Zach Paterson is heading to South Carolina to compete at World BMX Champs. Photo/Stephen Parker
At 1.89m tall you might expect 15-year-old Zach Paterson to be dominating on a basketball court or rugby field.
However, since first riding around the Rotorua BMX track on a three-wheeler as a 2-year-old BMX has been the sport for him.
It's a sport in which he is quickly building an impressive resume.
On Sunday the Year 11 John Paul College student flies to South Carolina to compete in the 2017 BMX World Championships.
Competing in the 15-year-old boys' division, this is his fifth trip to the world championships having previously raced in Australia, Denmark, England and Auckland.
After crashing out on the first corner, in the first lap, at Auckland in 2013 his initial focus this year will be finishing the race.
"I have to take it one step at a time, stay focused and keep my cool.
"It will be a high level of competition, it'll be hard racing and I'll need to be smart."
He learned a lot after not finishing the race last year.
"Don't go hard out on the first lap, just work into it."
The format at the world championships comprises three qualifying races, a round of 16, quarter-finals, semifinals and a final.
"I need to qualify in the top four in each race, that will guarantee me a spot in the final."
Zach said he got nervous before big races but he was working on turning that into a positive.
"I try and calm myself down and concentrate on my breathing.
"As soon as the gate drops all the nerves and worries turn into motivation to get over the line and determination to finish first."
Zach has placed more focus on training different areas, rather than just riding, on his quest to become an elite rider including gym work, yoga, physio and sprinting.
He trains five to six days a week either on the track or in the gym and does sprint training with Tauranga-based 2012 Olympian Kurt Pickard.
He has been a member of the Rotorua BMX Club since he was 4.
"I enjoy that you're by yourself, you don't have to support a team, you ride for yourself.
"You don't want to let yourself down."
It has been a busy year for Zach, who is ranked second in New Zealand for his age group and has been the national point series age group champion for three years straight.
This year he was selected for the New Zealand BMX senior development team for 15-16-year-old boys and travelled to Nerang on the Gold Coast with the team in January for the first round of the Australian national series.
In February he raced in round two of the Australian national series in Shepparton, Victoria and finished fourth.
In March he raced in Bathurst, New South Wales at the Oceania BMX Championships and finished second in his age group.
But, perhaps the most pleasing award for Zach which he was proud to receive, was from the Rotorua BMX Club for club spirit.
The award recognises his positive conduct with all club members and the fact he voluntarily takes time to ride with and support the younger club members.
His future goals include racing professionally, being the fastest junior elite rider in New Zealand, becoming a world champion and competing at the Olympics.
"I just need to train hard, do all the right things and keep gaining international experience."
The world championships are at the Novant Health BMX track in Rock Hill, South Carolina from July 25.
Zach is part of an 80-strong team of New Zealanders competing including fellow Rotorua BMX club members Caitlin Flavell (12 girls, 16 and under cruiser), Luke Hanna (12 boys),
Hayley Hanna (9 girls), William Skipper (12 boys), Megan Williams (13 girls), Dion Newth (40-44 cruiser) and Sarah Walker (elite).
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