This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Sports

Stebens, Riders Bring BMX Back from the Brink in St. Michael

BMX is back in St. Michael as the city hosts Opens Ride Nights at the newly refurbished St. Michael Recreation Center Track.

From 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday evening through August you will find a tenacious group of bikers, anywhere from age 3 to 70-plus, hitting the dirt track at St. Michael’s Recreation Center.

Located just off Highway 19 on the south side of town-address 3150 Lander Ave. NE- the BMX biking track had been in a state of disrepair until former pro BMX racer Troy Stebens got control of the reins last year, spending some serious time getting the track back into good riding condition along with his friend and fellow rider, Joe Porter.

Though the city owns the property, the track is leased out and privately maintained by a track operator-a position Stebens thoroughly enjoys. 

Find out what's happening in St. Michaelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I jumped at the chance; I kind of always wanted to be a track operator,” Stebens said of the opportunity. “Now I can build whatever I want, and not have to critique whoever else is building the track. But, I’m my own worst critic.”

Stebens began riding BMX bikes at age 17, and had worked his way up to the professional level. He competed until he crushed his femoral artery while racing at age 25, when he took a handlebar to the stomach. The injury and ensuing surgery took him out of the scene for nearly 10 years, until friends who raced started talking to him about the neglected track in St. Michael, saying they wish they could ride there if only the track were in better condition.

Find out what's happening in St. Michaelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

That was last year. By the next summer, Stebens’ hard work had paid off, and local bikers young and old enjoy the track once more.

Stebens said that the only thing riders need in order to participate in the free Thursday evening open ride nights is a full-face helmet, and minors also need a signed release form. For those who attend some open ride nights and are itching for more, races also take place every Wednesday evening with registration from 6-7 p.m. and racing starting after that for novice, intermediate and expert classes.

“The beauty of this sport is the fact that nobody sits on the bench, meaning that everybody who joins the sport is guaranteed to race every time they come to a track,” said STMA’s Family Youth Community Connection director, Sandra Greninger.

 This past Thursday was the first open ride night of the season, and more than a dozen racers from age 5 to middle age took their place at the starting line to show off their best stuff. One such rider was 8 –year-old Sam Caron, who has been racing and riding here since he moved to the area two years ago.

“It’s really fun how you can win trophies, get free magazines and other prizes,” he said.

His friend and riding buddy Nathan Meyer, age 10, had a simpler answer with which Caron readily agreed: “It’s really fun to just do it,” Meyer said, “to just ride your bike.”

 

.

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from St. Michael