BMX is a sport with a 55 to 60-year history in the United States, but one that is emerging from the shadows of X Games, niche status. Proof is the sport’s recent inclusion in the Summer Olympics, beginning in 2008, and, closer to home, the construction and opening of the Novant Health BMX Supercross Track in Rock Hill.

The beautiful new facility atop a hill near the Catawba River is hosting the BMX Carolina Nationals this weekend, an event akin to a stop on the PGA Tour or Sprint Cup NASCAR series. Locals can learn more about this burgeoning sport by watching some of the best riders in the world Friday through Sunday, at one of the country’s top BMX venues.

The Herald caught up with Justin Posey - a 21-year-old North Carolina native currently ranked 24th in the world BMX rankings - on Wednesday to discuss some basics, and some nuances, of the BMX that will be on display.

BMX Carolina Nationals is a part of... ?

The Carolina Nationals is the fifth stop on the BMX Nationals tour, a series of 34 events across the country open to amateur and pro riders alike that runs through November. The professionals usually compete in about half of the events, with the results counting towards multiple points standings, including ones that decide Pro Series championships and Olympic qualification.

Is this event connected to Olympic qualifying?

Right now, riders’ performances build up points for their countries to determine which five nations will send the highest allotment of three riders to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The U.S. usually sends three; two riders and one rider are the lesser allotments for countries further down the points standings. After the allotments are determined in July, then the riders’ individual point totals determine whether they qualify for the Olympic teams of their respective countries.

Which of the top BMX riders will be competing in Rock Hill?

Colombia’s Carlos Oquendo won the bronze medal in BMX at the 2012 Olympics in London, and Brazil’s Renato Rezende is currently ranked eighth in the world. Connor Fields, David Herman and Nic Long were on the 2012 USA Olympic team and will compete, as will 2016 hopefuls Justin Posey and Jared Garcia. Top-ranked American women Felicia Stancil and Alise Post will also be in Rock Hill.

Will the competitors get injured?

BMX is a tough sport on the body. Posey mentioned he tore ligaments in his wrist and broke his ankle in three places, all during the same late-2013 wipe-out. Wear-and-tear injuries are also a part of the gig for pro riders, but protective gear undoubtedly prevents even more.

What is a BMX bike?

The bikes, mostly aluminum or or carbon frames with 20-inch wheels, have no shocks and only one gear. The riders have to cushion every landing with their bodies on a track made of packed dirt and sometimes asphalt. Posey said he usually travels with two bikes, and while he knows the ins and outs of his bikes, he has a trusted technician for any bigger bike issues.

Do BMX pros make much money?

Many pro riders subsist on sponsorships and prize money, which varies by event. Saturday’s Pro Series race will dole out $20,000 to the winner, cranking up the pressure for that event. Posey is sponsored by Dan’s Comp, and also received a scholarship to attend Marian University (Ind.) and ride for the school’s fledgling intercollegiate BMX program. He’s taking 12 credit hours of online courses, while still competing professionally nearly full-time.

What separates Rock Hill’s BMX facility from others?

According to Posey, the hills, specifically the supercross hill, separate Novant Health BMX: “Right when you walk up and you look at the big concrete hill, you say ‘wooof, that’s huge.’ That obviously separates it, having the supercross track. The supercross hill is eight meters tall, so we go from zero to 40 miles an hour in two seconds. It’s pretty unbelievable when you get the chance to watch it.”

Who is in charge of BMX at the Novant Health track?

Mike King is the BMX supervisor for Novant Health BMX Supercross Track. He’s also a BMX Hall of Famer and former coach of the USA BMX Olympic team and has been in charge of the facility since it opened in August of 2014. Rock Hill’s BMX Supercross track is the only Olympic-quality facility on the east coast, and will host the 2017 UCI BMX World Championships.

How will the weather influence the track conditions?

BMX riders will be watching Thursday and Friday’s weather closely to see how it impacts the track. A softer track is a slower track, and though part of the Novant Health Supercross track is asphalt, the majority is dirt. That’s also a reason why California is such an epicenter for the sport. A majority of the American-based BMX pros live in California, which is also the home of the U.S. Olympic training center.

WATCH THE BMX CAROLINA NATIONALS
All of the BMX Carolina Nationals races are free to watch, but parking at Novant Health BMX Supercross Track - located at 1307 Riverwalk Parkway in Rock Hill - is $10 per day, or $25 for the three-day event.

The marquee events are:

Friday, March 20 USA Cycling Elite National BMX Championships begin at 5 p.m. These races will crown riders from across the country as National Champions in junior and elite categories for men and women. Participation is limited to U.S. citizens and winners can qualify to represent America in the 2015 UCI BMX World Championships in Belgium in July.

Saturday, March 21 USA BMX Pro Series race heats begin at noon, and continue throughout the day. The Pro Series is arguably the marquee event of the weekend, and features the top BMX riders in the world, including top American and international pros, past Olympians and future Olympic hopefuls.

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