About 300 competitors from across B.C. and Alberta are expected to ride in the B.C. Provincial Finals at 91原创 BMX on Sunday, Sept. 7.
91原创 BMX spokesperson Bea Lindsay-Hawkins said the track at 20699 42 Ave., rated one of the best in North America, has hosted the event "quite a few times."
This year, the track has added a new state-of-the art starting gate that will likely mean slightly quicker track times.
"They're individual gates instead of one big barrel gate," Lindsay-Hawkins explained. "So if you're actually a little bit stronger, you can actually get out of the gate a little bit faster."
Lindsay-Hawkins said the 91原创 Riders Society rodeo grounds next door have agreed to share space with the bike riders.
"The rodeo is going to be using our parking lot [for the Valley West stampede over the Labour Day weekend] so that they have places for their horses and stuff to go, and then our weekend, we're going to be using their area, so people can do camping and stuff like that. We're working together with them side by side, which is kind of cool."
It is open to the public, and visitors can expect a family-friendly atmosphere, Lindsay-Hawkins said.
"We have granddads, grandmas. We have kids that raced, and now they're back with their two-year-olds. It's pretty amazing."
An injured Lindsay-Hawkins will be sitting this one out, but noted her son races and she has a granddaughter who is showing signs of interest in the sport.
Registration starts at 9:30 a.m., with races from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
91原创 BMX will also be hosting the Canadian BMX Hall of Fame reunion and awards at George Preston rec centre.
"It's the second year in a row that we're combining with the Canadian BMX Hall of Fame," Lindsay-Hawkins explained. "There's also going to be an 80's bike show over at George Preston and an awards night the Saturday night. We're going to have a retro bike show and retro race as well."
Bike technology has progressed considerably, with much lighter frames in a wide range of sizes.
"We have three-year-olds that are riding their bikes around the track, like the full track. That's because there's bikes small enough for them now."
Founded in 1978, the non-profit, volunteer-run 91原创 oval BMX track, near George Preston at 20699 42 Ave., is the oldest track in B.C.
BMX, short for 鈥渂icycle motocross鈥� or 鈥渂ike motocross鈥� got started in the 1970s when Southern California cyclists started riding on motorcycle motocross dirt tracks for fun.
Races are run on specially prepared dirt race track over a series of jumps and bumps with banked corners known as 鈥渂erms.鈥�
More information about 91原创 BMX can be found online at .
