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Got this in as a press release today. Sounds very cool! Shannon, are you guys directly running the race, or is it the ColoSprings track staff running it?
=================== BMX Racing will make its debut at the 2009 State Games of America in Colorado Springs this summer, and racers from 47 states have a chance to see how they stack up during the country’s largest multi-sport event for amateur athletes of all ages and skill levels.
They’ll have that chance at the nation’s highest altitude track, the Pikes Peak BMX venue, sitting at just over 6,700 feet at the foot of Pikes Peak.
BMX competition will take place on July 31 through August 2, with action offered in some 50 divisions and all age ranges.
Racers can register to compete at: www.stategames.org, with the deadline for those other than Colorado set for June 1. All residents of Colorado and medal winners in all other State Games are eligible to compete. Complete accommodation and all other information is available at this site.
Competition Rules & Format: American Bicycle Association (ABA) rules (www.ababmx.com) will govern this competition. All competitors must be current ABA Members. A free one-day trial ABA membership is available for Friday OR Saturday events, not applicable for Sunday events. Membership will be available on-site. Bicycles for Boys & Girls competitions must have no more than 20” wheel diameters. Bicycles for all Boys & Girls Cruiser/MTB divisions must have no less than 24” wheel diameters. A beginner racer is called Novice until they win 6 first place trophies, he/she becomes an intermediate until he/she wins 25 first place trophies and then becomes an expert. Beginner girls may choose to race in the Novice Boys class or in the Girls class. A Girl racer that has won 8 first place trophies in the Boys Novice class must race in the Girls class. All racers must wear a helmet, long sleeve shirt, long pants and tennis shoes or clip shoes. Bicycles must have kickstands, pegs, chain guards and reflectors (that stick out) removed. Commissioners reserve the right to combine or cancel divisions.
There are entries from 29 states already in for the Games. Athletes who have won medals in their respective state games, the 2007 State Games of America, and all residents of Colorado are eligible to compete. The Games offer 31 sports at 22 venues located across the city, including the United States Air Force Academy, U.S. Olympic Training Center, Colorado College, Fort Carson and the World Arena.
Some 10,000 athletes of all ages and skill levels from 47 states are expected for the State Games of America, the third time that Colorado Springs has hosted the signature event of the National Congress of State Games and the nation’s largest multi-sport event for these athletes. A record 10,803 athletes came to the city in 2007, breaking the old mark of 9,482 for the 2005 Games in Colorado Springs. The 2011 event is ticketed for San Diego, California.
Tickets for the State Games of America Opening Ceremony www.ticketswest.com are priced at $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for seniors and youth. Doors open at 6:00 and the ceremony begins at 7:00. A record World Arena crowd of 10,007 watched the 2007 Opening Ceremony at the venue, and another sellout is expected to take part in a gala evening featuring music, pageantry, the parade of the athletes by states, and the lighting of the Games official flame by 2008 Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medalist Henry Cejudo. Each athlete receives free admission and may march in the state-by-state “Parade of Athletes” during the ceremonies.
The State Games concept, a property of the National Congress of State Games, was developed in New York in 1978 with the legendary Empire State Games. In 2008, more than 400,000 athletes competed in State Games nationwide. State Games feature various sports of the Olympic and Pan American Games as well as sports that have regional popularity within each state. Prominent State Games Alumni include: Jeff Blatnick, Ryan Lochte, Ralph Boston, Mike Mussina, Tracy Caulkins, Billy Hardin, Calbert Cheaney, Curt Clausen, Hayes Jones, Diane Dixon, Tom Dolan, Suzy Favor-Hamilton, Dan Gable, Walter Dix, Rowdy Gaines, Harvey Glance, Nicole Haislett, Nancy Hogshead, Roy Jones, Adonis Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Nancy Kerrigan, Mike Richter, Spencer Haywood, Rusty LaRue, Danny Manning, Henry Marsh, Eric Montross, Rick Hamilton, Chris Mullin, Willye White, Tab Ramos, Vic Wunderle, Glenn Robinson, Alberto Salazar, Lusia Harris-Stewart, Doug Smith, Rex Walters, Lones Wigger, Jr. and Paul Wyli
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That is cool.
StarCity BMX in Lincoln, NE used to have a single point race with the Nebraska state games. It would be cool if in all states with a BMX track, the ABA and the track got involved with this. It could be a huge draw for new riders and expose non-racers to the sport.
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To me, this could be one of those rare opportunities to leverage such an event to get in to local schools, and either do assemblies themed around bike safety for the summer, with BMX as a great outlet for the need for speed, or better yet, organize field trips from the school to your local track before school is out (complete with beginner kits, and a coupon to attend one of several free beginner clinics you will be hosting at the track).
The Olympics was a great door opener, and it can help in the adding of credibility. But until 2011-2012 when it is back in the forfront of Joe and Jane public's minds, current events, like this one, should not be overlooked as a tremendous opportunity to promote the sport--just before 80 million kids get out of school for the summer.
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Mike, thanks for posting this. Charlie and myself run the track that this will be held at. pikespeakbmx.org we got BMX into the games of the west last year and it was a great event. The board of directors for the games actually selected Caitlyn Kelty a 10 year old girl bmxer as the female athlete of the year for the games this is from 7000 other athletes and in the opening ceremonies she will be handing the National games torch to the chosen Olympic athlete to light the flame. This event will be a big race we have had a lot of interest across the country. If you want to come out to cover it I’ve got a place for you to stay. Mike Kelty
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Here is the info for this year's ABA Sanctioned race at the Cornhusker State Games (Nebraska). I believe this is the second year it has been sanctioned but as Billy mentioned it has been run for years.
**CORNHUSKER STATE GAMES - DATE CHANGE**
The Date for the Cornhusker State Games has been changed. The new date is Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. All participants must pre-register online at the Corhusker State Games website. The cost is $21 per person if you register by June 22nd. Entry fee includes Athlete T-Shirt, passes to SportFest and the Opening Ceremonies and a copy of the NSC Yearbook.
. This is a Single Point ABA Sanctioned event, so you must have a current ABA membership to participate.
We had a great turnout for last year's event - let's make this year even better. Since this year's race has been moved from the weekend, we hope to draw some additional media attention and perhaps have a participant or two from the Nebraska Sports Council.
Oops- located at Star City BMX in Lincoln www.starcitybmx.com
This post has been edited by paddymac: Apr 23 2009, 03:15 PM
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Man, I can't wait to go to this. From what I heard, last year was a blast and I know Pikes Peak is an awesome track and those guys do it up right. Really looking forward to it this year.
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I guess the only question I have is regarding eligibility. The rules say that, in order to race, you have to either be a Colorado resident, or have medaled at your own State Games. What if your state games did not include BMX, as I believe there are only a few states who do include it.
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If your state does not have a state games or BMX is not in your state games you are able to race this race and you can sign up the day of the race. please look at pikespeakbmx.org for race schdule
This post has been edited by MikeCarruth: Apr 23 2009, 05:22 PM
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BMX was part of the State Games of America last year (I know because I wanted to go). I have been competing in the AZ Grand Canyon Games for years. Here is the link for this year's event in AZ: http://www.gcsg.org/events/summergames/bmx.php
This post has been edited by AZBMXER: Apr 23 2009, 10:28 PM
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Our team All The Racing Dot Com (ATR) will be attending as we won the Team Trophy at Isanti Rum River Minnesota last year at the qualifier. We are really excited for this event and look forward to racing in Colorado. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/good2.gif)
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If you competed in your state games & it was NBL sanctioned, you still qualified for the State Games of America. You'd just need an ABA membership for the event.
If you have any questions about the event I get answers.
Got this in as a press release today. Sounds very cool! Shannon, are you guys directly running the race, or is it the ColoSprings track staff running it?
Competition Rules & Format: American Bicycle Association (ABA) rules (www.ababmx.com) will govern this competition. All competitors must be current ABA Members. A free one-day trial ABA membership is available for Friday OR Saturday events, not applicable for Sunday events. Membership will be available on-site. Bicycles for Boys & Girls competitions must have no more than 20” wheel diameters. Bicycles for all Boys & Girls Cruiser/MTB divisions must have no less than 24” wheel diameters. A beginner racer is called Novice until they win 6 first place trophies, he/she becomes an intermediate until he/she wins 25 first place trophies and then becomes an expert. Beginner girls may choose to race in the Novice Boys class or in the Girls class. A Girl racer that has won 8 first place trophies in the Boys Novice class must race in the Girls class. All racers must wear a helmet, long sleeve shirt, long pants and tennis shoes or clip shoes. Bicycles must have kickstands, pegs, chain guards and reflectors (that stick out) removed. Commissioners reserve the right to combine or cancel divisions.
Apr 22 2009, 01:06 PM
