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September 2021 | Vol. 7 Iss. 09
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RAD CANYON BMX TRACK HAS BECOME A PREMIER FACILITY By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
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est Jordan is the home to Rad Canyon BMX track, one of the premier facilities in the country. “This is my favorite track,” Rad Canyon pro racer Sophia Foresta said. “Everyone who comes here says they love it. It is just technical enough for a pro, but yet good enough for a beginner.” The track hosted the annual Great Salt Lake Nationals July 30- Aug. 1. The event boasted 899 unique riders from six countries and 31 states. This was the 30th consecutive year of the event (it was cancelled last season because of the pandemic). In Saturday’s racing at the nationals event they ran 229 motos (races), an increase of more than 30 from two years ago. The nationals event has a 30 year history in Salt Lake City and draws professional riders from all over the world. “The interest has grown,” USA BMX Director of Nationals Race Operations Chris Luna said. “We have seen an increase in numbers in the last few years.” Knox Perkins, Trey Vrotney, Isaac Larson, Matt Spencer Adrian Guzma, Makenna Wagner, Charlie Hartwell, Gaige Fotheringham, Payton Gleave, Paxton Mitchell, Ethan Hernandez, and Charlie Giese were among the age group winners in Saturday’s racing. Foresta finished fifth on Friday and seventh overall on Saturday. “I have felt good about my racing,” Foresta said. “It has been a rough few years for me mentally and physically. I have worked to overcome that and make it back to where I was.” In her heat race number two on Saturday, she trailed
The paved turns at Rad Canyon BMX track help riders maintain speed as they navigate the track. (Greg James/City Journals)
coming off turn three. Her never give up mentality pushed her past two other riders to the win. “I have learned to push all the way to the end, it’s not over ‘til the end. I followed the other girls until I knew I had a shot and I made it happen,” Foresta said. Foresta was named Sports Illustrated high school athlete of the month as junior at Bingham High School in 2016.
BMX racing made its Olympic debut in the 2008 Beijing games. Connor Fields from Las Vegas is a member of the national team and competed in the Tokyo Olympics. He was the defending gold medalist and suffered an injury in the semi-finals race. Rad Canyon opened in 1996 when it moved from its Continued page 3
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