American Bicycle Association and USA Cycling Announce UCI BMX Supercross World Cup Event
Gilbert, Arizona- April 8, 2009 — The American Bicycle Association and USA Cycling are proud to announce the North American round of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup presented by Swatch to be held September 18-20, 2009 at the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA.This event will be held in conjunction with the American Bicycle Associations U.S. Open Amateur National event on a newly constructed ABA BMX track on the grounds of the US Olympic Training Center.
“This is a very exciting event for the ABA and the entire BMX industry to be involved with” stated BA Anderson, ABA’s Chief Executive Officer . He added that “Holding an Amateur event in conjunction with the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup will only fuel the Olympic dreams of US amateur riders, which will help insure the continued success of future US BMX Olympians.”
The ABA is constructing one of the most challenging amateur BMX tracks ever seen on the grounds of the Chula Vista training center to host ABA’s US Open National Event. The Amateur facility will remain a permanent ABA sanctioned facility running local BMX events and continuing to grow the sport in the southern California region. This facility will also provide the USOC and USA Cycling with the tools necessary to further develop future Olympians and continued improvement of the junior riders.
Tracy Lamb, USOTC Director stated “When the USOC built the Olympic replica track our goal was to host an International competition, now with the ABA’s help we have realized that goal.” Tracy went on to add “The function of our facility is to provide athletes with the proper training facilities for their sport. Working with the ABA to develop an amateur component for our facility will allow us to focus development efforts at a much younger age”.
The ABA, after hosting several successful UCI Continental events and 2 USAC BMX National Championships, is offering what will become one of the most prestigious Elite and Amateur events to ever be held for the sport of BMX. Elite riders will compete on one of the only permanent Olympic style BMX tracks in the world located at the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. This is the same facility that hosted the 2008 BMX Olympic trials and where Team USA BMX athletes trained for Beijing. The event will feature over 100 of the best male and female Elite riders and past Olympians from all over the world.
USA Cycling’s CEO Steve Johnson said ”The USOC has been a tremendous partner, helping with much needed infrastructure to continue developing our USA BMX athletes. The addition of this event will give the US riders the home track advantage in earning coveted UCI points.” Steve went on to add “the newly developed amateur ABA track will also add a location to host development camps for future junior elite riders.”
Johan Lindstrom, UCI BMX Sports Coordinator stated “The UCI is excited to bring the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup to Chula Vista. With the magnificent facility that the US Olympic training centre is offering, the ABA being an experienced event organizer and the support from USA Cycling there’s no doubt that the event will be a great success”.
“The San Diego Sports Commission is proud to be partnering with UCI, ABA, and the Olympic Training Center to host this event. BMX has a rich history in San Diego and there is no better place to have a world-class BMX event” Alan Kidd- President, San Diego Sports Commission.
“Having the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in San Diego is exciting to say the least. Having the Hilton San Diego Mission Valley as the host Hotel is an honor. We look forward to all the fun and excitement and success the week has to bring”. – Gordon Luster, General Manager, Hilton San Diego Mission Valley
