STATE BMX CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE 'RAD'
The Utah State BMX Championships wrapped up at RAD Canyon over the weekend; with cheers, tears and cupcakes.
The final, or "main" was the third race in the year-long state series. One race was previously held at a track in Tooele, about 45 miles from Salt Lake, another took place at the RAD Canyon indoor track during the winter, when the West Jordan facility moves into an indoor equestrian building and creates and tears down a new dirt track every week.
There were two qualifying motos before the main; those who came in first or second on the first round "qualified out" and didn't have to race the second moto. The fastest guy of the day was the only pro in the race: Travis Healy, 20, who just turned professional one week ago.
Healy explains the difference between a pro and amateur rider, "A pro makes money and races for cash. An amateur just races for fun."
There are two categories for pro men, A, which is the first proficiency level, and AA, for the top pros. Healy is currently nationally ranked 91st in the A division. His first race as a pro was the Nevada State Championships in Reno, where he came in fourth and won $200. His take for the Utah race was $100. Next weekend, he will race the California State Championships in Lancaster.
The turnout for the Utah event was considered spectacular; with 146 racers vying for age group champion. Winners received a "2008 State Champion" backpack, a blanket, a number plate, a trophy and a glass framed plaque.
The most bewildered champion was Hurricane's Bill Lowery, one of the oldest riders in the race at 49, who has only been racing BMX for four months. He competed in the 'cruiser' division. Cruiser bikes are more stable than the smaller BMX bikes and have larger tires, 24 inches rather than the normal 20 inch tires of BMX bikes. Lowery said of his victory, "I'm baffled!" But the gray-haired athlete, competing along with his 10-year-old grandson Billy, had victory in the bag once his main competition crashed. Though he came in third in the main, he still had the points to win.
"I raced all three races and the other guys didn't, that's how I got to be State Champion," Lowery said, laughing.
Everyone at the track was able to celebrate the birthday of young rider Jasmine Bullock, who turned nine on race day and had to move up to a higher category, where she came in second by mere inches. Before her main moto, the announcer called out, "Come on over and get fabulous cupcakes at the registration booth for Jasmine's birthday!"
Jasmine's father, Thomas, had begun baking and icing 130 cupcakes at 5:00 a.m. that morning. Her 15-year-old brother, also named Thomas, is a rising star in BMX. He was the youngest racer in the pro-am, competing against Healy and other more established riders, coming in seventh and also winning his age group.
The toughness of BMX riders is legendary. Dave Cote, 41, crashed hard in his first qualifying moto and kept riding around the grounds so his body wouldn't stiffen up. "I'm going to see if I can race again, but I'm sore everywhere and I can't put any weight on my right wrist," he said. When the attending physician diagnosed a badly sprained wrist and two cracked ribs, Cote finally gave up the idea of racing his second heat---reluctantly.
Ashley Larsen, 18, wanted to qualify for the main for her newborn daughter, Jaelyn. But having a baby only three weeks ago is a definite athletic disadvantage. "I haven't been able to race for so long," she said, admitting that she was "hurting a little" after attempting in vain to qualify. "I would have made it if it was a month from now," she said.
WEST JORDAN, UTAH--Racer Ashley Larsen holds her three-week old
daughter Jaelyn, saying "When I went out of the gate, I was doing it for her."
Behind Ashley is cupcake provider Thomas Bullock (right) and 15-year age
group winner Thomas Bullock (left)
The two happiest state champions were newlyweds Krystal and John Alvey. "It's a dream come true for me. I used to race in Utah and was number one for two years when I was a teenager, so it feels good to be number one again," said John, 36, who won despite the fact that his handlebars bent when he pulled them back at the start. Krystal, 26, said, "We got engaged here at this track, so both of us winning the state championship is beyond amazing.
WEST JORDAN, UTAH---Newlyweds Krystal and John Alvey were
joyous at being dual champions, though John was limping. "I crashed
pretty hard. It was a rough weekend," he said.
Wayne Brown was also a happy rider. The 35-year-old organizer and sponsor of "Team Extreme" said, "At least half of our team (of 40 riders) were state champions. Our youngest rider is four years old, our oldest (Bill Lowery) is 49. They have team ratings for the U. S. and Canada, and we keep bouncing between number three and five as a team."
RAD Canyon BMX Track--Riders for Team Extreme pose for a victory
photo on the first jump after the gate.
As his large group of yellow and orange shirted riders posed for pictures, he summed up the day. "There were a lot of tears today. About a quarter of the people who thought they had it all sewed up got a flat or couldn't put it together today, so they lost out."