UNADILLA, NE - Former professional BMX rider and creator of the Nowear Compound in Unadilla, Karl Hinkley spoke recently about an upcoming event and the importance of helmets.

The Nowear Compound is a six-acre plot of land with jumps, ramps, and more. It mainly targets BMX Freestyle, but they welcome in all kinds of extreme non-motorized wheels...like skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, and scooters. Karl explains that it's all about having a place for kids to enjoy and keep active. 

"We're trying to provide a fun, free environment that's for kids, that helps build with their character growth and then internal, so it helps with positive growth within our community here in Nebraska," states Hinkley.

This Saturday is one of the highlights of the year for the compound, as the annual Cornhuckit Jam is slated to take place. There will be live music, camping, flatland riding, trails, mega ramps, and what Karl calls the "world's largest handlebars". 

"It's actually made out of football fieldgoal tubing," Hinkley noted. "It took three different companies here in Lincoln between a company to do the bending of the tubing, to a designer to get it spec'ed out, to another company that had to physically manufacture and weld it. So, it was about a two-year project and three different places that collabed that helped make it happen."

While there will be a lot of folks riding at the compound this weekend, don't expect any of them to be riding without a helmet. Karl knows first-hand that helmets are essential, no matter how extreme you're riding.

"It only takes one time, and it doesn't matter what your level is," Hinkley explained. "I've broken plenty of bones and had plenty of surgeries, and I'm still here doin' it, but the one thing you're not able to fix is your brain - and you don't want to put that at risk."

"Being on a bicycle, exposed to concrete, riding around town...that is just as dangerous as the tricks I do. It's really, really important at any skill level - beginner to pro - that you stay safe and protect the one thing that's hard to replace."

Hinkley pointed out that he's lost roughly a dozen friends to mental illness over the years, because the importance of avoiding head injuries hasn't always been where it is today. Hinkley was very impressed and happy to hear that News Channel Nebraska and United Healthcare are teaming up to provide free helmets and a $2500 donation to one lucky elementary school through the Small Towns Matter promotion (enter to win at http://www.newschannelnebraska.com/story/41632940/small-towns-matter-school-giveaway)

As for this weekend, Cornhuckit will take place nearly all day long this Saturday, rain or shine.

Hinkley wrapped up by saying, "Gates open 8 A.M. Our scheduled events start at noon and will be going all day. I tell people it's rain or shine. We have a ginormous indoor building and indoor barn - we've got stuff everywhere. The only thing that we ever forecast is 100% chance of BMX."