Photo by Jamie Plain
At just 15 years old, Cullen Sumner is turning heads — and handlebars — in the competitive world of freestyle BMX.
The Owensboro native recently placed fourth in his first expert-level competition in Tucson and followed it up with a fifth-place finish in his pro debut in Nebraska.
“I was in the intermediate class last year, but now I’m in expert,” Cullen said. “The Nebraska comp was my first ever pro event.”
While he’s still a teenager, Cullen is already pushing toward the professional level.
“There are probably only 10 people his age in the U.S. who can do what he does,” his father Eric Sumner said. “Once you place high enough in expert, you have to move up. There’s just no one else left to compete against.”
Cullen spends countless hours training on ramps he and his family built at their home — including a custom quarter-pipe and a “resi” ramp made of plastic and foam for safe landings.
“You wouldn’t believe how much time it takes to learn each trick,” Cullen said. “It starts in a foam pit, then onto resi, and finally onto wood or concrete. That’s when it gets real.”
He’s currently chasing recognition through Monster Energy’s new Recon series, which scouts elite amateur talent. If successful, Cullen could soon make the leap from Monster Army amateur to Monster Energy pro — and eventually, compete in the X Games or Olympics through UCI events.
Cullen said he’s grateful for the sacrifices his family has made to help him chase his dream.
“I’m just super thankful,” he said. “They’ve spent so much time and money and supported me every step of the way.”