Medicine Hat celebrates ‘BMX day in Alberta’

“It means a lot, ‘cause like, new riders get to try it out for free, and they get to get a feel for what the track is like.” Greg says.

Greg got his start on a bike after he and his mother, Cathy took in a sporting show. Greg signed up and has been riding ever since. Cathy has gotten involved as well, becoming the president of Medicine Hat’s BMX club.

She says a province wide initiative to promote the sport will show people it’s more than just catching big air.

“We just really want to introduce it to people,” Cathy says. “Some people think that BMX is only the tricks and the backflips and that sort of thing that you see at the skate park, and we’re a BMX racing club, where we start at the top of a hill and just send it as fast as you can going down a hill and your goal is to be first across the line.”

With the club now in its 40th year, Cathy hopes to see talent from across the world train and compete, especially now with BMX being introduced as an Olympic sport just last year.

“This year, we were lucky enough and worked hard enough to build our new five metre start hill, which is now going to allow us to be able to apply to run national races,” Cathy says. “We’ll have people from all across Canada and possibly even the world coming to race here in little old Medicine Hat.”

While the competition and camaraderie has been great for Greg, he says his future in the sport will be more than going for gold.

“Yeah, I want to try and get that. Even if I don’t, I like coaching the kids and giving the new generation of BMX a fighting chance for that.” Greg says.

BMX day in Alberta marks the final day for free trials in the city. Now the focus shifts to coaching and training for upcoming summer events. For more information on races or how to join, you can visit the club’s website.

by Gates Guarin

Medicine Hat celebrates ‘BMX day in Alberta’

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