Maple Creek’s newest sport
Posted on April 25, 2017 by Maple Creek
A selection of Maple Creek's new motocross track with a jump in the distance, a "triple" in the middle and a double in the foreground. The track was built to accommodate any skill level with concern for safety at the forethought. NEWS PHOTO MEGAN ROTHMegan Roth
Twitter: @MeganMCNews
mroth@maplecreeknews.com
Soon Maple Creek will be the proud home a new motocross track.
The track has been a project in the works for a few years now for the Maple Creek Motocross Association.
The idea first came into conversation from Robert Udal, co-owner of Buckhorn Earthmoving, who wanted to see his business give back to community.
“I thought it would be a good way to give back and to give the kids something else to be able to do during the summer,” said Robert.
Dale Udal and his brother Mark have both worked with Robert to see the new track formed.
“It has been a long time coming. A lot of paper work and requests,” said Dale.
The association took their request to Town Council last summer to approve the building of the track.
The town leased the land behind Buckhorn to the association to have the track built.
“The track is just under one kilometre, and is suitable for all levels,” said Mark.
The initial design of the track was done by Bowen Lee, an amateur motocross rider, from Medicine Hat.
The track is full of possible jumps, turns, hills and “tables” for both the experienced and inexperienced to work on.
A main concern when designing and building the track was the safety of the riders, according to Dale.
“We built the track with safety in mind. The lips on the doubles, for instance, aren’t as cut in as you would sometimes see them,” said Dale.
Because safety was so important for all riders on the track, the design had to be usable for all levels.
It is designed for the rider to be able to grow with it, but still be challenging for experienced riders.
“The young ones will just follow the trail, getting better and better and maybe eventually even get some air on the table,” said Mark.
The actual building of the track has taken a few weeks of work, with some long hours put in by both Dale and Mark, with help from Buchhorn ownership as well.
Buckhorn generously provided the expensive machinery and thousands of gallons of diesel fuel required to move such large quantities of dirt, clay and sand.
“There is simply no way our association would have been able to raise the funds necessary to go hire a company like Buckhorn to do this work,” said Dale adding the cost of building the track would cost the association $45,000 to build.
Most of the work was done by Dale and Mark, with some community support.
Buckhorn provided the equipment to move and pack the clay into the track.
Sand was also donated to cover the hard clay to make an easier and safer ride for the participants.
Components for the fence was also donated to the association. The fence posts were donated by Dan Martens and the wire was donated by PMP Powerline Construction.
“It was really a community endeavour. We’ve had a lot of support from the Town and the community,” said Robert.
The new motocross track will be an opportunity for kids to have something new to try and learn, according to Robert.
Dale says the track will also be of interest to kids, and adults, who don’t like traditional sports.
“There are plenty of kids who prefer motor sports to traditional sports. This will give them an option and keep them busy during the summer,” said Dale.
The track could also generate new interest in the area.
Both Dale and Robert believe the track could help to stimulate the local economy and in the future generate more tourists to the area.
“Maybe it could give someone the chance to open a motocross store locally, which would be a benefit to the town,” said Robert.
The Maple Creek Motocross Association hopes to hold races in the future, which would bring in tourists from across the province and maybe Alberta as well.
“That won’t be this year, but hopefully soon,” said Mark.
The track is nearly complete, both Mark and Dale expect it to be done in the coming days.
The Motocross Association will hold a registration night on April 28 at the track – just behind Buckhorn Earthmoving at 505 Walsh St. N.
Those interested in registering or wanting to learn more about the sport are invited to attend.
A family registration is $200 for the season and a single rider for the season is $125.
Single day passes are also available for $30.
“We are trying to keep it as cost effective as possible,” said Dale.
Anyone who cannot attend Friday can register by contacting Dale at 306-662-3167.
Dale and Mark hope to see the track open to its first riders for registration night on April 27 from 7-8 p.m.
“We are extremely fortunate to have such a great opportunity in Maple Creek. Very few communities across the prairie provinces have full-scale motocross tracks and most of the time they only exist in cities,” said Dale.
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