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New BMX season has begun in the Kootenay

Riders, young and old, can head out to the West Kootenay track in Salmo.
West Kootenay BMX
Dylan Henderson

The track crew at West Kootenay BMX was busy working its magic on the dirt last week in anticipation of the 2014 season which opened on May 3.

Last year was the first full season of operation with a local race every week from May to September.

The first Provincial Cup Race, which all tracks host, was held last July and was attended by riders from the Okanagan tracks as well as Squamish and Grand Forks.

BMX encompasses skills which branch out into many forms of riding.

This is a great environment to learn the building block skills of pumping and  jumping, to name a few.

These skills and others such as gate starts, turn strategies and pack skills will now have their secrets revealed in weekly clinics with a certified BMX coach.

The terrain of a BMX track has something for everyone. It is a very progressive learning environment with obstacles that can be rolled by beginners and jumped by experts.

Weekly local races are all about fun and learning and there’s plenty of time to practice and just cruise the track.

The sport is for boys and girls of all ages — including 2-5 year olds on balance bikes — to 61 years and older.

Then there are the cruisers — this is where moms and dads battle it out on the 24-inch wheeled bikes, and yes, 26-inch wheeled dirt jumpers are allowed.

The organization has  about 50 members with riders coming from Nelson, Rossland, Slocan Valley, Trail, Salmo and Ymir.  Registration is always available at the track at $60 for a calendar year. There is also a $5 drop-in free for any race, practice or clinic.

The track operates Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May, June and September, and Monday nights from 6:30 p.m. to dusk in July and August.

West Kootenay BMX is located at 434 Ski Hill Road in Salmo.

For more info contact track operator Lyndon Schiewe at 250-357-2874 or visit BMXCanada.org/tracks/1810.