{"id":8409,"date":"2024-12-27T23:47:41","date_gmt":"2024-12-27T23:47:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2024\/12\/27\/vancouver-islands-only-year-round-bmx-track-opens-in-nanaimo-bc\/"},"modified":"2024-12-27T23:47:41","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T23:47:41","slug":"vancouver-islands-only-year-round-bmx-track-opens-in-nanaimo-bc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2024\/12\/27\/vancouver-islands-only-year-round-bmx-track-opens-in-nanaimo-bc\/","title":{"rendered":"Vancouver Island\u2019s only year-round BMX track opens in Nanaimo – BC"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Bigger bumps and sweet jumps will now keep the fun rolling year-round for BMX athletes in Nanaimo<\/a>, B.C.<\/p>\n

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The renewed Marie Davidson BMX Track<\/a> has reopened for casual day use following a dramatic $1.9-million upgrade.<\/p>\n

The redesigned track, created by Olympic BMX track builder Tom Ritz Design, features a recycled concrete and asphalt foundation, sealed with a dust suppressant and soil stabilizer, making it Vancouver Island\u2019s only year-round track.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be able to have a facility that we can use throughout the year is just phenomenal locally for our riders, but also for all the riders on the island that want to get out there and practice because there\u2019s no other facilities that we can really ride indoors in the wintertime,\u201d Nanaimo BMX Association president Craig Hashimoto said.<\/p>\n

The new facility \u2013 located at 2001 Labieux Rd. \u2013 also includes a five-metre start hill, an official\u2019s platform and increases the track surface from the previous 2,800 square metres to 4,000 square metres.<\/p>\n

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The new track is getting the thumbs up from riders like nine-year-old Maple Nychyporuk.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s bigger and it has more rhythm and it\u2019s not so small like our old one,\u201d the five-year rider said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really nice. I\u2019m glad that they did do it because we needed a new track. The old one was just meh. Got too easy to ride. And with this new start hill, some people may be scared at first, but I\u2019m telling you, just go easy on it. You\u2019ll get used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryley Cofield, 18, has been riding since he was five years old and says the new track is a marked improvement that will help riders prepare for competition.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/em>I travel a lot internationally, so I had a hard time preparing for those big races when those tracks were up to a higher standard,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cSo it\u2019ll help me stay up with the competition and hopefully improve my riding skill, having a facility like this to train on.\u201d<\/p>\n