cases as they get set to compete in the Canadian Grand Nationals in Surrey on

VIXer |

Saturday.

Young

seek NV track |

Growing sport has nowhere to go

Liam Lahey
Contributing writer

North Shore resident
Megan Edgar didn’t
care too much for soc-
cer, baseball or hock-

ey.
; But the energetic nine
year old did discover a sport
that fascinated her — BMX
biking.

“We are friends with the
McCabe family, and their son
Robbie has been into com-
petitive racing for three years
now,” said Megan’s father
Steve. “We went to watch
Robbie compete and Megan
got interested in the sport ..
she now competes as a
novice herself while Robtic
is listed as an intermediate.”

Megan is but one of hun-
dreds of children and young
adults in the Lower
Mainland that have been
caught up in the BMX fer-
vor.

There are 13 BMX tracks
focated in the Lower
Mainland, but none in
North Vancouver.

Edgar said the popularity
of the sport is growing rapid-

tarted a non-
profit org, tion called the
North Shore BMX
Association (NSBMXA) in
the hope of promoting the
sport,” Edgar said. “There
are literally hundreds of boys
and girls” involved in’ this
sport.

Mcgan, and her eight year
old cohort Robbie, will both
be competing for the Canada
Cup at the Canadian Grand
Nationals competition in
Surrey on September 5.
Edgar said there are approxi-
mately 300 riders registered
to compete, ranging in age
from five to 60.

The budding bikers face
tough times preparing for
their big comp titions on the
North Shore however. Edgar

pointed out there is not onc
track good cnough for the
kids to practise on west of
the Porr Mann bridge.

“We're currently trying to
get a track in North
Vancouver established with
the help of city council,”
Edgar said. “There was onc
behind che Centennial
Theatre but it was lost due
to construction we've

ren using a makeshift track
i Lynn Creek on the Boy
S@uts’ property.”

Edgar said he’s
approached city council
secking their assistance and
the city has shown a real
interest in their plight.

“We gave a presentation
at the sports council meeting
sume time back,” he contin-
ued. “The problem is we're
running out of land on the
North Shore. What we need
is a BMX park open to the
public seven days a week.”

To help raise public
awareness of the young bik-
ers’ needs, the NSBMXA has
organized a public rally to
take place at the Centennial
Theatre (Lonsdale and 23rd
Street) on September 14 at 7
p-m..

“We're encouraging peo-
ple to come out and join us
on our ride from Centennial
Theatre to th Karen
Magnussen Arena,” Edgar
said.

“There will be an infor-
mation meeting at the arena,
and we're hoping to recruit
more members for the asso-
ciation.”

Edgar added a circulated

tition at local bike repair
shops collected over 250 sig:
natures from concerned and
supportive residents.

“We'll be presenting

¢ signatures to city coun-

.

Anyone secking informa-
tion on the NSBMXA’s pub-
lic ride on September 14 can
contact Steve Edgar directly
at 980-4623.

wSdzgtt

1998 -North Shore News — 39°

“3,0 awl? apogl —

Wednesday, September 2,

NOTICE — JOHNSTONE’S WILL BE

Closed for this
Labour Day Weekend

September 5,6 & 7

r ue |
2 H on all
E natural gas oe propane medels Broil Kimegy.

A ohnstone’ ‘s we service everything we sell - check | us out!

NEWS photo Pau! McGrath
MEGAN Edgar, 9, and Robbie McCabe, 8, are looking to add to their BMX trophy

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