The Cactus Classic National Series is in Kamloops this weekend.

By Chad Klassen

BMX NATIONALS

Kamloops welcomes BMX national event for the weekend

Jun 7, 2019 | 7:26 PM

KAMLOOPS — Hundreds of BMX enthusiasts are in Kamloops for this weekend’s Cactus Classic National Series, everyone from novice riders to the pros.

“It’s the second stop of the 2019 Canadian National Series,” said the COO of BMX Canada and USA BMX John David. “Kamloops is a great destination. This is one of the best BMX tracks you’re going to see in Canada. We’ve really got an incredible race weekend for you. We’ve got riders from all across Canada and quite a large contingent of U.S. riders that are coming up. We’re truly going to see some of the best riders in the world here in Kamloops this weekend.”

It’s the second time in four years that Kamloops has been a stop on the series. Friday is the pre-race day with practices and warm-up races that begin in the evening at the BMX track on Ord Road. The real races are Saturday and Sunday.

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“[Friday] is one of the smaller of the two days,” explained David. “Saturday and Sunday are our national events. Saturday’s national is going to start at 11:30 a.m., and again you’re going to see some of the best riders from across the country this weekend. Then for the national on Sunday, we start at 8 a.m.”

Some of the races are open to anyone with kids as young as two racing this weekend. There are also riders competing in the more senior category.

“Kamloops is one of the funnest nationals. The Okanagan always holds good events,” said competitor Dan Bouch. “Just a beautiful race, beautiful track, beautiful people.”

The BMX track on Ord Road will be busy this weekend as Kamloops hosts a national series event (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

Bouch competes in the 41-45 age category. Events like the nationals help keep him in the game.

“It’s neat. As an older person nowadays, our class has a bunch of older riders that were pros before, then a lot of dads,” he said. “So you get a mixture of some of the top guys in Canada and the States, then you get a lot of dads that come out and meet in between. So it’s fun for new people and guys that have been around for a while.”

The Kamloops BMX Club says it’s a big deal hosting a national event like this. It hopes people will come out to watch this weekend and maybe want to give the sport a try.

“On our local nights, on our Monday night practice, we’ve got a bunch of loaner bikes that are available. We can give out the loaner bikes and helmets, so we can set you up and see if it’s something you’d like to do,” said BMX club vice-president Marty Young. “Riders can come out any time. The track is open.”