BMX training

A local BMX pro wanted children to get off the couch and onto a bike so he started a series of training camps to do just that.

Rick Foreman, promotions for Thunder Bay BMX, raced as a professional BMX biker contestant in the 1980’s. He held a series of workshops to help children become more interested in biking. The first official camp held at the Sports Dome had less than 20 children participate on Saturday.

The miniature starting gate attracted a lot of attention from the participants. The gate prepares riders for racing competitions to get as much speed right from the get go. Riders also navigated a small track and did small sprints as part of the training camp.

Sam Mcinnis, 10, participated because one of his friends wanted to go. He said he always liked biking so he joined his friend in riding by testing his skill on the track and at the gate.
"I think biking is a fun thing to do," Sam said. "Being here with all my friends and just biking around (is fun). The gate part is really fun."

Andy Cameron brought his son Jashua, 7, and his daughter MacKenna, 5, to try out the camp. Cameron said when he was younger, he liked to bike a lot. He said he would go from one end of the city to the next.

"I looked at the advertisement and they were all for it," Cameron said. "It’s all for the kids. This is great and its good exercise."

Foreman said he is working with the Sports Dome to do more with the camps including getting a foam pit for dirt jumping and performing tricks and a half-pipe.

"We’re just trying to get more people involved in sports," Foreman said. "Get off the computer, get off your couch and TV and lets get out and get some stuff going on. Get the kids healthy."

Foreman retired from BMX racing 20 years ago. A friend of his told him he should start again. He went to the Minnesota championships and he said he did well for his first race out of retirement.

"There have been other guys trying to get racing back into town," he said. "But nobody is really trying but we want this to happen. So we’re making it happen."

Foreman said the number of people that came out surprised him since he placed his only advertisement on Kijiji. He said the next camps in April are already booked.

The camp costs $20 for each participant and $10 to bring a friend. Foreman said the $20 fee also goes towards their $80 BMX membership by knocking off $10 as well as the ABA membership that allows riders to participate anywhere in North America.