America's Best BMX Racers Return to Reno's LiveStock & Events Center This Weekend
Reno, NV (PRWEB) August 26, 2014 -- One of America’s largest action sports - BMX Racing, is coming back to town - and with it, will be thousands of BMX racers and their families. This 23rd stop of the series brings back racers of all ages - ranging in age from 2 to 70-plus, to the indoor Livestock & Events Center. They will be competing for the weekend awards and accumulating points over the three days of racing, in hopes of being crowned Western Divisional Champion for their age group.
Among those many riders is local Reno racer Sonny Knowles. At 18 years old, Sonny competes in the ultra tough 17-18 expert class. Just qualifying for the 8-person main event on any of the three days will be a challenge, but Knowles - who is currently ranked No.1 in his Nevada District, hopes to bring home a top-3 finish.
The family-oriented action sport of BMX Racing has been around since the early 70’s, and has spread Worldwide - so much so, that it became an Olympic sport in 2008. In 2012, at the London Olympic games, BMX racing was rated as one of the most popular sporting events - and it is within this USA BMX series that current and future Olympians will hone their skills for global competition.
Thanks in part to the exposure of the Olympics, along with the growth of 2nd and 3rd generations of racer’s getting their kids involved in the sport they grew up in, BMX racing continues to grow in numbers and popularity with today’s youth.
USA BMX racing is full of nonstop action - and the 1,100-foot long dirt BMX track that USA BMX is building inside the Livestock & Events Center will challenge all competitors. Each race can include up to eight riders, and will send them speeding down the starting hill, maneuvering and sometimes flying over dirt obstacles, zooming around banked turns in hopes of gaining a spot on the podium. On average, each race will be a 30 to 35 second sprint, with full contact, close-knit racing and sometimes - thrilling crashes and victories. BMX Racing is exciting to watch for all ages - and spectating is FREE!
Saturday’s competition will kick off with the balance bike class, for 2 & Under, 3 and 4 year olds. At the other end of the spectrum - proving how BMX is a true family sport, are plenty of parents and even some grandparents racing in the larger-wheeled classes for 30, 40, 50 and 60+ year olds. USA BMX racing is one of the rare sporting activities where moms and dads get to compete along with their children.
USA BMX holds two events in Reno each year - one in January, and this one over Labor Day weekend in September. The economic impacts of these events bring millions of dollars to the Reno economy and the event could not happen without the incredible support of VisitRenoTahoe and the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority. Known as the RSCVA, they act as a marketing organization for the county to promote convention and tourism business such as the USA BMX Blackjack Nationals.
BLACKJACK NATIONAL SCHEDULE:
The USA BMX Blackjack Nationals are held during Labor Day weekend - September 29 thru 31, inside the Reno-Sparks Livestock & Events Center - located at 1350 N Wells Ave, Reno, NV 89512.
FRIDAY: Practice throughout the afternoon and racing beginning at 1:30pm.
SATURDAY: Practice continues in the morning and National racing kicks off promptly at 11:30am with Strider (balance bike) racing for 2, 3 and 4 year olds, followed by the first rounds of Pro racing.
SUNDAY: Starts at 8:00am, with the main events starting at approximately 12 noon.
ABOUT BMX RACING: America’s finest athletes are all expected to compete in Reno. Thanks in part to the global exposure that the Olympics have brought, the sport of BMX racing continues to grow in numbers and popularity with today’s youth. As the largest extreme sport in the nation, BMX racing is full of nonstop action. Up to eight riders speed down the starting hill, maneuvering over dirt obstacles and around banked turns in hopes of gaining a spot on the podium.
On average, each race is a 34 second sprint, with full contact, close-knit racing and sometimes - thrilling crashes and victories. The Olympic sport of BMX Racing is exciting to watch for all ages! These riders range in age from 2 to 76 and will be racing to amass points for titles in their age classes and the highly coveted USA BMX No.1 Amateur title for boys and girls.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED LOCALLY WITH BMX RACING: The Reno area has three tracks close by for local riders to give BMX Racing a try - BigHorn BMX in Sun Valley, Carson City BMX and Fernley BMX. Each of these venues hold races for local riders of all ages, boys and girls and adults. For exact race days and times, go to: usabmx.com/site/bmx_tracks.
Craig "gOrk" Barrette, USA BMX, http://www.usabmx.com, +1 (480) 768-7573, [email protected]
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