Small town, big on track for BMX; state qualifier, STGnews Photo Gallery

Written by John Teas
May 11, 2014
L-R: Arthur Smith, Carson Ferrin, get big air while they check out track racing conditions, Virgin Regional BMX Track, Virgin, Utah, May 10, 2014 | Photo by John Teas, St. George News

VIRGIN – Eleven years ago, Jay Lee, then mayor of Virgin, a small town of about 600 people located 20 miles west of Zion National Park along state Route 9, pushed to get a BMX track built. This weekend, the Virgin Regional BMX track at 900 N. Kolob Road hosted one of the BMX state championship qualifier races.

Competitors of all ages gathered Saturday to earn valuable points needed to race in the BMX state championship. Points are combined with the rider’s points from other BMX races in Utah where the top riders in each class will vie for state championship bragging rights this summer in South Jordan.

BMX race participant, Virgin Regional BMX Track, Virgin, Utah, May 10, 2014 | Photo by John Teas, St. George News

Saturday, riders from more than 300 miles away raced at the Virgin BMX track. The event offers classes for beginners, intermediate and expert within their age group.

“BMX is a family sport. We have 3-year-olds up to 61-plus-year-old riders,” competitor and spokesman Jason Stout said.  “BMX is the largest participated-in cycling sport in the United States with over 60,000 riders.”

BMX became an Olympic sport in 2008, with Americans winning both the silver and bronze medals.

Carson Ferrin and Fred Smith along with Arthur Smith are responsible for track operations at the Virgin BMX track. Recently, a playground and sandbox have been added and the bathrooms have been remodeled.  Over 150 hours have been spent in the past 2 months getting the track prepped for this state-qualifying event.

“We are trying to make it smooth and fun for the young kids but yet complicated enough for the older guys to have fun,” Ferrin said. “There have been a lot of good compliments so far.”

Virgin BMX track operator Carson Ferrin nurses a possible broken arm after landing a bit short on a jump, Virgin Regional BMX Track, Virgin, Utah, May 10, 2014 | Photo by John Teas, St. George News

“I was on a jump and came up a little short and went over the bars,” Ferrin said. “It is part of riding and part of racing. If my arm is broken, that makes number 41.”

When Ferrin is not volunteering at the Virgin BMX track he is protecting Washington County as a deputy sheriff.

“The track is in fantastic condition. It is the best it has ever been, “ Stout said. “It truly is a family sport.”

The Virgin BMX track is open for practice every Wednesday around 6 p.m. until dark and every other Saturday. The cost is $3 per person to use the track and Virgin BMX offers bikes and helmets for those who need them.

“I have been BMX racing for four years and I am down here trying to get qualified for the state championship race, “ West Jordan resident Jayden Sessions, 17, said. “It’s good air and it is warmer down here compared to the other tracks and it is so smooth. The scenery is awesome.”

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery. 

Resources

Virgin Regional BMX Race Track | website (includes 2014 BMX schedule) | 900 N. Kolob Road (Map) | Telephone – Fred Smith 435-632-0585, Jay Lee 435-635-4959

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Originally from Iowa, John Teas transplanted to Saint George in 2012 from New Mexico. John is a photojournalist and feature writer for several automotive publications, educational media and corporate public relations as as St. George News. “I have a degree in life experiences and a love of all that is outdoors,” he said.

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