..By PAUL MOSER Special to AllAroundPhilly.com

A few minutes later, as Hellwinkel completes the last turn and pedals furiously down the final straightaway, the No. 6 plate on her -- bike showing her new world ranking -- becomes larger by the second.

Hellwinkel hopes this image is the one everyone will recognize her by in the future. Just as Little Leaguers dream of the big leagues, Hellwinkel hopes to show the world her stuff someday in major competitions like ESPN's X Games.

Like many other youths obsessed with BMX racing, skateboarding and motocross, Hellwinkel will tune in to this week's X Games VIII in Philadelphia with extreme interest.

"I like the competition, meeting new people," said Hellwinkel, who also plays softball. "I figure I have more of a career here in BMX than softball. I'm trying to someday get to the pro level."

Hellwinkel, 14, participated in the World Challenge in Paulinia, Brazil, on July 26-28 and returned to the track the following Tuesday with a No. 6 ranking for her age group in the 20-inch division and a No. 7 ranking in the cruiser bike division.

She travels from New York to race in Trumbull, Conn., every Tuesday and in Bethel, Conn., every Wednesday.

Hellwinkel is far from alone. Extreme sports have surged in popularity, and children and adults alike are flocking to skateparks, BMX courses, snowboarding mountains and the like. In fact, in 2001, the children's television network Nickelodeon asked its young viewers to vote for their favorite male sports star. Pro skateboarder Tony Hawk beat out Shaquille O'Neal, Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant.

Those involved with extreme sports locally have experienced the explosion firsthand.

"We've seen a big change," said Robert Blaskey, co-owner of B-17 skateshop and park in Woodbridge. "We get our core skateboarders, kids who have been in it for years and are true to the sport, but it's much more diverse now."

New skate parks are opening all the time in the United States.

"Basically kids have always been into skateboarding," Blaskey said, "but with all the media, the X Games, and all the coverage that skateboarding is receiving now, it is really bringing the sport into a mainstream spotlight and the kids are just so into it."

Young and old get into the action

While the majority of those who go to skateparks range in age from 9 to 16, people both young and old are becoming involved in the extreme sports scene.

"What I see with the younger kids (in skateboarding) is not that they can't do it, but they're not as confident," said Anthony Pallotto, co-owner of Eastern Pulse skateshop and park in Milford, Conn. "Once they're skating and comfortable, and they feel that they can handle themselves with the other kids, they come more and more."

Confidence, however, seems to grow fast among younger participants.

Mac Logan, 7, is racing his first season of BMX and has had trouble making it over the hills.

"This is his first time making it over twice in a row," said his mother, Bobbie Logan, on a Tuesday race night in July. "Now that he's done it twice I think he's getting some confidence. He likes it."

Young motocross riders experience some of the same trials and tribulations.

"I love the little kids, 4 to 8 years old," said Mickey Gelagotis, a professional motocross rider from Milford. "That's what the heart of the sport is. They get up these hills that are four times their size on these little motorcycles, topple over, get back up to get up another one, to then maybe have someone push them up the next hill because their little motorcycle doesn't make it, just to topple over at the top of that hill and smile the entire time because they love it. That's what this sport is all about."

At the same time, extreme sports may keep the older participants feeling young.

"I'm 32 and still riding my bike," Rick Marceau, state commissioner of BMX in Massachusetts, said with a laugh. "What happens to me sometimes, though, is that I'm going to get stuck racing the 17- to 18-year-olds. I'd say that's a disadvantage because they're a little faster and a little more fearless."

The injury factor

Danger is a constant concern in extreme sports.

While injuries can occur in any sport, the stereotype of extreme sports being the worst has haunted those involved for years.

"It's like anything else," said Jeff Topolski, director of the Trumbull, Conn., BMX track. "For the most part, they get bumps and bruises and scrapes. They get the wind knocked out of them and then they get back up again. There are injuries, but it's the exception rather than the rule."

Riders are required to wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and a full-faced helmet.

Some riders, like 14-year-old David Bybel of North Haven, Conn., also wear chest protectors and gloves.

"Whatever you can do to protect yourself and still go fast is worth it," Bybel said. "I'd rather fall and race another day than fall and not be able to race."

Bybel was No. 1 in the state last year in his age group, and currently holds the No. 2 state plate.

In order to compete aggressively, most riders said they eliminate fear from their minds.

"You don't normally think about it, because if you do you wouldn't race," said Tim Dunn, a 10-year-old BMX rider from Waterford, Conn. "I try and keep my mind on racing because if you think about falling, you'll probably fall."

Skateparks in Connecticut require skaters to fill out a release form prior to participating. If the skater is under the age of 18, a parent must be present to sign the form.

Skaters under the age of 18 are also required to wear protective headwear. Skaters are also supervised by the park staff.

Parents' perspective

What do parents really think about their children becoming so involved in extreme sports?

"It's great for them," said Susan Bonvicini, mother of Adam, 14, Kevin, 12, and Daniel, 10, who skate at Eastern Pulse three or four times a week. "They have helmets, they're well protected. I'd rather see them do it here than go down the hill by our house where they could hurt themselves."

Many parents see keeping busy with extreme sports as a positive thing.

"You might look at this and say geez, that's scary," Simpson said. "It's scarier to me to have my son hanging out at a mall with idle time on a Friday or Saturday night. This builds self-esteem. Watching him go over a table top or hit a triple (jump) is a lot less scary than knowing what's out there."

Another benefit is the opportunity for families to participate in these sports together.

Lori Markie, 35, of Southington, Conn., and Beverly Sporbeck, 31, of Danbury, Conn., both got involved in BMX racing because of their children's interest.

"I did a Mother's Day race and I just liked it," Markie said. "Now if my kids didn't do this, I would probably come by myself."

Both Markie and Sporbeck spend four nights a week racing at the four tracks in the state.

The same is true with other families. Girls get involved because of their brothers' interest and fathers are returning to a sport they used to enjoy because their children now ride.

Dunn's favorite part of racing BMX is that he can do it with his father and brother.

"My dad and brother do it so we get to do it as a family," Dunn said. "I'll keep doing it and pass it down to my kids someday."

Continued growth

The extreme explosion shows no signs of slowing. 

Even though BMX numbers are slightly down this year from last year, the steady increase of extreme sports in general has not deterred the organization.

"I think extreme sports in general are gaining popularity," Marceau said. "BMX really died down in the '90s, but when I got back into it heavy in '97 it was really strong again. Now I see the BMX racing part of it declining a little bit, but the X Games stuff, dirt jumping, that's picking up more. That's where the exposure is."

Skatepark owners are also setting their sights on the future as growth continues.

"It's definitely been interesting the past few years," Pallotto said. "The sport (of skateboarding) is still so small, compared to team sports, but it's growing. It hasn't really built the name yet, but it's getting there. I'm glad to see the growth."

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