Page 4 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 77

4 Issue #77 April 2019 www.sportsenergynews.com

Get to Know the Cornwall BMX Club

By Molly Kett of volunteers, they were able to make
the track “race ready,” holding their
an Drouin and his son first official Grand Opening/Olympic Day
Destablished the Cornwall Race on June 25th, 2018.
BMX Club in 2013, after the pair “Our club is open to anyone who
developed a passion for the sport is interested in trying out the area’s
while participating at the Ottawa coolest and newest action sport,
BMX Association Track. especially families with young
“As we were able to get more children and teens, but we still
families to join us, we saw our local welcome everyone and have
membership grow and we saw the categories for all age groups and skill
potential to operate and maintain levels from 2 and under to 65 and
a successful BMX racing track over, from novice to expert,” says
for Cornwall and the surrounding Drouin. “We encourage people to
townships,” says Drouin. “The club come to our track during one of our
registered as a non-profit association race nights or practices and try it for
in 2016 and we began preparations free. All that’s needed to participate is
for constructing the track including a bike in good working order, BMX
securing land in Guindon Park with style is preferred but not required,
the help of the City’s Parks and with kickstands, pegs and protruding
Recreation Department, and BMX/ reflectors removed, a helmet that fits
Skateboard Park Sub-Committee.” well, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants,
After receiving financial assistance and running shoes.”
from the Rotary Club of Cornwall, the After giving BMX a try, if the
City of Cornwall, and track design participant wants to continue, there Photo Brian-Stan McRae
and shaping services by BMX are a few options available including
Canada, members were able to break full club memberships and pay-as- conditions are dry enough and there “That was only due to the
are no pre-scheduled events. At extremely hard work put in by our
ground and receive BMX Canada/ you-go options. The track is open
these times however, the track is club’s volunteers and our dedicated
USA BMX sanctioning in 2017. to the public at no charge every
unsupervised. Drouin asks that members who continue return to
With the additional support from day from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm during
people riding please read and our track week after week to race,
their sponsors and the hard work the summer, provided the track
follow all of the rules posted at the practice, and improve their
track. skills,” says Drouin. “Our club
Build Something Beautiful “If track and weather conditions membership continues to grow

Let us help you design your dream deck. permit, we will be hosting weekly and we’re really looking forward
races on Sundays starting in early to introducing new people to the
Free designs and estimates to mid-May and practicing on incredible sport of BMX racing
Wednesday evenings. Once school and making improvements to
is out, we will be switching to racing our track. We are also extremely
on Monday evenings and practices humbled and honoured to have been
will remain on Wednesdays,” says recognized with the 2018 Cornwall
Drouin. “We will also be hosting and Area Chamber of Commerce
what is to be our biggest event to Breakthrough Award and we thank
date on the weekend of June 21st to the members of the Chamber, and the
the 23rd when we will be welcoming members and staff of Choose Cornwall
racers from all over Ontario, Quebec for this prestigious award. We
and the eastern United States to our appreciate their recognition of the
DK Gold Cup Regional Qualifier work our members have put in to
and Ontario Provincial Qualifier provide our community with a new
Weekend.” and exciting way for families, and
This event is expected to draw particularly young children, to
hundreds of competitors and participate in the fun and thrilling
spectators to the area. Drouin says he’s physical activity of sanctioned BMX
really excited to have been selected Racing.”
to host this event, especially after For more information on the
only one season in operation. Cornwall BMX Club, visit their
“We look forward to hearing the website, http://cornwallbmx.ca, or
participants and parents’ comments their Facebook page. If you have any
on Ontario’s newest and longest direct questions, feel free to reach
BMX Canada sanctioned race track,” out to the club by e-mail: info@
840 Tenth Street East, Cornwall says Drouin. cornwallbmx.ca
The track’s first season exceeded
Drouin looks forward to seeing
613 932-5660 Drouin’s expectations and was a you at the track!
www.emardlumber.ca huge success.