Running for Something

Meet Karl Poynter, professional BMX rider from New Castle Indiana

I am proud to call this guy a friend, and if you know anything about BMX riding then you know who he is, his name is Karl Poynter. Karl is a resident of New Castle, the community where we are trying to get this park for these kids. Karl and his brother have done some amazing things in the community, including growing the BMX/Skate scene from virtually nothing to now hundreds of riders and skaters.

The two of them have also worked hard to get a legit BMX/Skate park in the community and have faced the same battles we all have faced for over 10 years now. Karl is one of the greatest BMX riders that the sport has to offer and he is even a better man, our community is blessed to have him and his passion as a part of our community. We interviewed Karl asking him some of the questions that we believe you would want to ask him yourself, so have a look. Thanks Karl for all you have and will continue to do for the sport, our community, and people all around the world!

Karl Poynter
21 years old
professional athlete and business owner

"The number of BMX riders and skateboarders are only going to continue to progress here in New Castle. Riders get frowned upon when they are riding on private property, which is understandable, but where do you expect them to ride if there's no legit area for them to do so. Just that alone is a good enough reason for the city of New Castle to have a good place for these kids to do what they love. The bike/skatepark has been talked about going on 10 years now. It's time for less talking and more doing. Let's make this happen!"
-Karl Poynter

How long have you been riding?
Going on 12 years now.

What would you tell all of those riders and skaters that want to become a pro?
A positive attitude, hard work, determination, and remembering the reason why you started riding in the first place are the key ingredients to becoming a professional athlete. Something like this doesn't happen overnight. There's a lot you have to put into it.

Who sponsors you?
Eastern Bikes, The Shadow Conspiracy. Duffs Footwear, UGP Clothing, The Last People, Hardcore Sportz

When did you open up your shop in New Castle, why there?
My brother opened up Hardcore Sportz over ten years ago. HS was started because there was nothing in New Castle that offered a place for the things we were passionate about such as BMX and skateboarding. I was at such a young age when HS was born. As years went on and I got older, I grew more a part of the business. To this day it's a 2 man show of my brother and I. Visit our site www.hardcoresportz.com to learn more.

How Many athletes are on the Hardcore Sportz Team?
The Hardcore Sportz team consists of Johnny Devlin, Alan Young, Rex Rose, Jessie Jay, Shane Weston, Seth Kimbrough, Doug Horton, Zach Rogers, Troy Merkle, Casey Dyer, and myself.

How do you get to become a member of the Hardcore Team?
Basically the same ingredients of how to become a professional athlete as I mentioned previously. Plus, being a loyal supporter of the shop and having the same mind set on what we're about and what we do. We take pride in our team and definitely take our time with each individual we select. All of our team are guys who are about setting positive examples for the younger riders out there.

In addition to our team, we also have the HS Local Crew which consists of all the riders and kids who support Hardcore Sportz. We recently just launched a video series that features HS Locals giving you a run down of what they ride. Here's is the first installment.

What have you seen in the communities that embraces this sport, and how can this sport help a community?
There are a ton of surrounding communities who currently have public bike/skateparks. Anderson, Indianapolis, Greenwood, Connersville, and Greenfield just to name a few. BMX and skateboarding are both creative outlets for kids to get involved in. A bike/skatepark is not just a good thing for kids, but families too. It also will bring plenty of others from surrounding towns to ride the park, which in return brings more money into the community for local businesses and restaurants. Therefore, keeping New Castle a strong city.

What have you done to try to help the scene in New Castle?
Our shop, Hardcore Sportz, hosts a countless number of events throughout the year for all the kids/riders. Anything from street jams, video premieres, bbq's, pro team signings, and more. Just 2 months ago we held a street jam and gave away over $1,000 in prizes. 100 plus riders were in attendence. We make our shop a prime spot for kids to meet and go ride.

Why should people support running for something?
It's a simple answer. Running for Something is for a good cause. A bike/skatepark is way overdue for New Caslte. It needs to happen now. It needs to happen for the kids.

Meet Karl Poynter, pro BMX rider

We recently sat down to interview pro BMX rider Karl Poynter, one of the top BMXers in the world and a New Castle native! Check out the interview now

Help Spread the Word!

Don't miss the finish line for Running for Something! Join us for a HUGE BMX/Skate event on October 18th at 1:00PM. Print this flyer to give to everyone you know! If you need a black and white version, click here.

You can help get the word out about Running For Something by downloading and printing this poster and putting it up wherever you can!

Donate Now!

We accept online donations via PayPal, but if you don't have a PayPal account don't worry, you can make a donation without a PayPal account with any major credit card!

All donations are sent through First United Methodist church in New Castle, IN.

Questions? Contact Anton Payne
765.524.4336