Cochrane BMX riders are winding up the 2018 season this Saturday (September 22) with a year-end party featuring open track time, a potluck supper, group photo shot and awards.

It's been another incredible season filled with growth and success for the Cochrane BMX Club whose reputation is certainly turning heads of other clubs across Alberta.

Wrapping up the race season on September 8th and 9th at the Okotoks Grands and Provincial Championship, Brad Christensen, President of the Cochrane BMX Association shares Cochrane riders should be extremely proud of their performance. "Overall, our riders did fantastic; it's such a broad spectrum of emotions over the course of the day and the weekend. You see riders go from extreme highs to extreme lows, lots make their goals and others don't but we're proud of everyone that did compete."

Cochrane riders represented roughly 60 of the 611 BMXers that took part in the AB Provincial races and that number just keeps growing. "We are growing and more people are participating in that Provincial circuit year over year. We had people come out even if this was their first big race this year, so we have people that are continuing to want to excel and try new things."

Our local riders managed to make the podium 14 times and 31 brought home coveted AB plates. Christensen says despite Taylor Otterton and Zach Croft being tangled up in an epic crash, Cochrane riders had two stellar riding days. Giving special mention to the club's phenomenal female riders, we also took top three finishes in one race. "Our '10 Expert' group of the boys did excellent they finished the podium 1, 2, 3 on the Saturday (September 8) of the Grands. It was really exciting for them to get up and share the podium as those three kids race each other all year."

Although this Saturday marks the official end to the season, if Mother Nature cooperates, riders may be able to take advantage of some open track days before the weather turns.

While not planning any huge improvement projects for 2019, the club did put their name forward as a host community for one of the Provincial race series next season which will be announced next month. While Cochrane BMX Association board members will have a couple months reprieve, it won't be long before preparing for next year gets fired up. 

Already looking forward to another exciting season, Christensen anticipates both membership numbers and skill level will continue to thrive. "Every time people come out, they tell their friends and we continue to gain in popularity. We have some crazy, good riders in our club; our kids are starting to show more throughout the Alberta circuit and people are starting to notice the yellow and black jerseys a little more. We have some amazing, up and coming young racers that could have a really fun career in their BMX life, it's exciting times, that's for sure."

A list of top finishes for our Club is below:

14 Podium Finishes:

  • Haylee Laurell (1st)
  • Zoe Witwicki (1st)
  • Ashtynn Forsberg (1st)
  • Zachary Chubey (1st)
  • Nathan Vlahakis (1st)
  • Zach Croft (1st)
  • AJ Laurell (2nd)
  • Jaxson Ross (2nd)
  • Spencer Faupel (2nd)
  • Corrie Schuhmann (2nd)
  • Eric Murray (3rd)
  • Amos Carrier (3rd)
  • Brian Otterson (1st and 3rd)

21 additional AB plate winners (finished 4-8th in the Province): Ben Keed, Ryenn Forsberg, Kate Gerber, Grace Soyka, Alex Keed, Sophie Chubey, Kaylie Davis, Gemma Bell, Solvay Semmens, Daisy Kettle, Leah Richter, Aj Laurell, Joshua Hagel, Mason Pike, Brett Fisher, Taylor Otterson, Lucy Lovelock, Scott Kerr-Smith, Tyler Semmens, Ari Laurell, and Alex Fisher