Forty years ago, a father’s backyard project turned into a local BMX organization, specializing in the betterment of its riders.
In the late 1970s, Stan Murdock built a track in his backyard for his kids. Throughout the years, it’s become a community. According to their website, the organization has riders aged 1 year old to 65 years old.
“He was a huge support system for Snake River BMX,” said Kayla Rapp, the current track operator at Snake River BMX.
The organization opened their track five years ago, at Sandy Downs in Idaho Falls, that boasts 1,200 feet of grit and action. It’s big enough to host a National and Gold Cup Final.
The track is one of 350 sanctioned USA BMX tracks in the nation.
BMX bikes are different from standard bikes. They are lighter and faster. Contestants start at a gate and drop through a hill before navigating turns, hills, rhythm sections and berms.
Because they are sanctioned by USA BMX, there are membership fees to race.
“We go by their rules,” Rapp said. “There is membership fee for the year, so it’s not Jan. 1 to Jan. 1, it’s when you sign up for your membership then it expires the following year you signed up.”
Racers start at novice and must win so many races. With more experience, they go from intermediate to expert.
It’s at your own pace, so sometimes it takes racers a while depending on flexibility and travel.
“We do have 3 other tracks in Idaho. We have one in Coeur d’Alene, we have one in Caldwell, an outdoor track, an outdoor track in Eagle, and then during Idaho winter months, we have an indoor track in Caldwell,” Rapp said.
The subscription to BMX applies all over the country.
“You are more than welcome to race at any USA sanctioned BMX track in the United States when you have a membership,” Rapp said.
There are two specific race types: class or cruiser. Those types have two different-style bikes.
Class bikes have 20-inch wheels that make them more maneuverable.
Cruiser bikes have 24-inch tires and are more stable. They have higher stacks, so the riders sit more upright.
There are categories from novice to expert with specific age groups. Both young and old race.
“Our oldest member at our track I believe is 45, and the youngest member at our track currently just turned 2,” Rapp said.
USA BMX hold races throughout the year at each track, giving riders an opportunity to practice and better their racing abilities.
At Snake River BMX, riders collect what are known as district points. These are awarded for every attended race. Riders receive state points and can participate in the state final at the end of the year. Riders can also gather and attend gold cup races, which Snake River BMX hold.
“If you do all your state races in Idaho, you have a chance to win a state plate,” Rapp said.
From there, racers can participate in gold cup races. Snake River BMX holds these races in Idaho Falls. When riders finish the gold cup races, they receive a gold cup plate and have a chance to compete with all the BMX racers throughout the Northwest.
The climb continues all the way to the Olympics.
Parents or riders can hire coaches to help assist them through training. Those coaches help them achieve their goals by reviewing footage and counseling the riders through weekly video calls.
Like any sport athletes get out of their comfort zone and reach their goals. It’s something Rapp enjoys taking part in.
“There’s some kids that come out and they’re absolutely terrified, because they are like, ‘am I gonna catch air?’ and they’re scared. And we are like, ‘no, no, just ride, be comfortable.’ And next thing we know they’re like, ‘we wanna come back’”, Rapp said.
Recently, a 4-year-old girl showed up to the track right after learning how to ride a bike. Her parents brought her out and put her on the track. And now she’s racing.
“There’s a couple times she’s scared, but she’ll finish and then she’ll go back up and she’ll do it again,” Rapp said.
Snake River BMX holds races every Monday and Wednesday. Registration starts at 6 p.m. and closes at 7 p.m.
Mondays are ribbon nights and Wednesdays are trophy nights.
Races start around 7:15 and go to 9 p.m.
If rain or heavy wind hits the area, they cancel those races and move them to another day of the week.
They hold practices every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to around 9 p.m.
Snake River BMX is a nonprofit organization run by volunteers.
They have a race tonight called Race for Olive. The daughter of a BMX family in the community has been diagnosed with stage four kidney failure. Snake River BMX is hosting the race for her.
“We’ve been selling root beer floats to raise money for the family to help them travel back and forth to Primary’s,” Rapp said.
That race is on Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. at the track at Sandy Downs.
For more information on Snake River BMX, how to get started and event times, go to snakeriverbmx.com.