On Saturday, 10 August, the BMX Tallinn cycling club opens its community-built, full-size BMX racing track in Uuesalu village with an international race.
“Big things are usually born from cooperation, and that is true of our track in Uuesalu. Estonia’s largest BMX racing track was built only thanks to BMX Tallinn parents, other people from the community and companies who each helped with their best knowledge and means,” says Eger Karuse, member of the BMX Tallinn board.
The 365-metre BMX racing track is open to all local children and young people to ride freely. It is also a great training opportunity for riders across Northern Estonia, as it is the only BMX racing track north of Tartu.
“BMX racing is an Olympic sport that you cannot do without a track. Wherever a track is built, children and families who love BMX racing follow. We see this in all the big BMX nations like Latvia and France, and hopefully it will be the same in Estonia,” Karuse adds.
It is a full-size track that meets the requirements of the International Cycling Union, where competitive BMX athletes – perhaps a future Olympian – can train.
Toomas Metsaots, property manager at IBE Estonia, the developer of Uuesalu village, and a BMX Tallinn member, wants to give special credit to the people who have worked on the track for almost two years. “In the last month we have gone completely crazy to get everything ready for the race. Many have put both their personal lives and work on hold,” he says.
“Walking home from the track in the dark last night felt pretty good, because the sentence I said a month ago – ‘We won’t make it by 10 August unless we start right now!’ – I now have to take back. We can, if we want to!” Metsaots says happily. “I want to especially thank our supporters who were able to help us along the way – a big bow to all of them!”
BMX Tallinn member and chief commissaire of the Estonian BMX Cup Jaan Lajal admits that the track is not quite finished and there is still a lot to do, but everything needed for the first races has been done and the first races can be held successfully in Uuesalu.
“Unbelievable but true! A deep bow to everyone who has put their heart, time and everything else into the track,” says Lajal, adding that it is a real example of how a seemingly impossible task can be done. “Probably only those who have spent their days on the track know what it has cost.”
According to Lajal, it is also symbolic that the track is finished in an Olympic year. “It is a good new beginning. Already during construction new riders have joined, which will hopefully inspire other clubs across Estonia to build BMX tracks too,” he says.
“I admire the BMX Tallinn people who had the courage to take on building the track a year and a half ago. But truly – everything is possible if enough people believe in it! And I really believe that Estonian athletes will one day reach the Olympics in this sport. Every journey starts with the first step, and by keeping going you can reach your goal,” says Lajal.
The opening ceremony takes place on 10 August at 12:00, followed by the very first race on BMX Tallinn’s Uuesalu track, with riders from Estonia as well as clubs from Finland, Latvia, Great Britain and Spain. Speakers at the opening include representatives of BMX Tallinn, the Estonian Cycling Federation, Rae Parish and Uuesalu village.
Everyone is welcome to the opening ceremony and to watch two rounds of the Estonian BMX Cup. The track is at Ilvese põik 5, Uuesalu, Rae Parish – search for “BMX Tallinn track” in map apps.
The Uuesalu BMX track was supported by Toomas Metsaots, Mario Pauskar, Toomas Saar, Jaan Lajal, Eger Karuse, Lauri Kasemaa, Maarit Maremäe, Evelin Metsaots, Kaspar Hillermaa, Tõnu Lajal, BMX Tallinn MTÜ, IBE Estonia, Infrateenused, Valvoline, InfraRoad, Rae Parish, Fortal, Uuesalu Village Society, Väo Paas, Miil, Hartrem, Kopasellid, North Harju Cooperation Chamber, Instwork, Verston, Tarel, Tartal, Ehitusnorm, Timbeco, UpTech, Sami Masinakeskus, Ramirent and many others.