Two Vernon BMX riders are making names for themselves.
Jon Rondeau has come back strong on the BMX circuit this past year. After racing pro and retiring from BMX in the early 2000s, he has been back on the bike in the 40-plus cruiser class, proving he still has what it takes to win.
In Calgary at the Canada Cup Aug. 29, he placed third in a stacked field on a very technical track which was giving many riders a tough time.
In the Alberta Provincial Grands Sept. 12, Rondeau shut the door on everyone and placed first, followed by a first place win the next day in the provincial championships to lock down the seasons overall provincial title, bringing it home to B.C.
Kevin Hill started the BMX season in July racing in Vernon and then decided to chase down some Alberta races.
After getting the OK from his snowboard coaches about missing the season opening camp in Chile, the Olympic snowboarder participated in the Canada Cup in Calgary, where he joined the top Canadian pros along with a few international riders chasing Olympic points.
“It was very tough field of pro riders in Calgary. Being able to bring home a third place and a sixth place was no easy feat,” said Hill.
“At the Provincial Grands in Edmonton Sept. 12, I had a great time racing, placing third and fourth. With heavy rain Saturday night, the track was not rideable, but thanks to kitty litter and a few hours delay, we managed to race for the first time in my career on half of the track.”
Hill heads to Europe to start his winter snowboard training at the beginning of October, in preparation for the World Cup season starting in Austria Dec. 10.
He has also been invited to X-Games competitions in 2016. Hill struck gold ahead of Omar Visintin and Nate Holland in the Men’s Snowboarder X final at X Games Aspen 2015.
