Charles Mathys has established himself over the past several years as one of the most committed figures in the development of sport. A passionate coach, former physical education teacher, and now director of sports programs at CNCB since July 1, he combines field experience, educational vision, and leadership. In this interview, Charles talks about his career, his training philosophy, and his past in BMX racing. Meet a builder driven by the desire to advance both athletes and the cycling community.

Get to know him

1. How did you get into cycling?

Cycling has always been part of my daily routine. I played a lot of sports in many different disciplines, both individual and team sports. In my day, we were constantly switching from one sport to another, so cycling came along. At first, it was mostly road cycling, then came jumps and tricks. Later, mountain biking came into my life and we started doing a lot more trails.

2. What brought you to the CNCB?

I was at a stage in my life where I was ready to take on new challenges. I am a physical educator by training and have also had a physical training company for 30 years now. I have coached several sports, including cycling. With all that, I had pretty much done everything there was to do in coaching as such. I still love it very much, I'm passionate about it, I have to be honest, but I felt that I was also at a stage where I could pass on my knowledge, teach others, and mentor. For 10 years now, I have been a coach trainer. I really enjoy it, being able to teach adults and share my knowledge to help them explore more of what can be done in coaching.

3. In your opinion, what does the CNCB offer young people and the cycling community?

The CNCB is a very special place because it has multiple facilities, which means multiple possibilities and, above all, multiple profiles. So, a young person who has access to these facilities here on an occasional or regular basis ultimately has access to a whole range of opportunities to express themselves, develop, learn, and, eventually, perform. That's what's really interesting for someone here who is developing as a cyclist.

4. What advice would you give to someone who wants to start BMX racing?

BMX is an excellent sport for beginners. You have to take it slowly. You need to be able to stand on the pedals and balance. Once you can do that, you're good to go. You can learn the different techniques gradually, particularly slaloms and pumping, which should be the first things you learn once you already know how to brake, propel yourself, and so on.

5. What has cycling taught you about yourself?

Cycling has been an interesting discipline, since I am someone who has had the opportunity to participate in several sports, and it has also allowed me to understand that it can be as much about adversity as it is about oneself. It's also a discipline where, since you're using a tool, you get to see how much you can work with something that isn't quite your body, but which becomes a natural extension of your body over time.

6. What made you want to become a coach?

I should mention that coaching, for me, is genetic. I'm lucky to have a father who was a great coach in other sports. He was a Level 4 coach in Canada, which is the highest level you can achieve in coaching. For me, it was a constant calling. When I did my bachelor's degree in physical education, even before that, I had already started coaching with him. I already loved making a difference in someone's life. It developed into a great passion. Even today, there are times when I dream about coaching.

7. What are you trying to convey beyond cycling?

Coaching obviously involves all the technical and tactical aspects of helping someone develop their profile, but beyond that, there is the whole question of becoming a citizen. I think cycling, and sport in general, is a truly extraordinary way to convey values, even philosophies of life. Obviously, these will be useful in sport, but also in everyday life in the longer term. I think that's the element that's really most important to me.

Take advantage of his expertise

8. What attracted you to BMX racing?

Intensity mixed with adversity. I've always loved the combination of the great challenge of being able to complete a course at full speed with a lot of technical skill, but at the same time having to deal with the competitors around us. There are eight of us in total. So it's a really interesting mix. It's unpredictable, and when you manage to do well, it's very rewarding.

9. How does the pumptrack help in BMX racing?

A pumptrack is a great tool for developing several BMX racing skills. It allows you to isolate everything related to what we call ground techniques. You don't really pedal on a pump track. You just pump and use other techniques such as manuals and jumps. This allows you to work on these elements in a very focused way. It helps you feel more comfortable when you transfer to a BMX track.

10. What is the most difficult technical aspect to master on the BMX track?

For ordinary people, it's almost always the takeoff. However, when you're riding with elite athletes who have already mastered the takeoff, I find that the manual jump is one of the most difficult tricks. It requires a lot of balance. If, for example, you do a manual jump, you jump and land on the rear wheel in balance, in compression, so it requires a high level of skill.

The finish line

11. Do you have a funny anecdote or a bizarre story that happened during a race or training session?

I founded a BMX racing club 20 years ago. My birthday is in August, and over the years, August often coincided with the Canada Cup, or was very close to it. So, every year, some of the riders would take great pleasure in making me a cupcake or a Joe Louis cake with a candle, which they would give me at the edge of the starting area, the coaching area. So it's always been that way. Even today, I still receive messages with a photo of a cupcake with a candle on it when it's my birthday.

Through Charles Mathys' career and vision, a concept of coaching emerges in which cycling becomes a real lever for both technical and personal development. His approach highlights the importance of structured coaching, capable of guiding athletes in acquiring essential skills while cultivating confidence, autonomy, and a strong sporting identity. This perspective underscores the crucial role played by individuals like him, as well as specialized environments such as the CNCB, in the evolution of cycling and in the development of well-rounded athletes who are ready to progress and achieve success in their discipline.

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