A story from the Tulsa World about the recently-completed ABA National BMX Championships held at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma:
For the 10th consecutive year, thousands of BMX enthusiasts have descended on Tulsa for a Thanksgiving weekend of racing bicycles and reuniting with old friends.
Roughly 3,600 participants from across the country and five continents will compete over the weekend in the BMX Grand Nationals for cash and prizes totaling more than $75,000. The event is the culmination of the American Bicycle Association’s bicycle racing season.
The event is estimated to bring $7.2 million into the local economy, said Whitney Miller, manager of development at the Tulsa Sports Commission.
It isn’t just Oklahoma’s central location in the United States that draws the annual championship to Tulsa. The size of the QuikTrip Center at Expo Square makes it uniquely suited to bicycle motocross or BMX racing, said Clayton John, president of the association.
“Look around,” he said. “There’s not many facilities with a quarter-mile of track.”
“We’ll stay here as long as they’ll have us,” John said.
A sport that is often passed from parent to child, or sibling to sibling, BMX racing is a family affair. Competitors range from age 5 to 56, and both males and females race at all skill levels.
“BMX is one of the only sports where parents and their kids can compete together,” said Robert Pierce, 28, a former professional BMX racer.
“It’s like a big giant reunion,” Pierce said. “It’s a thing everybody shares. We all love to ride our bikes.” [read more]
Congratulations to Tulsa for hosting this annual event. It’s great to see a bicycle event contributing so much to a local economy, and enjoying so much support and participation.
Post tags: BMX
