USA BMX Racing Returns to Chula Vista’s Olympic Training Center This Weekend
Chula Vista, CA (PRWEB) September 27, 2013 -- This coming weekend - September 27 thru 29th, the USA BMX National circuit will return to Chula Vista’s U.S. Olympic Training Center for the latest stop in their 30-race series. This year, it’s been renamed the HALL OF FAME Nationals - and will bring in some of our Nation’s fastest amateur bicycle racers, top pros and Olympians from last years’ London games. Over 1,300 amateur competitors from 28 states are expected to compete over the 3-day event - on the smaller Amateur track, while the pros and Olympians will compete in the UCi Supercross on Saturday afternoon, held on the London-replica course.
(Gilbert, AZ): BMX bicycle racers - ages 2 to 70-plus, from all around the country, will compete over three days at the Hall of Fame nationals, to win the weekend’s awards, as well as to accumulate points toward the year-end USA BMX National Championship. Hosting the event is the Chula Vista BMX track - an 1,100 foot long dirt track that is made up of banked turns and massive jumps..
“USA BMX loves coming back to Chula Vista,” commented John David, COO at USA BMX. “Being around the Olympic Training Center is a great way to give our participants a feel for what it’s like to become an Olympic athlete. Of course, our riders and their families also enjoy all of San Diego’s attractions and amenities.”
Racing will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, racing will kick off at 10am with the Strider bike class, for 2, 3, 4 and 5 year olds. Youngsters as young as 20 months old have been seen racing a shortened section of the track on these pedal-less push bikes. At the other end of the spectrum, there will be plenty of parents and grandparents competing in the larger-wheeled classes for 30, 40, 50 and 60+ year olds.
Many of these competitors in the older age groups were a part of the sports’ beginnings back in the early 70’s. But thanks in part to the exposure that BMX Racing has received since becoming an Olympic sport in 2008, many riders have just discovered BMX racing for the first time. This is a big part of what makes BMX racing a true Family sport - where mom and dads are able to compete along with their sons and daughters.
On Saturday evening, once all of the racing has wrapped up, USA BMX and the OTC will host the annual National BMX Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Five legends in the sport of BMX will join the 110 members, who have been inducted in to the Hall of Fame since 1985. Pioneer racer Rob Fehd, 80’s racing legend Billy Griggs, BMXer-turned-mountain biker Leigh Donovan, freestyler Ron Wilkerson and NBL founder George Esser are this years’ inductees. The Olympic Training Center is the full time host of the National BMX museum - which is open to the public year-round.
The economic impact of this event is estimated to bring millions of dollars to the Chula Vista economy, and the event could not have taken place without the excellent support from the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
HALL of FAME NATIONAL SCHEDULE:
The USA BMX Hall of Fame Nationals will be held September 27 - 29th. SPECTATING IS FREE,
yet there will be a charge for parking. Chula Vista BMX is located at the main entrance of the U.S.Olympic Training Center - 2800 Olympic Parkway Chula Vista, CA 91915.
FRIDAY: Action begins on Friday at noon with practice throughout the day and racing starting at 5pm.
SATURDAY: Practice continues in the morning and National racing kicks off promptly at 10am with Strider (balance bike) racing for 2, 3 and 4 year olds, followed by the first rounds of pro racing.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Following the Hall of Fame nationals will be the UCi Supercross - held on the OTC’s London olympic-replica track. Over 100 Elite athletes and many of the 2012 Olympians will be racing for the UCi World Cup title. Gates open at 12:30 and racing begins at 2:00. **This is a ticketed event.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Following the UCi Supercross, 400 attendees will flood in to the Olympic Training Center courtyard for the sold-out BMX Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Festivities on the red-carpet entrance begin at 6:30, with the first Inductions beginning at 8pm.
SUNDAY: Racing continues on the Amateur track, kicking off at 8:00am, with the main events starting at approx.10:30am.
ABOUT BMX RACING
America’s fastest amateur athletes are all expected to compete at the Hall of Fame Nationals - on the 1,100 foot long, slightly downhill course, made up of steeply banked asphalt turns and a wide variety of jumps and obstacles on each straightaway.
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 winning a 4-foot tall 1st place trophy.
On average, each race is a 35 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 70 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.
MEDIA CREDENTIALS are available on site at the USA BMX registration trailer. To reserve a Media Vest - CLICK HERE ( https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/usabmx-mediacredentials) to pre-register. Upon arrival at the BMX track, we ask that all press first check-in at the back of the USA BMX Registration trailer to pick up their credentials.
DIRECTIONS: Chula Vista BMX is located at the main entrance of the U.S.Olympic Training Center - 2800 Olympic Parkway Chula Vista, CA 91915.
ABOUT USA BMX: Formed in 1977 as The American Bicycle Association, USA BMX is headquartered in Gilbert, Arizona, and organizes BMX racing for boys, girls and adults, throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. With over 70,000 active members who compete on a weekly basis at over 370 racing facilities in 49 states, the family-oriented Olympic sport of BMX Racing continues to grow.
USA BMX, with a 30 event national race schedule, is the largest promoter of action sports in the country.
For more information - or to arrange an interview with the sport’s top athletes, contact:
Craig “gOrk” Barrette
USA BMX | The American Bicycle Association
1645 West Sunrise Blvd.
Office: (480) 961-1903 ext. 114 Mobile: 480.768.7573
gork(at)usabmx.com | http://www.usabmx.com
Craig "Gork" Barrette, American Bicycle Association 2, +1 4807687573, [email protected]
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