Extreme sport professionals inspire young athletes at Camp Royal
by: Regina Gonzalez
Posted: Jun 11, 2019 / 11:52 PM EDT / Updated: Jun 12, 2019 / 09:57 AM EDT
Young athletes from across the mountain state are strapping on their helmets and securing their knee pads to learn from the best of the best at Camp Royal.
The faith based, action sports training camp brings in professional coaches from all over the world to teach skills in BMX, mountain biking, skateboarding, and scooter riding at its Glen Jean location. These professionals include athletes, like Professional Scooter Rider, Cody Flom.
Just last year, Flom placed fifth in the world for scootering, and although he has traveled to teach children at camps in many places, he said Camp Royal is a unique place.
"Most other camps that I end up going to, it's solely focused on the riding and the progression of the riders at the camp," Flom recalled. "Camp Royal is a little different because its kingdom-purposed and instead of focusing on just the riders, we focus on the bible and the truth of the Lord."
Coaches, like professional mountain biker David Lieb, work one-on-one with up to 50 kids a week ranging in age and skill. While they work to perfect kick flips and relate learning back to spiritual principles, these athletes have endured blood, sweat, and tears to get where they are, and make sure they are motivating and empowering their students every step of the way.
"When you learn tricks you're actually learning so much more than that," Lieb said. "You're learning to work hard and put in the time for something, and when you see that light at the end of the tunnel, that's what it's all about."
Seeing children smiling, believing in themselves, and soaring over the pump course and ramps of his camp is a dream come true to Founder and CEO Brandon Heidemann. He created this place to make sure a younger generation understands their value and to keep them out of trouble.
"I think it's crucial to get kids out of their homes, away from their screens, away from their video games, or places in town where they're getting introduced to drugs and this other junk," Heidemann said. "We need some real role models for these kids, so we're not just excited about the sports, but we're really passionate to see these kids transform and show them there's so much more."
There is still time to fill empty slots in upcoming weeks of their programs. For more on how to be a part of the Camp Royal program, visit their website at http://www.camp-royal.com/.
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