A THOUSAND WORDS
Nine-year-old Liam Marconi of the Lethbridge BMX Assocation puts on the laps at the club’s track just north of the Dave Elton Ball Complex during the BMX in Alberta Day Sunday afternoon. The one-day event was held at clubs across Alberta to give interested riders a chance to check out the sport.
Are you ready to put the pedal down? For potential future racers, that was the question being thrown down province-wide as the BMX in Alberta intiative took to tracks across Alberta.
On a sunny Sunday afternoon at the Lethbridge BMX Association’s track northwest of the Dave Elton Ball Complex, that question was being answered loud and clear as scores of riders of all ages took the starting line.
“Today was extremely busy,” said Darren Williams, president of Lethbridge BMX. “We’ve been doing this for a few years now and this is probably the biggest one we’ve had, definitely in the top-two. It’s so popular that we’ve run out of owner equipment and we’ve had to take turns. So it was a huge success today.”
BMX in Alberta is an initiative that’s put on by the Alberta Bicycle Association, said Williams.
“They do a media blitz to promote this every year. It’s to promote the sport, put it in the eye of the public and it allows anyone of any age — as long as they can ride a bike — to come out and give it a try for free.”
In southern Alberta, the sport of BMX is hitting levels of interest not seen for decades.
“We’re looking at levels where we were last year, maybe slightly more,” said Williams. “The last two years have been the biggest levels we’ve seen since the 80s when it was in its real heydey. We’re at about 125 members this year. That’s a good number for us.”
The beatiful summer weather Sunday afternoon no doubt played a role in the number of riders taking the track — as did word-of-mouth with current members bringing in new ones — but the sport has been given an international shot in the arm as well.
“It became an Olympic sport in 2008, so it’s getting a little more coverage and a little more mainstream coverage. It’s always been a bit of a fringe sport. A lot of people don’t know we’re here hidden away,” said Williams. “I think social media has helped in the past few years and a lot of really good new members that are bringing in friends and family.”
Those interested in BMX racing can visit the club’s website at www.lethbridgebmx.com for
contacts and schedules. Lethbridge BMX Association also has a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/lethbridgebmx and a Twitter page at https://twitter.com/dwbmx.
“You can come down any open track and give it a try,” said Williams.
The Cycling Canada National Championships are in Calgary for the second year in a row, running Aug. 26-27.
The Lethbridge BMX Association will also have members going to the World Champioships July 24-30 in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Follow @DWoodardHerald on Twitter.