By Holly Gerardi

The riders are ready, and the gate has dropped!  December 1 marked the Grand Opening of the USA Official BMX Training Facility off of Balm-Boyette Rd. in Riverview. The 100-cre BMX park opened its BMX racetrack to an excess of 140 riders and more than 300 onlookers as both experienced and first-time BMXers familiarized themselves with the new track. Food and drinks flowed steadily, and renowned DJ Brian Kelly's music mix and announcing talents only added to the crowd's excitement.

Facility staff and volunteers were happily surprised when lines of eager children and adults formed outside the barn-red registration office, excited to test out their BMX bicycles on the clay track.   "I had no idea that so many people in the area were into BMX racing!" says Mary Steinhauer of Brandon, whose husband and son both registered on opening day.  "Even little girls are out there on that starting hill, having a great time," she adds, laughing. 

Thanks to local residents' contribution of time and money, the opening of the BMX track has been the first of an expected series of extreme sports modules, to include a dirt-jumping track, freestyle section, and mountain-bike trail.  As a training facility, USA Official BMX also offers periodic Pro Clinics, hands-on training courses taught by professional BMX racers who aim to help both new and experienced riders develop their skills on the track.  The first of these clinics is expected to kick off on Sunday, December 16. 

But even the BMX track would not have opened on schedule had it not been for the Bikes Belong Coalition, a Colorado-based organization whose goal it is to make communities safer, healthier and happier by providing funding for bicycling facilities across the nation.  "If it had not been for their grant, we probably would not have been able to open the track for a few more months," say Co-Presidents Stephen Gerardi and William Sahms.

But the BMX track is only the first step. Facility representatives hope to build their dirt-jumping section in the coming months in light of the apparent rider demand, with the rest of the facility to be added gradually as funds become available.