BMXers rejoice as Okotoks track opens

Drop the gate took on all new meaning this year for Okotoks BMX enthusiasts.

Though it’s not quite business as usual, the Okotoks BMX track is open for public access as of Thursday – music to the ears of its enthusiasts and a dedicated group of parent volunteers.

“Now they can actually get out and ride their bikes on the track – which is awesome,” said Okotoks BMX Club president Kevin Sommers. “Even though it’s not officially organized, there’s kids and adults too just itching to get out there.”

The club leases the track, located north of the Sheep River next to the Town of Okotoks Operation Centre, from the Town and when the latter opened up playgrounds earlier in this week, the BMX track was also part of the equation.

The track was open for public access as of May 28.

As far as club practices or racing, that’s not yet going forward.

“Any racing or anything like that, we’re still not going forward with at all,” Sommers said. “The Town has posted some signs for us. There’s a maximum of 50 allowed on the track at a time and then all of the social distancing requirements.”

“It’s the same message for everyone, be respectful, keep social distancing, use common sense. And most of all we just can’t wait to see kids out on the track.”

Other safety measures include washing and sanitizing hands before and after track use along with no sharing of equipment.

“So if a buddy has a new bike, you can’t swap bikes and try the new bike out,” Sommers said. “We’re also requesting that parents not be standing on the track and maybe sit in their cars or outside of the fence if they want to watch just to limit the amount of people within the fenced area.”

The track was ready for its enthusiasts due to a month’s worth of prep work from the club with maintenance and course adjustments installed.

“Were excited,” Sommers added. “We’ve done a lot of prep work the last three or four weeks to get the track ready for opening just in case it happened.

“There’s tons of maintenance involved. The weather is the one thing that kills us the most, the winter and then you’re getting the run-off so it really erodes our jumps and obstacles. At the beginning of the season we always have a pretty big push to have it ready for the coming year and we always re-do and re-shape one or two straights just to make the track a little bit different.”

The track closed on May 30 for maintenance work, but  re-opened on June 1. Weather and construction can be causes for temporary closures of the track throughout the coming months.

Though not yet practising as a club, Okotoks BMX is hopeful it can get in part of its season with it currently postponed until July.

“We have another meeting coming up with Alberta BMX on June 1 just to see what our season will look like,” Sommers added. “We’re definitely hopeful.”

The club’s registration numbers are down this year, close to the 90 mark.

“I have three (kids) in the club, they’re ecstatic to get down there,” Sommers said. “Our older boys have been using the skate park, but to have something else for them to do is great, something outside.

“We were talking with the Town and there are some unofficial jumps that people are carving out for themselves so it’s nice that we have the track open and can hopefully bring out some of those people and they can use the track for what it’s made for.”

For more information go to OkotoksBMX.com