BMX – Cycling Canada Cyclisme

CYCLING CANADA ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER BMX FREESTYLE NATIONAL CALENDAR

Ottawa, ON – Cycling Canada is pleased to announce that a total of three BMX Freestyle events will be held in Canada in 2019. These events represent an important landmark in the development of BMX Freestyle in Canada, as well as the development of professional Canadian athletes.

The season will officially kick off at the Joyride 150 indoor facility in Markham, Ontario, which will play host to the Joyride BMX Park International (UCI C1) on February 26, followed by the first-ever Canadian BMX Freestyle Championships the next day. The Canadian Championships represent the highest level of competition on the domestic calendar, and champions will be receiving the red and white maple leaf jersey in the Elite Men’s and Women’s categories.

“Hosting Canada’s first ever UCI C1 Freestyle BMX Event and Inaugural Canadian BMX Freestyle Championships is an exciting opportunity”, said event organizer and Joyride 150 Owner, Mark Summers. “These events will bring world class competition to Ontario. Joyride 150 has proven to be a hub for athletes and a perfect training ground for Canada’s best and hosting these very important events shows our commitment to supporting and growing the sport of BMX Freestyle.”

That same week, athletes will have the chance to compete in the Toronto XJam, organized as part of the well-established Toronto International Bicycle Show. The Toronto XJam will be sanctioned UCI C1, giving athletes the opportunity to compete in three events within one week, all located in the same region. Large international presence is anticipated, with several foreign national teams having already confirmed their attendance.

“We are thrilled to welcome the discipline of Freestyle BMX to our National events calendar with all eyes looking towards the sport’s introduction to the Olympic programme at Tokyo 2020”, said Josh Peacock, Events Manager at Cycling Canada. “Our 2019 organizers come to us with a wealth of knowledge in the Freestyle BMX world, and we look forward to working together to help maximize UCI points-grabbing opportunities leading up to the Games, as well as increasing the overall exposure of the sport to participants of all ages and abilities.”

Joyride BMX Park International
Organizer: Joyride 150
Markham, ON
February 26, 2019

Canadian BMX Freestyle Championships
Organizer: Joyride 150
Markham, ON
February 27, 2019

Toronto XJam
Organizer: Canadian Shows and Special Events Inc.
Toronto, ON
March 1-3, 2019

FIRST CANADIAN BMX FREESTYLE TITLES AWARDED

Markham, ON – The first ever Canadian BMX Freestyle Championships took place on Wednesday, February 27th, at the Joyride 150 venue in Markham, Ontario. BMX Freestyle is the latest cycling discipline to be added to the Olympic program, and will take place in Tokyo for the first time in 2020.

“We are very excited to crown our first ever Canadian Champions in the BMX Freestyle discipline,” said Josh Peacock, Events Manager at Cycling Canada. “The crew at Joyride 150 organized a top quality event, attracting some of the World’s top riders amongst Canada’s best. We are looking forward to continuing our work within the discipline of freestyle BMX, and are already looking forward to our next UCI event this weekend at the Toronto XJam.”

Jaden Chipman of New Lowell, Ontario won the men’s title, while Stephanie Nychka of Calgary took the women’s. Chipman represented Canada at the inaugural world championships in Chengdu, China, in 2017, while Nychka is a newcomer to the sport, coming from mountain biking.

“It feels unreal,” said Chipman, “I’ve never been on the podium before with all these guys. I’ve been putting in a lot of work over the winter, and I guess it shows. It’s very special, such a huge honour to be the first Canadian Freestyle champion. I’ve been looking up to the riders I was on deck with ever since I started riding. I’m planning on going to all the FISE World Cup events and proudly wearing the jersey.”
“I started riding BMX about a year and a half ago, and looking back at my progression, I’m so happy with this result. We need to get more women riding, and Joyride itself is a great place for everyone to come,” said Nychka.

CANADIAN BMX CHAMPION LOSES LIFE IN WORK ACCIDENT

Ottawa, ON– It is with great sadness that the Canadian cycling community learned of the loss of one of its own late Sunday night. Aidan Webber, 18, was killed in a workplace accident at a fish farm in northern Vancouver Island.

Webber, of Nanaimo, BC, was the reigning Canadian junior BMX champion after winning the title in Drummondville, QC, last summer. He also represented Canada at the 2018 BMX World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.

On behalf of all our members, Cycling Canada would like to extend its condolences to Webber’s family and loved ones.