On Saturday, June 13, the New Ulm BMX track hosted the Gold Cup Qualifier followed by the State Qualifier Sunday, June 14.

The back-to-back BMX events brought hundreds of riders to New Ulm to compete in the different races.

Track co-operator Brittany Nosbush said there were 289 registered riders participating in the Gold Cup races Saturday. The Gold Cup Qualifier is a regional racing series that allows riders to compete for a gold number plate.

Nosbush said the Gold Cup races often bring racers in from the surrounding states including South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin. This was the first Gold Cup Qualifier held in New Ulm in several years.

A group of riders in the Gold Cup Women Cruiser divisions get ready to test out River Valley BMX’s new track. From left to right. (L to R) Annie Cringler, Sheryll Anderson, Becky Horazuk, Michelle Martin and Shirley Anderson. Photo by Clay Schuldt

All the riders who participated in the Saturday’s Gold Cup Qualifier returned Sunday for the State Qualifier.

Nosbush said the numbers are always higher for the State Qualifiers.

“The Minnesota State series is a big deal,” Nosbush said. “The riders come from all over the state.”

Riders who wish to qualify for end of the year awards must compete in five State Qualifier races in a season. Nosbush said recently there were more racers coming from out of state to the qualifying events.

Nosbush said each rider that participates in the motos brings at least one additional spectator with them. When you add that up, its a lot of visitors to New Ulm.

BMX friends Alma Stoeckel (left) and Jemma Tollefson (right) socialize in between races. “We’re all friends off the course, but during the races we go crazy,” Stoeckel said. “But it is so much fun.” Photo by Clay Schuldt

The high turnout of riders was also an opportunity to show off River Valley BMX’s new track. Last September, the track was given a complete overhaul.

Co-Track operator Josh Nosbush said the track was widened for safety. With a wider track, the number of rider collisions should decrease.

The track’s starting gate was also improved to barrel gate design. New fence partitions also made it easier for riders to line up ahead of race, keeping congestion down.

The track redesign was completed at the end of May. The Gold Cup and State Qualifier was the first large scale test of the track. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

Dante Casonova, a BMX rider from Aberdeen, South Dakota, said he was excited to check out New Ulm’s revamped course and was impressed with the results.

Dante Casonova, a BMX rider from Aberdeen, South Dakota, takes first during State Qualifier race Sunday at River Valley BMX. Photo By Clay Schuldt

“It is an extremely impressive track,” Casanova said. “You know from the work done that the community takes BMX seriously. They are really building up the sport here.”

The 69-year-old Anderson twins, Shirley and Sheryl, were both fans of the track improvements. Shirley said she usually races in her home state of Florida, but comes up to Minnesota race with her sister, who lives in Duluth.

“We’re really happy with the improvements,” Shirley Anderson said. “We like the track before, but this is better.

Five-year-old Roman Golden of Milwaukee, Wisconsin was also a fan of the new track. Golden said he started riding when his family lived in Texas, but he had noticed the tracks in the midwest were a lot smother to ride.

Brittany Nosbush said the secret to the fast and smooth track was clay. The dirt portion of the track contained a clay mixture and that made the surface smooth with little wear and tear.

Julie Dirksen served as track volunteer for the weekend. She has the distinction of being the longest serving BMX volunteer. She remembers when the River Valley track was first installed in 1994.

She said her favorite part of BMX racing is the family atmosphere.

Dirksen also praised the sport for its generational appeal. She remembered bringing her son to the track when he was younger. Now he brings his son to the track. She said its a fairly common occurrence for families to compete together.

The Cringler family represents an entire family of racers. They spent the entire weekend in New Ulm, competing in both the Gold Cup and State Qualifier.

Annie Cringler said raced BMX as a teenager, but got out of the sport as an adult. Then daughter Madelin began racing BMX over two years ago.

“I was giving her advice and she said ‘you don’t even ride anymore,'” Anne Cringler said. “After that I decided to get back into racing.”

Dirksen said in addition to the family appeal it taught great sportsmanship.

“The riders make a life long friends. Even when competing against each other they continue to show support,” she said. “They share tips with each other about how to be better.”

A common site to see during the Golden Cup and State Qualifier were fellow riders cheering one another on and sharing a fist-bump after the race was over, no matter who won.

BMX riders Adalynn MCauley of Isanti, Alma Stoeckel of Sauk Rapids, Jemma Tollefson of Woodbury and Blair Brausen of Hutchinson gathered after one race to swap stories.

“This is peak time to hang out,” Tollefson said.

“We’re all friends off the course, but during the races we go crazy,” Stoeckel said. “But it is so much fun.”

Local BMX Qualifier results

River Valley BMX racers that saw top-3 finishes at the Gold Cup qualifier Saturday include Levi Dauer, who took second in in the 7-8 mixed open class, and Paxton Schmiesing, who took third in the 10 cruiser class. Silas Smith took third in the 7 novice class, while Leo Bellefeuille took third in the 8 novice class, Lilly Van Epps took first in the 11 novice class and Owen Linn took third in the 11 novice class. Emily Van Epps took second in the 15 novice class, while Bradley Kral Jr. took first in the 17-20 novice class. Haley Van Epps and Lori Critzer took second and third, respectively, in the 17-20 novice class. In the 36-40 novice class from River Valley, Brandon Van Epps and Stephanie Van Epps took first and third, respectively, while Eli Schmiesing took third in the 5 & under intermediate class.

In the 7 intermediate class, Dauer took first, while Kaden Stoermann took third. In the 8 intermediate class, River Valley saw Nolan Kamm take second and Rexy White take third out of eight riders. Grant Stadtherr took third in the 11 intermediate class, while Jaren Johnson took third in the 15 intermediate class and Jeremy Jones took first in the 41-45 intermediate class.

On Sunday in the state qualifier, River Valley BMX saw several more top-three finishers. Stoermann finished third in the 7-8 mixed open class, while Kamden Klehr took third in the 5 & under novice class. Lilly Van Epps took second in the 11 novice class, while Emily Van Epps took second in the 15 novice class. Bradley Kral Jr., Haley Van Epps and Critzer took first, second and third, respectively, in the 17-20 novice class, while Brandon Van Epps took second in the 36-40 novice class. Stoermann also took second in the 7 intermediate class, while Kamm took third in the 8 intermediate class. In the 11 intermediate class, Levi Nosbush took third, while Johnson took second in the 15 intermediate class and Jones took first in the 46-50 intermediate class. Dauer finished third in the 7 expert class, while Mason Dummer took second in the 12 expert class.