TULSA, Okla. — Hundreds of BMX riders from across the state are expected to descend on Port Angeles this weekend for the USA BMX Washington State Finals.
The event will be held at Lincoln Park BMX Park, which hosted the state finals in 2018 and the Pacific Northwest Cup last year.
There will be single-point races Friday with signups from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Saturday, there will be double-point races with signups from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The big triple-point state championships begin at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. About 250 to 300 riders are expected Saturday and anotehr 400 to 500 for the finals on Sunday.
Fresh off the heels of a big win at the USA BMX Northwest Gold Cup at Columbia Basin, 10-year-old Teyah Elofson-Cross of Port Angeles is excited to get right back on the track at this weekend’s state finals.
“I’ve been riding since I was 6, and the Gold Cup was my first time ever placing first,” Elofson-Cross said. “I just want to keep getting better so I can keep going on more races. I’m so excited for this weekend.”
Another first-time Gold Plate winner competing this weekend is 7-year-old Carmelo Kompkoff, also of Port Angeles.
“He’s worn his winners jacket every single day to school since he won first in his age group,” said Carmelo’s mother, Jamila Andrus.
“I just want to keep getting better, and hopefully get another jacket this weekend,” Carmelo said.
There are 11 sanctioned USA BMX tracks in Washington: Walla Walla BMX, Seatac BMX, North Washington (Bellingham), Bigfoot BMX (Everett), Peninsula Indoor BMX (Port Orchard), River Valley (Sumner), Columbia Basin (Richland), Spokane BMX, Bakerview BMX (Mount Vernon), Moses Lake BMX and Lincoln Park BMX in Port Angeles, ranked as one of the best tracks in the nation.
Spectators can also give their own wheels a spin at a free open house event at the track from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Oct. 1, where first-timers can borrow a loaner BMX bike and helmet or bring their own. The event is open to anyone who isn’t already a member of USA BMX.
