Hundreds of professional and amateur BMX riders from across the country will converge in Redmond Friday through Sunday for the 16th edition of the USA BMX Great Northwest Nationals.

The three-day event will be held indoors at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center’s First Interstate Bank Center. Races begin at 1:30 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday. Competitors are expected to race well into the evening. Parking is $10 per day, and fans are welcome to watch and cheer on their favorite riders as they navigate jumps, twists and turns along the dirt track.

The USA BMX Great Northwest Nationals has been staged in Central Oregon since 2008, missing only 2020 due to the pandemic.

“We’re so proud of the outstanding BMX community that our track operator at Smith Rock BMX has fostered,” said BA Anderson, CEO of USA BMX. “We’ve held numerous national racing events in Redmond, and we know it’s going to be a thrilling event.”

Oregon has 11 sanctioned USA BMX tracks for riders of all ages to get their start in BMX racing, including Smith Rock BMX in Redmond and Bend BMX. Other tracks are located in Newberg, Medford, Molalla, Cottage Grove, Grants Pass, Eugene, Saint Helens, Klamath Falls, and Dillard.

Many notable local riders from Smith Rock BMX will be competing in Redmond this weekend, including national title holders Mallory Aldridge, 14, and Cyrus Russell, 17, both racing at the expert level of their age classes.

The Great Northwest Nationals is one of 30 national races on the USA BMX National schedule for 2024. After the Redmond event will be the Lone Star Nationals April 19-21 in Houston and the Nor-Cal Nationals May 3-5 in Roseville, California.

Smith Rock BMX (1935 NE Maple Avenue, Redmond) is scheduled to host an open house on Monday, during which first-timers can borrow a loaner BMX bike and helmet for $20 (or bring their own) and ride the track to get an idea of what BMX riding is all about. The event is open to anyone who is not already a member of USA BMX.

JoAnna Eisler, director of business development at Visit Central Oregon, said they are excited to host the Great Northwest Nationals for its 16th year.

“This event, the people who participate as competitors and attendees are valuable to our community,” Eisler said. “We’re proud to be a partner to the Deschutes County Expo Center and USA BMX to bring this event to Central Oregon this year and in the future.”

For more information, visit usabmx.com.