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Professional BMX Track builder gives Elgin's 'The Hill' an upgrade

The Elgin BMX Track received a major makeover with the help of a professional track builder with Olympic experience.

Eric Bress worked on "The Hill" in Elgin the past five days, often in the rain, operating a bobcat to move dirt and shape hills. The course is now faster and more challenging, said Bress, a native of Colorado whose resume includes helping build the BMX Track for the 2012 London Olympics.

"The shapes and dimensions of the jumps in a track make a lot of difference, they give it the technical aspect," he said. "There are new technical aspects that are going to challenge the riders to grow their abilities and go a little bit further to do new things."

The local BMX community is excited about getting the project done, said Leigh Jordan-Swim, treasurer for Elgin BMX Riders Association Inc., a nonprofit that runs the track. Bress was scheduled to come to Elgin next spring but had a sudden opening in his schedule, she said.

"He improved the flow so it's more competitive and enjoyable for the riders," said Jordan-Swim, who has three children who ride BMX.

The track now also sports a "cap," or 2- to 3-inch top layer of limestone that will preserve it better from the elements, making it much easier to maintain, she said. The limestone was donated by Lafarge Fox River Stone in South Elgin.

The total cost of track improvements plus concessions and electrical upgrades is $20,000 to $25,000. That will be offset by a $14,000 youth sports grant from the city of Elgin, which owns the track located in the Elgin Sports Complex, Jordan-Swim said. "Without the support of the city of Elgin our improvement projects of this scale would not have been possible," she added.

The Elgin BMX Track has a reputation for being among the best in Illinois, but it certainly needed work, Bress said. One of his main challenges was gathering enough dirt to build taller, larger jumps, he said.

"Over the years it all eroded and found its new home. It slopped off and created different little landings," he said. "I had to come in and get all that out just to get enough to build this track. Build it and they will come - it's the old cliché."

The first season run by Elgin BMX Riders Association, which just ended, was a success with 28 races, 18 practices and three instructional clinics, Jordan-Swim said. "We have a new team of volunteers who work very well together," she said.

The association might host an open ride this weekend if the weather is nice, but the track will make its official debut when the new season begins in April, she said.

Elgin BMX track closes, for now

Elgin BMX track opens today after tumultuous year

  Eric Bress uses a bobcat to smooth out a portion of the Elgin BMX Track Wednesday. Bless has worked on tracks around the world, including the BMX Track for the 2012 London Olympics. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  The city of Elgin contributed to the project by Elgin BMX Riders Association Inc. with a $14,000 youth sports grant. The track is located in the Elgin Sports Complex. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
  BMX season runs April through October, so next season will be the new track's major debut. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
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