The USA BMX Great Northwest Nationals return to the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond this Friday through Sunday for the 17th edition.

Featuring hundreds of professional and amateur BMX riders from across the country at the First Interstate Bank Center, the national competition is a West Coast staple in the world of BMX.

According to a news release, last year’s USA BMX Great NorthWest Nationals brought in 3,801 people per day and more than 900 athletes representing 21 states and three countries for the three-day event.

“The USA BMX Great Northwest Nationals event is a significant driver of hotel occupancy in our area during a typically slower tourism period,” said director of business development at Visit Central Oregon, JoAnna Eisler. “As a sponsor of this event, we’ve seen it attract thousands of visitors to the region, filling our hotels and supporting local businesses. This event, the people who participate as competitors and attendees are valuable to our community, and 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.”

Races begin at 1:30 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday, with participants racing well into the evening. Parking is $10 per day, and fans are welcome to watch and cheer on their favorite riders as they expertly navigate jumps, twists and turns along the track.

Two Central Oregon riders who race for Smith Rock BMX in Redmond and will represent their home track this weekend include Mallory Aldridge, 14, and Owen Parrott, 7.

Smith Rock BMX is Redmond’s premier BMX track, located about six miles from the First Interstate Bank Center. Parrott was named Smith Rock BMX’s 2021 Rider of the Year, and both Aldridge and Parrott are ranked No. 1 in the state for BMX in their respective age groups.

The BMX Great Northwest Nationals will include dozens of local riders from both Smith Rock BMX in Redmond and Bend BMX, located at Big Sky Park in northeast Bend.

Established as the American Bicycle Association in 1977 and headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA BMX is the nation’s largest cycling organization with more than 70,000 members and combined racing and freestyle events at more than 300 sanctioned BMX tracks across the United States and Canada. According to usabmx.com, USA BMX “empowers and elevates the early stages of bicycle development by creating opportunities through facility development, programs, and national events.”

BMX made its Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Games and will be staged at the Olympics for a sixth time at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

For more information, visit usabmx.com.