2008 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS – CYCLING (BMX), Chula Vista, CA

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE FOR 2008 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS – CYCLING (BMX)

The USAC has announced that BMX Olympic hopefuls will compete in a trials event in Southern California.

A press release from the USAC just came to our attention and it announced all of the specifics for the upcoming Olympic team trials event. Do not miss a chance at seeing the race held in the birthplace of BMX! Please see below for all of the information.

Tickets for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for BMX Cycling are now available for purchase by the general public, USA Cycling and the U.S. Olympic Committee announced today.

Scheduled for June 14, The Olympic Team Trials will feature the top eight men’s Olympic hopefuls in the sport of BMX with the winner earning an automatic nomination to the squad that will represent the U.S. in Beijing this August.

Spectators can purchase tickets online at www.usolympicshops.com, charge-by-phone at 619-482-6120, or in person

at the U.S. Olympic Shop at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

Adult tickets are $10.00, while children’s and senior citizen tickets are $5.00.

WHAT: 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Cycling (BMX)

WHEN: Saturday, June 14

WHERE: U.S. Olympic Training Center; Chula Vista, Calif.

TICKETS: $10.00 (adult), $5.00 (children, senior citizen); available at www.usolympicshops.com, charge-by-phone at 619-482-6120, or in person at the U.S. Olympic Shop in Chula Vista.

Sneak Peek At The Olympic BMX Track

The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) recently released a press release that featured a 3D drawing of the 2008 Beijing Olympic BMX track design. The most notable difference between the Olympic track and the average BMX track is the massive 8 Meter (approx. 26' tall) high starting ramp. Most BMX track have an 8 to 10' tall dirt hill that has a gentle slope.

The other noteworthy difference is that the Olympic track will have two sections; one for women and one section for the men. The track length is 370 meters for the men and 350 meters for the women. With a meter equalling approximately 3.280 feet the track will challenge the sprinting ability of the riders.

The track which the UCI states will be slightly downhill looks to have a great combination of technical sections, outrageous jumps and will require top level skills from the riders. "The track looks like a lot of fun, and I can't wait to try it out....You will need to be a complete BMX rider to win on this track." said Roger Rinderknecht, a top elite rider from Switzerland.

The UCI did state in its press release that the track could still change prior to the 2008 games.

For Additional Information About the UCI Click the link Below:
LINK TO UCI

NBC Picks BMX to Celebrate 100 Days & Counting to the 2008 Olympics

April 30, 2008- NBC's "The Today Show" Celebrates 100 days to the Olympics

It may have been the heart of the East Coast; New York city, but the Manhattan skyline was host to a sport that was born on the dirt lots of Southern, California. BMX (Bicycle Moto-Cross), one of the first action sports was being featured on NBC's "The Today Show".

As part of it's coverage of the 2008 Olympics, NBC has chosen BMX to be the lead in the 100 days and counting coverage. The concrete jungle outside the NBC studio in Rockefeller Square had been transformed overnight by a team led by the ABA (American Bicycle Association). The demonstration track was just 120' in length, it featured a two-person electronic starting gate, had a roller section and a 16' double jump. It has taken over 30 years for the sport of BMX to reach such a monumental milestone, but there it was; dirt jumps and banners in the heart of NYC.

The dirt jumps and the gate sprinting for the NBC camera crew is something that Kyle Bennett, Donny Robinson and Arielle Martin will become comfortable accommodating. New sponsors have found each of them as the Olympic games approach. For the 2008 USA BMX team the dirt in Beijing is approaching quickly. It is now reality that Olympic gold can be a goal of every young BMXer.

“After 32 years of organizing and promoting the sport in the United States, the American Bicycle Association is excited about the exposure, notoriety and legitimacy the Olympics will bring to the sport.” stated B.A. Anderson, ABA Vice President.

When BMX was first organized in the 1970's by the ABA it was difficult to find a kid who didn't race. The kids who didn't race at least had a BMX bike, now those legions of boys and girls who were the sports first wave can watch BMX become an Olympic sport.

It was said that more than a few Wall Street types and Madison Avenue hot shots stopped to see the action that morning. They were heard to say that they raced BMX when they were young, yeah the good things all come back around!

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