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Health and Fitness

Say Goodbye to the World Famous Orange Y BMX Track

August 26, 2016 by Ole 1 Comment

The YMCA of Orange is shutting down the iconic Orange Y BMX track at the end of this month.  Since 1977, this track has provided fun, fitness and friendship for boys and girls of all ages…

Related post: One Last Lap at the World Famous Orange Y BMX Track – 08/27/16

Orange Y BMX - 2015 State Race
Orange Y BMX - 2015 State Race

Orange Y BMX - 2015 State Race

Orange Y BMX - 2015 State Race

Here are some excerpts from public statements posted by Orange Y BMX and the YMCA of Orange, which offer differing explanations of why the track is being closed:

From the Orange Y BMX Facebook page:

ORANGE Y BMX was started by local parents on YMCA property in the late 70’s to keep kids busy and out of trouble. Today the sport has grown all around the world and has become an Olympic sport. BMXers from around the world know ORANGE Y BMX as the Mecca of BMX in Orange County. Today 40 years later the YMCA board and CEO Jimmy Ozaeta have decided to close the only program on their property that benefits thousands of families yearly. Tripling the cost to operate wasn’t enough .They want to charge BMX 10,000.00 a month to use a vacant lot that local parents started the track on.

Shame on YMCA of Orange they forget who they serve.

Last event on this site is AUGUST 28,2016 SUNDAY .Please come out and support us as it’s the last time kids will race BMX in Orange County.

From the YMCA of Orange Facebook page:

As committed volunteers of our community-driven organization, it’s our responsibility to maximize our asset in an effort to serve more youth and families. As an organization we made a concerted effort to allow the current track operator to extend their lease agreement in April, but when it became evident that the BMX track operator was neither going to extend their existing lease agreement nor respond to our request to submit a proposal, we, as a board, then needed to take a different course of action as to the future plans of our property. As a non-profit, we can’t be expected (nor are we able) to subsidize the operational expenses of a for-profit business. Contrary to the inaccurate statements made by, or on behalf of, the track operator, we adamantly deny that our organization requested an absurd monthly lease rate, and that our organization is at the brink of bankruptcy. We would like to thank our community for your continued support during this transition.

As an organization we stand by our decision to take the necessary steps to maximize our asset. The last day of BMX programming on our property will be August 31, 2016, please focus your attention on giving this BMX track the proper send off after so many years of creating life-long memories.

I wanted to find out more, so I asked the YMCA of Orange some questions on Facebook.

YMCA of Orange - Questions Deleted about BMX

Unfortunately, my questions vanished. I have also noticed comments from other people that have disappeared, so this isn’t surprising. In addition, the page on the YMCA of Orange’s website that previously listed its leadership team now returns a “page not found” error (it is archived here).

YMCA of Orange Deleted Leadership Page

In contrast to the vanishing content on the YMCA of Orange’s Facebook page and website, the track operator has been very visible, and has even appeared on the news to share the track’s story.

Why do I care about this track? It is a part of my history. I raced here when I was a kid, and got to ride here again when my sons took up the sport about 30 years later. Riding this track (and others throughout SoCal) with my sons created memories that will last forever.

Orange Y BMX - Dad and Sons

It is very sad that this will be the last weekend for anyone else to make new memories at this track.

Although my sons have moved on to another sport, I still have a lot of friends who call this track home. I didn’t get to race as often as I would have liked when I was a kid, but I know some people who practically grew up here.

The YMCA of Orange owns the property, and is obviously allowed to use it for a different purpose. I am sure that many people will be watching the YMCA to see if the new use conforms to the mission found on the Orange YMCA’s website:

The YMCA of Orange puts Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

If not, I just might have to follow up on this issue in the future.

For now, I hope to visit the Orange Y sometime this weekend to take one last lap.  If you would like to ride this track one more time, the last scheduled event is this Sunday, 8/28. Visit orangeybmx.com for more information.

I am ending this post with some pictures of the track that my dad took back in the early 80s.  Since there is a certain novice / intermediate who didn’t race for a very long time in many of these pictures, please view them for the memories rather than the BMX skills.  Maybe you’ll see yourself in some of them.

1981 – Before the retaining wall was built on the first straight:

Orange Y BMX - 1981

1981 – Before the fence was built on the back straight:

Orange Y BMX - 1981
Orange Y BMX - 1981
Orange Y BMX - 1981

1981 – The last turn (notice how close people were allowed to park back then):

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Orange Y BMX - 1981
Orange Y BMX - 1981

1981 – The last straight:

Orange Y BMX - 1981

1982 – Summer series?

Orange Y BMX - 1982
Orange Y BMX - 1982
Orange Y BMX - 1982
Orange Y BMX - 1982
Orange Y BMX - 1982
Orange Y BMX - 1982
Orange Y BMX - 1982

1983 – First straight. It figures that I quit the sport when I finally started to get out front.

Orange Y BMX - 1983

Some info my dad picked up in 1981:

Orange Y Info - 1981
Orange Y Info - 1981
Orange Y Info - 1981

Filed Under: Fun, Sports Tagged With: bmx, orange y bmx

Women’s Volleyball – Chaffey at RCC – Nov 21, 2015

November 23, 2015 by Ole Leave a Comment

A few nights ago, I headed out to Riverside City College (RCC) to watch the play-in women’s volleyball match between Chaffey College and RCC.

RCC won the match in three sets (25-12, 25-14, 27-25), and earned the right to advance in the playoffs against Pierce College in Woodland Hills tomorrow night (11/24).

For a full recap of the game, visit the RCC Athletics website.

I also took some pictures:

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

The night’s kill leader…

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

Final kill of the match…

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

The celebration…

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

Women's volleyball: Chaffey at RCC 11/21/15

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: chaffey college, rcc, riverside city college, riverside community college, volleyball, women's volleyball

RCC Men’s Water Polo vs. West Valley – Oct 24, 2015

October 24, 2015 by Ole Leave a Comment

With two sons who play water polo, it feels like we are always out on a pool deck somewhere. Neither of our boys had games or practices today, so what did we do? We watched more water polo.

Today was the second day of a men’s junior college water polo tournament at Golden West College in Huntington Beach. The first game we watched was Riverside City College vs. West Valley College. Both teams finished second in pool play yesterday.

This was a great game. The lead changed a few times and was tied 15-15 in the 4th quarter until RCC got the go-ahead goal.

Final score: Riverside 17, West Valley 15

Here are a few pictures:

By the way, I am thinking about taking more pictures of local sports teams. If you would like to see if I can come out to a game, please contact me.

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Nice five meter save…

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Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: rcc, riverside city college, riverside community college, water polo

BMX Pros Trick Team at Corona Crossings – 2015

July 5, 2015 by Ole Leave a Comment

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For the fourth year in a row, we were able to watch the BMX Pros Trick Team show at The Crossings at Corona.

Here are some pictures of the action:

Austin Coleman:

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Jared Eberwein:

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Chris Gentry:

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Dustin McCarty:

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By the way, Dustin McCarty (the guy on the microphone) is also a rider. Here he is during one of the shows at Corona Crossings in 2013:

IMG_9456-superman

Filed Under: Fun, Sports Tagged With: bmx, bmx pros trick team, crossings at corona

Men’s Water Polo: USA vs. Serbia in Riverside, CA – 06/04/15

June 11, 2015 by Ole Leave a Comment

My oldest son got tickets to the USA-Serbia men’s water polo game in Riverside, CA through his water polo club. Since he was going to be sitting with his teammates, I decided to go off on my own and take pictures.

USA won the game 9-5, which brought their record in the four-game series against Serbia to 2-0.

Men's Water Polo: USA vs. Serbia, 06/04/15 in Riverside, CA

Men's Water Polo: USA vs. Serbia, 06/04/15 in Riverside, CA

Men's Water Polo: USA vs. Serbia, 06/04/15 in Riverside, CA

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: sports photography, usa water polo, water polo

Men’s Water Polo: USA vs. Serbia at El Toro HS – 06/07/15

June 11, 2015 by Ole Leave a Comment

We got the opportunity to attend the third water polo game in the four-game series between USA and Serbia last Sunday at El Toro High School in Lake Forest, CA.

This was a great game. Going in to the final seconds of the game, the score was tied 10-10. USA scored the winning goal with two seconds left on the clock, improving its record to 3-0 in the series.

Men's Water Polo: USA vs. Serbia, 06/07/15 at El Toro HS

Men's Water Polo: USA vs. Serbia, 06/07/15 at El Toro HS

Men's Water Polo: USA vs. Serbia, 06/07/15 at El Toro HS

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: sports photography, usa water polo, water polo

Basketball: OCC at RCC, Men and Women – 01/14/15

January 16, 2015 by Ole Leave a Comment

I watched the men’s and women’s basketball games between Orange Coast College and Riverside City College a few nights ago. I also took some pictures.

Great games.

Basketball: OCC at RCC 01/14/15

Basketball: OCC at RCC 01/14/15

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: basketball, rcc, riverside city college, sports photography

Run 4 Bacon, Temecula – 12/06/14

December 7, 2014 by Ole Leave a Comment

I drove out to Temecula yesterday to check out the Run 4 Bacon. Yes, you read that correctly… bacon and running.

We have a lot of pictures from the run, all of which can’t fit into this post. If you participated in the run and would like to see if there is a picture of you, click here… the pictures expired.

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The Run 4 Bacon included 1K (for the kids), 5K and 10K runs.

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10K start:

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5K start:

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The event featured:

– bacon-themed medals:

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– bacon-themed t-shirts:

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– and, of course, bacon… at the water stations and at the finish.

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At times, it even seemed like bacon was chasing some of the runners.

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This looked like a fun event.

A portion of the proceeds go to the Riverside County HELPline – (951) 686-HELP, which is a confidential crisis/suicide hotline.

For more information about the Run 4 Bacon, visit www.run4bacon.com.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: run4bacon, running, temecula

2014 So Cal Community College Water Polo Championship Games – Women: Fullerton vs. Riverside – Men: Golden West vs. Long Beach

November 16, 2014 by Ole Leave a Comment

We drove out to Citrus College in Glendora yesterday to watch the 2014 Southern California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Water Polo Championship games.

Riverside City College faced Fullerton College in the final match for the women. This was a great game. RCC started strong, but Fullerton battled back in the second half and won the game 9-8.

Update: Both teams advance to the State Championship Tournament at American River College in Sacramento on 11/21 and 11/22. RCC will play Diablo Valley College, the #1 seed from Northern California. Fullerton will play Foothill College, the #2 seed from Northern California. The winners of these games will play in the State Championship game.

Some pictures from the So Cal Championship game…

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Golden West College and Long Beach City College played in the final match for the men. GWC led the entire game and beat LBCC 9-5.

Update: Both teams advance to the State Championship Tournament at American River College in Sacramento on 11/21 and 11/22. GWC will play West Valley College, the #2 seed from Northern California, and LBCC will play Diablo Valley College, the #2 seed from Northen California. The winners of will play in the State Championship game.

Some pictures from the So Cal Championship game…

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Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: rcc, riverside, riverside city college, riverside community college, water polo

Harada Heritage Skatepark – Eastvale

September 20, 2014 by Ole 2 Comments

A friend invited me to the skatepark at Harada Heritage Park in Eastvale last Sunday. I didn’t ride, but I caught a bit of the action.

Fellow BMXers might recognize the guy on the bike… BMX freestyle legend, Eddie Fiola.

Enjoy the pictures:

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Harada Heritage Park
13099 65th Street
Eastvale

Filed Under: Fun, Sports Tagged With: bmx, skatepark

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