BMX Events Take Over OTC in Chula Vista

Chula Vista, CA - The cool morning fog lifted in eastern Chula Vista on Friday September 18, 2009 as the promise of an exciting weekend of BMX began at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (OTC).

With multiple parking lots full of team trailers, campers, RV’s and family vehicles, athletes arrived from 29 states and three countries to compete in the American Bicycle Associations (ABA) U.S. Nationals. The venue for the event, a recently completed BMX development track, built in partnership between the ABA and the USOC costing $100,000. Vince McCurdy, who runs two local BMX tracks said, “The event was awesome, the venue and the course are great.” President of the ABA, Bernard Anderson stated, “This track will help the kids transition from the older style tracks and develop a complete pipeline.”

When Jordon Sandoval, age 8 saw the track his jaw dropped and all he could say was “Wow.” Located just below the U.S. Olympic Training Center Visitor Center, the track can be viewed from all angles giving spectators plenty of opportunity to cheer on competitors and take great pictures.  At the end of the competition Sunday, 1,000 riders had completed 320 motos (5-8 riders per moto). Tyler Srenek, age 12, summed it up, “It’s amazing and exciting, it’s like the future is right here, I want to be an Olympian some day.”

To add to the weekend’s excitement, the new BMX Hall of Fame opened at the U.S. Olympic Training Center Visitor Center. The inductees were on hand to cut the red ribbon and experience the weekend’s events while attendees enjoyed viewing the history of the sport.

Just a short walk past the soccer field, 122 elite athletes competed in the UCI Supercross World Cup in front of a crowd of approximately 3,000 fans Saturday night. To earn a spot in the head-to-head finals, the field of elite riders from 19 countries took their turn against the clock. The stage was set with an impressive venue. The track, designed as a replica track prior to the Beijing Olympic Games boasted a three-story start ramp and post Beijing modifications to the first straight away. 

With the venues decked out to the nines, a live band and super-charged electricity in the air, the event got under way with a perfectly timed landing by the U.S. Navy Seals Leap Frog Parachute team while the Navy Honor Guard presented the Colors and sang the National Anthem. Dave Stow, Associate Director of the OTC said, “The goal this year between the USOC, UCI and the ABA was to raise the Supercross event to a higher level, I think everyone agrees that we accomplished that.”

If fans came to see a high energy event full of thrills and spills they were not disappointed. The field of122 riders were eliminated until the final eight men and final eight women took to the track. In the end, Olympic gold medalist Maris Strombergs from Latvia displayed his dominance winning round three of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, presented by Swatch.

Australian Sam Willoughby earned the silver while American Connor Fields (Henderson, Nev.) grabbed the bronze. The 17-year-old Connor was ecstatic, out of breath he stated, “I’m so excited, I feel like I won the race.”

Connor returned to the sport in August after a five month leave due to injury. Olympic silver medalist Laetitia Le Corguille of France brought home the women’s victory ahead of Columbia’s Mariana Pajon and American Arielle Martin. Arielle, who trains at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Chula Vista, competed with a broken finger. When asked about the result Arielle stated “I’m happy with my performance and earning the bronze medal!”

Reflecting on the event Bernard Anderson stated, “This was the best event we have ever put on. The Olympic Training Center was a terrific partner and I hope this will be an annual event.” Tracy Lamb, Director of the Olympic Training Center, Chula Vista said, “This event was a great event for Chula Vista, The Olympic Training Center and the Sport of BMX.”