{"id":21881,"date":"2025-06-11T17:50:20","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T23:50:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/cortez-bmx-on-track-for-another-big-summer\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T22:10:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T04:10:18","slug":"cortez-bmx-on-track-for-another-big-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/cortez-bmx-on-track-for-another-big-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Cortez BMX on track for another big summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Ian
Ian Tischhauser,left, and Quincy Hunt race neck-and-neck down the first stretch of the track on Monday, June 9 at the Baxter Family BMX Track in Cortez. Erika Alvero\/Special to The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

CORTEZ \u2013 Southwest Colorado continues to develop their rich tradition of producing some of the greatest athletes on two wheels. From Cortez\u2019s Eli Tomac in Motocross to Durango\u2019s Sepp Kuss in road cycling, every great area cyclist got their start somewhere.<\/p>\n

For many Montezuma County youths, the Cortez BMX track is that very place.<\/p>\n

Cortez BMX operators Mark and Stacey Baxter are nearing two decades at the helm of the operation \u2013 and in that time, they\u2019ve championed the development of countless young riders on the track that in 2018 was renamed after them to honor their contributions.<\/p>\n

The sounds on a summer weeknight at the Baxter Family BMX Track have become a mainstay in the community \u2013 the whirring of tire rubber on packed dirt, the shouts of excitement from a rider catching air over one of the table tops, and the cheers from family and friends watching the fast-paced action.<\/p>\n

On any given Monday night \u2013 which serves as the weekly race night to complement Tuesday evening practices \u2013 several dozen riders aged two through adult will take to the course that surpassed its 25th birthday this past year.<\/p>\n

\"A
A rider pops a wheelie at the opening of his race heat on Monday, June 9th at the Baxter Family BMX Track in Cortez. Erika Alvero\/Special to The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cOur goal is to provide a fun and family-friendly racing facility,\u201d said Mark Baxter, \u201cthere are only 10 sanctioned BMX tracks in the state, and we feel fortunate to have one of them here in Cortez.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cortez BMX prides itself on working with riders of all ability levels, whereby a racer starts at a novice level, but with enough race victories, they can move up to intermediate and expert levels.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want our kids to be able to have a healthy competitive spirit, as well as build skills and friendships,\u201d added Baxter.<\/p>\n

While a rider must be a member of Cortez BMX in order to participate, they can sign up at cortezbmx.org or reach out via email (cortezbmx@gmail.com<\/a>) or social media on Facebook or Instagram. From there, the organization works hard with its volunteer-driven operation to make sure that accessibility isn\u2019t an issue for new riders.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Trenton Pawlicki Memorial Scholarship helps with financial assistance, and we also have loaner bikes and helmets if a rider is in need on race day,\u201d said Baxter.<\/p>\n

\"Ezra
Ezra Pearce (right) and Eli Lindsay round the first berm of their BMX heat on Monday, June 9th at the Baxter Family BMX Track in Cortez. Erika Alvero\/Special to The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Cortez BMX has leaned on community support, from the volunteer crew that maintains the track surface to the local sponsors that help make sure that there aren\u2019t financial limitations to athletes who want to participate. The course itself, which is open to the public, benefits from only nonmotorized bike use in order to maintain its priority as a safe and fast surface.<\/p>\n

Much like the success seen by other cyclists in the Four Corners region, Cortez BMX has turned out plenty of successful riders of their own. The program produced two state champions and six additional top-10 performances last year, according to Baxter, and has visions of continued success this season, too.<\/p>\n

The Baxter Family BMX Track will host a state qualifying race on Saturday, June 21 beginning at 1 p.m., where around 150 riders from across the state will descend on Cortez for a chance to advance to the state championships.<\/p>\n

\"Abel
Abel Hoffman powers up a hill at the Cortez BMX track Monday night, followed closely behind by Cedar Blacow and Eli Hall at the Baxter Family BMX Track in Cortez. Erika Alvero\/Special to The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Cortez BMX also tracks point leaders in their various divisions on their website to determine leaders on their local circuit.<\/p>\n

To get started, interested riders can either reach out to cortezbmx@gmail.com<\/a>, or they can show up to the track on race or practice nights and learn more from the volunteer instructors. Riders will need bikes with tires no larger than 20\u201d that are stripped of reflectors and kickstands and have the front brakes disabled. They\u2019ll also be required to wear helmets, along with long sleeve shirts and long pants.<\/p>\n

Cortez BMX has races on Monday nights with registration from 5:30- 6 p.m., followed by racing. Every other Saturday is also a race day, while Tuesdays serve as practice time from 5:30 \u2013 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do registration all summer long,\u201d added Baxter, as the program runs from May through September, \u201cso it\u2019s never too late to get started. We encourage anyone interested to come out on race days to get a complete sense of the BMX experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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