Not long after she began to walk, Elliana Zimmerman learned to pedal.
The Tarentum youngster, now 6, went from a Fred Flinstone-style balance bike to pedaling — quickly — around a bumpy BMX track, according to her mother, Alexis.
“When she was little, it made me nervous,” Alexis said. “She goes so fast.”
It appears Elliana was born with a passion for velocity.
She began racing with the PAK National Team just before age 3 and since then has climbed to the top of the heap.
The Highlands first grader is ranked No. 1 nationally for her age group.
She is 19th among females of all ages.
“I just like it,” she said during a practice session in the Highlands High School parking lot. “I like going fast.”
BMX racing is a globally recognized sport that has grown significantly since its Olympic debut in Beijing in 2008. Its popularity continues to climb locally, with pump tracks open in Oakmont and Northmoreland Park.
Both sites have manicured loops with rollers and jumps for riders of all levels to hone their skills.
Elliana’s home track is Northmoreland, managed by Westmoreland BMX. But she spends a lot of time riding across the area wherever she can.
“We practice almost every day,” Alexis said. “In the winter, we spend a lot of time at the high school.”
Dubbed “The Halloween Queen” for her love of frights and gore, Elliana rides a ZeroNine 20-inch bike with purple pedals and decked out with Halloween decals.
Her helmet features long purple braids, and she’s known for bringing zombie dolls to competitions.
A trip around the 1,200-foot circuit takes less than 45 seconds, with Elliana reaching speeds of up to 16 mph or 17 mph.
And while “going fast” might be what hooked her on the sport, Elliana said making friends from across the country motivates her now just as much.
“We don’t really get to play, but we keep in touch,” she said.
From March to November, the Zimmermans travel from California to Canada and Tennessee to Georgia.
In just three years, she has 34 podium appearances and 17 wins.
She snagged her first national victory in 2023 at the Derby City BMX competition in Louisville, Ky. That win propelled her to a No. 7 ranking in her age group.
The following year, she ranked third.
She set her sights on first place in 2025 — and earned it during the BMX Grand Nationals in Tulsa, Okla.
“I loved it,” she said. “It was the biggest race of the year. There were thousands of people watching.”
One voice the pint-sized racer can always count on hearing in the crowd is mom’s.
“I do get loud,” Alexis said, laughing. “My whole body shakes. I just hope she reaches her goals.”
Elliana says her favorite race of the year was hosted in Louisiana. She had the chance to sample local cuisine, including crawfish, and loved the Cajun-inspired vibe.
When she’s not biking, Elliana is busy playing softball or wrestling for area youth leagues.
Her BMX goals for 2026 include only one thing: getting faster.
“Sometimes I get nervous,” she said. “But I believe in myself.”
