Boys wait in line for the starting gate June 15, 2013, at Gier Park in Lansing. BMX races are held at the park Wednesdays and Saturdays. Julia Nagy/The State News
The Capitol Area BMX Track at Gier Park reverberated with the exuberant cheer of kids and adults in their biking gear on the occasion of the State Qualifier Weekend. The starting gate slammed down as onlookers watched and several riders began racing down the BMX track.
Capitol Area BMX President Nicole Bennett said they have been focusing on spreading awareness about the sport.
“We are out to promote this sport because a lot of people don’t even know that we are here. You tell people BMX, and they are like, ‘Where are you at?’ We really want to bring more awareness to the sport,” Bennett said.
The state qualifier held on Sunday was expected to bring about 150 riders to the track.
“You have to race at least six of those (state qualifiers) in your state to qualify for the state championship. There are nine tracks in Michigan,” Bennett said.
Dawn Bartlett, the treasurer of Capitol Area BMX-, said the rider count has increased from the past year.
A local talent has found her calling on the BMX track. Lansing resident Elida Beeman, 15, has been selected to the 2013 junior development camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in California.
A high school sophomore, Beeman said she enjoys riding at the Capitol Area BMX track.
“I started biking in 2005. Everybody is really kind here; they are fast and give me competition. I just like riding,” Beeman said.
“(The junior development camp) is in California, and they are going to help me with every kind of skill that you need to be in the Olympics. They are going to help me with nutrition, weights, gym all that.
“I want to go to the Olympics, and if I can’t do that, I want to be a nurse,” she said.
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