Redmond, Oregon -- 04/07/2008
BMX racers travel to C.O. from all over
the country for Great Northwest Nationals.
Photo - New York’s Jena Sagendorf, 10, left, makes her way around
a wreck during the finals of the 10-and-under girls cruiser division,
at the Great Northwest Nationals on Sunday. She finished fourth.
They came from all over the United States and Canada — some
from as far away as New York and Boston, others from right here
in Central Oregon.
And they raced through the day, one group right after the next,
frantically attacking the dirt course of roller jumps and high-banked
turns in the arena at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center.
About 1,200 BMX (bicycle motocross) racers of all ages and skill
levels competed Friday evening through Sunday at the 2008 Great
Northwest Nationals.
The fairgrounds were abuzz Sunday with BMX riders and their
smallish single-gear bikes, which seemed to fill every corner
of the Hooker Creek Events Center. Amateur and professional
competitors raced for points in the American Bicycle Association
(ABA) BMX National Series as the public-address announcer
called the play-by-play action of race after race.
Some competitors could not avoid crashing on the steep turns,
which were constructed from mounds of dirt nearly 10 feet high.
The crowd groaned each time racers fell hard to the ground, then
applauded when the fallen racers recovered and remounted their
bikes.
Ten-year-old Jena Sagendorf of Rotterdam, N.Y., traveled all the
way to Central Oregon with her sister Desiree Sagendorf, 19, to
take part in the festivities.
“It’s fun, and I needed some ABA points,” said Jena, surrounded by
dozens of bikers as she watched the racing from near the starting line.
Desiree said the West Coast offers better BMX competition because
Californians can race virtually year-round because of favorable weather
conditions. In the Northeast, she explained, the season is cut short by
winter weather.
“We wanted to come out for the experience and meet new people,”
Desiree said. “It’s been a lot of fun. We’ve met a lot of people and
it’s good racing. The racers are much faster, because (riders from
California) get to race all year long.”
Joanna Williams of Boston was watching her son race Sunday.
Terrance Williams, 8, competes on the national circuit.
“It’s hard for a kid from the East Coast to compete against a kid
from the West Coast,” Joanna Williams said. “We haven’t even
started racing yet on the East Coast. It’s good when East Coast
riders can do well against them.”
Most Oregon racers face the same weather challenges as those
faced by riders in the Northeast. Perhaps as a result, BMXers from
California dominated the Great Northwest Nationals, winning the
majority of the more than 90 competitive divisions, which were
sorted by age and ability.
Joshua Oie of Manteca, Calif., won the A Pro division — the only
professional category in the event — on Friday night. Jim Brown
of Airdrie, Alberta, claimed the A Pro class on Saturday and Sunday.
Californians also edged out Oregonians in participation. About 320
California riders competed on both Saturday and Sunday in Redmond,
and about 250 from Oregon raced each day.
“They’re good down there (in California),” said Tracy Stephens, a
volunteer for Smith Rock BMX in Redmond, which hosted the national
event. “That’s the hard part for local riders — we haven’t even opened
our track.”
Ricky Reed of Redmond was just happy to compete in his hometown.
Reed, 17, was racing in his first national event as an A Pro (entry-level
pro) this weekend.
“It’s definitely more relaxing than going out and traveling to other big
races,” Reed said. “It’s definitely different. There’s never been anything
this big here. It feels weird.”
It seemed to feel just right for John David, the ABA BMX director
who helped bring a national BMX event to Central Oregon for the
first — but not likely the last — time.
“The turnout is spectacular,” David said. “Our numbers exceeded
what we expected: 1,200 racers (Sunday) and (Saturday), which
is a good turnout for us. It puts our numbers above what they’ve
been for this event.”
David said racers in Redmond over the weekend
hailed from 16 states and two Canadian provinces.
The Great Northwest Nationals — one of 29 races on the ABA BMX
national circuit — had been staged in Pasco, Wash., for the past
several years before the event made its Redmond debut. David
suggested that the national race would return to Central Oregon
next year.
“There’s a lot of work that goes into these events,” he said.
“We’re going to work hard to make sure we’re back here again.
The community’s been exceptional.”
ABA BMX Great Northwest Nationals Redmond,
Oregon, - See Results & Photos and Lots More:
( http://www.genesbmx.com/Northwest-Nationals.html )
