Vancouver Island BMX riders held their own against top competitors from across Canada and the United States at the Vancouver Island Nationals.
The fourth of seven Nationals to be held this year in Canada, the Island event ran July 18-20 at the Coal Hills track in Cumberland.
The action was virtually non-stop each day as the starting gate slammed down on a continuous slate of motos in numerous age-group and skill-level divisions.
The future of BMX was also on display as the Striders (as young as two, with no-pedal bikes) and Half Trackers (five and up) earned cheers from the spectators for their determined efforts on the track.
Comox Valley competitors posted impressive results, led by Aidan Webber of Comox who is currently the top Boys Cruiser rider in the Canadian National Points standings.
Adicus Bird of Royston, 16th in the Canadian National Points standings for Girls, also had a strong weekend of racing. Missing from the competition was Aleasha Wiebe of Cumberland. Sitting fifth in the Canadian National Points standings for Girls Cruiser, Wiebe was in Holland competing in the July 23-27 UCI BMX World Championships. Wiebe advanced to the semifinals (top 16 in the world) in her Cruiser class event.
The Vancouver Island National #1 race was held on Saturday, with local riders doing well:
Justin Yaretz (Cumberland) 3rd in 7-8 Open, Quinn Webber (Comox) 2nd in 11-12 Open, Evan Yaretz (Cumberland) 2nd in 9 Cruiser, Aidan Webber (Comox) 1st in 13 Cruiser, Andrew “The Diceman” Templer (Cumberland) 6th in 41-45 Cruiser, Maxim Lefebvre (Comox) 7th in 5 & Under, Anna Purich (Royston) 3rd in 9 Novice, Desmond Debellefeuille (Comox) 1st in 13 Novice, Nathan Simard (Courtenay) 3rd in 13 Novice, Jeremy Purich (Royston) 2nd in 5 & Under Intermediate, Brailyn “Miss B” Webster (Fanny Bay) 2nd in 6 Girls, Adicus Bird (Royston) 3rd in 11 Girls, Isaac “Junior Diceman” Templer (Cumberland) 7th in 7 Expert, Justin Yaretz (Cumberland) 5th in 8 Expert, Evan Yaretz (Cumberland) 4th in 9 Expert, Aidan Webber (Comox) 1st in 13 Expert, Hayden Fieret (Courtenay) 6th in 13 Expert, Yuriah Kaska (Courtenay) 4th in 16 Expert.
Local results from Vancouver Island National #2 on Sunday:
Justin Yaretz (Cumberland) 3rd in 7-8 Open, Evan Yaretz (Cumberland) 6th in 9 Cruiser, Aidan Webber (Comox) 1st in 13 Cruiser, Andrew “The Diceman” Templer (Cumberland) 5th in 41-45 Cruiser, Elliot Purich (Royston) 5th in 5 & Under Novice, Jeremy Purich (Royston) 2nd in 5 & Under Intermediate, Desmond Debellefeuille (Comox) 2nd in 13 Intermediate, Brailyn “Miss B” Webster (Fanny Bay) 2nd in 6 Girls, Adicus Bird (Royston) 4th in 11 Girls, Isaac “Junior Diceman” Templer (Cumberland) 7th in 7 Expert, Justin Yaretz (Cumberland) 4th in 8 Expert, Sean “The Machine” Queenan (Comox) 6th in 8 Expert, Evan Yaretz (Cumberland) 6th in 9 Expert, Aidan Webber (Comox) 1st 13 Expert, Hayden Fieret (Courtenay) 5th in 13 Expert, Yuriah Kaska (Courtenay) 5th in 16 Expert.
Local results from Vancouver Island Prerace on Friday:
Evan Yaretz (Cumberland) 4th in 9 Cruiser, Andrew Templer (Cumberland) 1st 41-45 Cruiser, Desmond Debellefeuille (Comox) 1st 13 Novice, Nathan Simard (Courtenay) 3rd in 13 Novice, Arlend Berry (Courtenay) 7th in 9 Intermediate, Brailyn “Miss B” Webster (Fanny Bay) 5th in 8 Girls, Isaac “Rocket Socks” Templer (Cumberland) 3rd in 7 Expert, Justin Yaretz (Cumberland) 3rd in 8 Expert, Evan Yaretz (Cumberland) 2nd in 9 Expert, Yuriah Kaska (Courtenay) 4th in 16 Expert.
