Brian Lopes facts for kids
Lopes at the World Championships in Fort William
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Brian Thomas Lopes | ||
| Nickname | Flyin' Brian | ||
| Born | September 6, 1971 Mission Viejo, California, United States of America |
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| Height | 5 ft 9 in | ||
| Weight | 160 lb | ||
| Team information | |||
| Current team | Intense/Maxxis/Pearl Izumi/Lazer/X Fusion | ||
| Discipline | MTB–Four-cross, Dual Slalom, Enduro, Downhill | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Brian Thomas Lopes, born on September 6, 1971, in Mission Viejo, California, is a super talented professional mountain bike racer. He is especially known for his skills in a type of racing called four-cross. Brian started riding BMX bikes when he was just a kid. He became a professional rider at the age of seventeen.
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Brian Lopes: A Mountain Biking Legend
Brian Lopes is often called "Flyin' Brian" because of his amazing speed and style on a bike. He began his professional career in 1989. He first rode BMX bikes, which are small bikes used for tricks and racing. In 1993, he switched to mountain biking. This is where he truly shined and became a world-famous athlete.
What is Mountain Biking?
Mountain biking is a sport where people ride bicycles off-road. They ride on rough terrain like mountains, forests, and rocky trails. There are different types of mountain biking races. Brian Lopes has competed in several of them.
- Four-cross: This is a race where four riders go down a track at the same time. The track has jumps, bumps, and turns. The first one to the finish line wins.
- Dual Slalom: In this race, two riders go down separate, identical tracks side-by-side. It's like a ski slalom, but on bikes.
- Enduro: This type of race combines downhill sections with uphill climbs. Riders are timed only on the downhill parts.
- Downhill: This is a pure speed race down a steep, challenging mountain course.
Brian's Amazing Wins and Records
Brian Lopes has won many important titles in his career. He has a total of 18 major wins. These include:
- 9 NORBA National Championships: NORBA stands for the National Off-Road Bicycle Association. These are big races in the United States.
- 6 UCI World Cup Wins: UCI stands for the Union Cycliste Internationale. This is the world governing body for sports cycling. World Cup races are held all over the globe.
- 4 UCI World Championship Titles: These are the biggest races of all. Winning a World Championship means you are the best in the world for that year.
Brian also held world records for "bunny hopping." A bunny hop is when a rider lifts both wheels off the ground without hitting a jump. He held records for both how far and how high he could bunny hop.
Awards and Recognition
Brian Lopes's talent was recognized beyond just racing. In 2001, he was nominated for an ESPY Award. This award is given to top athletes in different sports. He was nominated for "Action Sport Athlete of the Year."
He also won two NEA (World Extreme Sports Award) trophies. He was named "Mountain Biker of the Year" in both 2000 and 2001.
Brian also shared his knowledge in a book. He co-wrote Mastering Mountain Bike Skills with Lee McCormack. This book helps other riders improve their own skills. He was even featured in a video game! He appeared in Downhill Domination on the Sony PlayStation 2 console.
Brian's Sponsors
Professional athletes often have sponsors. These are companies that support the athlete with gear and money. In return, the athlete helps promote their products. Brian Lopes has been sponsored by many well-known brands. These include Ibis Bicycles, Oakley, Lazer, X-Fusion, SRAM, Kenda, Novatec Wheels, WTB, ODI, Magura, Pearl Izumi, Go Pro, HT, KS, Chris King, and MRP.
Later Career Highlights
Even later in his career, Brian continued to win. On April 13, 2012, he won the first race of a new World Cup series. This was for a type of race called cross-country eliminator. He won this race in Houffalize, Belgium. Brian Lopes has truly left his mark on the world of mountain biking.
See also
In Spanish: Brian Lopes para niños
