Since relocating closer to town, Crystal is now one of Mount Isa’s youngest BMX rider prospects going around.

The 13-year-old made the move from Barkly Downs cattle station after her family decided they had had enough of the lack of opportunities out west for Crystal.

“All I did was motor bike riding and went to School of the Air,” Crystal said.

“It was kind of lonely (at Barkly Downs) because I didn’t have many friends. I didn’t get a good education out there. Now I’m here in Mount Isa, I’m enjoying it. It’s still kind of weird though.”

Crystal’s mother Lisa Hetherington said the moment her daughter became instantly hooked to BMX riding was about three years ago.

“We came to the annual Try A Day Island BMX Mount Isa event,” Hetherington said.

“After that we couldn’t get her off the track. As it’s fly-in fly-out in Mount Isa, it’s hard to meet families with kids. BMX has been great for that now. It’s always good to see the girls do a sport where it’s predominantly male-driven.”

Having only ridden a BMX bike for a couple of years to date, the Spinifex State College student is already hitting huge heights in her new passion.

“Winning the number one Queensland Country plate in Townsville was my best (performance) so far,” Crystal said.

“I flogged them by a long way. I also fell off too during training before the event.”

Crystal, who has dreams of emulating Australian BMX Olympian Caroline Buchanan, is targeting a big day out at the Great Western Games BMX event this Saturday but has also looked at the bigger picture.

“There are the Queensland state titles in September. I want to try and get a plate in that.”

And if her number one Queensland Country plate at the recent Queensland Country Championships is anything to go by, Crystal is well on track for more success in the near future.

“My coach Rod Green in Townsville has me doing a program off the track too. I do plenty of push-ups, planking, and sprinting besides riding.”

Her mother Lisa also added that Crystal spends even more time keeping her Avent bike in great shape.

“Crystal spends at least one hour every day polishing her bike,” Lisa Hetherington said.

“She’s got posters on the wall that now say ‘I love BMX’, not ‘I love’ a certain boy band.”