The excitement was tangible at Airdrie's BMX track yesterday as athletes from across the country came to compete in races 5 and 6 of Provincials and the Canada Cup.

Tents, bikes, equipment and riders absolutely filled the green space around the BMX track and Fletcher Park as the athletes prepared to try and put up their best time.

Around 620 riders suited up for the event at the Airdrie track, which has a deep history linked to Airdrie's BMX roots. Andrew Jones, head coach at Airdrie BMX, said one of Canada's first BMX Olympians helped found the track.
Andrew Jones, head coach at Airdrie BMX

"The Cools name is a big name at the track. Our first women's olympian came from here, Sammy Cools. The Cools family pretty much founded and built this track about 35 years ago, so (it has) a rich history. It's one of the oldest tracks in Alberta and we're a pretty well-known track across Canada."

Riders that travel around the world attended, all in an effort to chase their dreams.

"It is a big event and definitely some major points on the line for potential olympian participants."

Jones said that BMX is much more than just riding a bike.

"It's massively physical. A lot of people think it's just legs, it's just peddling and stuff, but it's not. There's a lot of upper bodies, a lot of pushing and pulling. It's a full-body sport for sure. Not to mention, the mental aspect of it is huge as well. Getting up in the gate, getting your head right before the race is a big part of it too."

For those looking to get involved with BMX, Jones said that almost no age is too young.

"A strider bike is a bike with no pedals, so the kids just run with their feet on the ground. It picks up their balance so when they hit five-years-old and can get a legal licence to get on the track, they're ready to get racing."

This won't be Airdrie's last big event for BMX, nor will it be the biggest ever. Jones said they have high hopes for the future.

"We're working to host Nationals. Calgary hosting Nationals for the next two years. It goes back and forth from East to West coasts. So, in the future, we are definitely looking to host that, aiming for maybe for Provincial Grand Championships in the coming years. Lots of big races in the future."