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National races to return this season to Colwood BMX track

Greater Victoria BMX Association season set to launch in early April
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Kyle Besler, president of the Greater Victoria BMX Association, said the upcoming season is especially exciting as it will mark the return of large provincial and national-level events which have been on pause during the pandemic. (Justin Samanski-Langille/B次元官网网址 Staff)

The Greater Victoria BMX Association is gearing up for the return of major provincial and national-level races to Colwood for the first time since the pandemic began.

While the club has been fortunate enough to continue holding local races and practices at its track, in West Shore Parks and RecreationB次元官网网址檚 Juan de Fuca lower park, association president Kyle Besler said being able to host riders from across the province and North America will be most welcome.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just really exciting. WeB次元官网网址檝e got lots of top riders at our track, so itB次元官网网址檚 nice to give them a chance to progress,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淭hey can really take it anywhere they want, and with things opening up again now, itB次元官网网址檚 just nice to be able to provide them with a platform to continue their training. And more importantly, to just have fun and ride bikes.B次元官网网址

READ MORE: Colwood track brings best B.C. kids on bikes

The club was formed in the 1980s and has run a track in the same general area ever since. It counts international competitors among its ranks and has played host to world championships in the past. Since then, the sport as a whole has grown rapidly, which Besler attributes to its unique culture, even in the midst of heated competition.

Compared to the competitive hockey and lacrosse he grew up with B次元官网网址 which is played today a stoneB次元官网网址檚 throw away at Juan de Fuca B次元官网网址 Besler said BMX seems to place a stronger emphasis on community building on and around the track, making it a great sport for children and families as well as high-level athletes.

B次元官网网址淚f you are in the middle of a race and somebody has broken a part on their bike, parents will go B次元官网网址榤y kidB次元官网网址檚 done with their race,B次元官网网址 and they start ripping parts off their bike just to keep everybody riding.B次元官网网址

Building on that accessibility, twice-weekly races during the season allow nearly anyone to compete, whether itB次元官网网址檚 their first time on the track or they have competed in the Olympics. Riders are grouped together based on age and skill level, so races are as fair as possible.

For this season B次元官网网址 set to begin in early April, weather dependent B次元官网网址 the club aims to take the sportB次元官网网址檚 fun-loving nature up a step with several themed races. Besler said options being considered include an 80B次元官网网址檚 night, a costume race and the increasingly popular womenB次元官网网址檚 nights.

Whenever the track is not hosting races or practices, it is open to the general public, though riding on it when it is wet is discouraged as it can cause damage.

For those interested in trying the sport, the association offers a free one-race or practice membership to test the waters, while a year-long membership giving access to all tracks in North America B次元官网网址 including the three on Vancouver Island B次元官网网址 runs $65.

Race entries are $8 per event, while organized practice entries are $3 each. Stay tuned to the associationB次元官网网址檚 and their website at for the latest schedule and other information.

READ MORE: Partnership provides introduction to mountain biking in Langford



justin.samanski-langille@goldstreamgazette.com

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Justin Samanski-Langille

About the Author: Justin Samanski-Langille

I moved coast-to-coast to discover and share the stories of the West Shore, joining Black Press in 2021 after four years as a reporter in New Brunswick.
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