said Pale, in between his practice session at City Park in Bandra Kurla Complex. “Back then, I wasn’t even familiar with the names of any skateboarding tricks; my friend taught me how to ride it, and within a day, I was already popping tricks on my own. I guess, I’ve always had a flair for freestyle sports.”
Soon after completing his tenth standard from a government school in Kurla, he began working at Dominos as a pizza delivery boy. During his six-month-tenure, he managed to save Rs 300 — a monumental amount for him — and bought a BMX cycle from a bhangaar shop in his neighbourhood. Thus began his tryst with freestyle BMX biking.
Annul Pale practises his routine at City Park in BKC. Pics/Pradep Dhivar
Today, Pale has several titles to his name, in the Indian freestyling as well as BMX scenario. He bagged gold at a freestyle battle in Shillong in 2015, and a silver at the 3KJam BMX Festival in February at IIT Powai. He specialises in flatland tricks — a variation of freestyle BMX that requires the rider to land his moves within a demarcated circle. The more advanced your moves, the higher scoring from judges. Pale’s crew — Meteoric — comprises of football freestylers, skateboarders and BMX riders. He is also a member of Beast Mode, a crew that specialises in B-boying and dance freestyle.
Take the rough road
Yet, despite the raw talent and exceptional skill, this Kalina boy, like all other budding grassroots athletes, lacks the funds to fulfill his dreams of becoming the best BMX freestyler in the world. “I need Rs 3.5 lakhs to go Canada to participate in one of the most famous BMX festivals, Real City Spin,” said Pale, who was invited to take part in the competition in August 27-28. “I have never travelled outside India, but the fact that I was invited to such a prestigious festival is a great honour for me. Here, in India, we don’t have any good bikes to practice with, nor do we have any support from our parents and family. I remember leaving my bike at a friends house, because I could not take it home with me as it would annoy my parents.”
For Pale, who hails from a family of seven siblings, including four brothers, of whom he is the youngest, pursuing this passion isn’t easy. Currently, he does odd jobs like distributing pamphlets and delivery files for companies. After his father passed away in 2007, he admits that he doesn’t find much support from home as he’s constantly reminded that it isn’t possible to make a living as a BMX champ in India.
Pale can be seen training on his Red Bull BMX at Pascal Garden in Vakola, or at BKC’s City Park, landing his turbines and crossover extensions flawlessly. “This is my culture,” he says proudly.
Annul Pale
“In spite of numerous broken bones in my nose, arms, and legs, this remains my passion; this is what I want to do. Back in 2005, no one in the city knew about BMX free styling; I think I have managed to change that. Today, we have about 18 BMX riders in Mumbai, of which 10 are exceptionally good,” he signs off, readying for another gravity-defying stunt.
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