On the edge of Rotorua's Whakarewarewa Forest, the world's best BMX riders are preparing for the year's opening world cup races.
Kiwi Megan Williams has the big advantage by living around the corner from the track as she trains for the event which starts on February 10.
"It's one thing to ride on the track but to be able to race the track is what matters. A lot of it is those inches and centimetres that we fight for, that makes the difference," Williams said.
But it's not just Williams and fellow Kiwi Rico Bearman who have home advantage leading into the competition.
Their coach Kurt Pickard, a former New Zealand representative, also coaches some of the world's best riders. With most athletes based overseas, Pickard coaches remotely from his home in Tauranga.
"I work with these guys via correspondence. To have them all here in my neck of the woods training together is great."
Pickard isn't sure exactly how many athletes he's coaching at the world cup races in Rotorua - his guess is about a dozen.
One of those is the reigning men's world champion and world cup winner Romain Mahieu plus Bearman, the under-23 world cup series winner.
"We keep in touch the whole season but it's never the same when you're through the phone. We can get some instant feedback so it's great to be here with him and to have the whole crew so we can get ready for the race." Mahieu said.
Pickard's team has grown substantially in recent years. Bearman said initially it was just he and Williams that were being coached by him.
"It's grown into a worldwide thing. Having the world champ from last year and the world champ from the previous year, it's pretty cool to have a big group of people pushing each other."
Bearman, 20, is pushing himself this year by making the jump from age group racing to the elite level, with his sights on the Paris Olympics.
SHARE ME