Health and Fitness

Red Bull X-Fighters at Glen Helen Raceway

May 12, 2013 by Ole 1 Comment

I took my oldest son to the Red Bull X-Fighters competition at Glen Helen Raceway yesterday. The stands were packed, but after a few wind delays, the event was canceled.

In between wind delays, the event started and proceeded through rider introductions, but ended before the actual competition began.

Kim Coates (Tig from Sons of Anarchy) and Zakk Wylde opened the show:

The eight riders came out for their introductions and performed a few warm up jumps:

More wind delays followed the introductions, but we got to briefly see the Red Bull trophy truck in action:

Since there was nothing else to take pictures of during the wind delays, I snapped a few of the TV helicopters:

After another wind delay, we finally gave up and went to the exit to catch a tram back to the parking area at San Manuel. Unfortunately, the trams weren’t there. When the show was finally canceled, and everyone else headed to the exits, there were still no trams. So my son and I, and a few thousand of our closest friends, went on a hike. We found the trams and the drivers sitting at the top of the hill.

Although it didn’t seem too windy, I don’t fault the riders for not feeling safe to ride in the wind. I don’t do backflips 40 feet in the air, but I do know what it is like to ride a motorcycle and get hit by a gust of wind.

I was very frustrated with the way the delays were handled and the horrible mismanagement of the trams. We had no problem making the trek back to the parking area, but there were many people who did have a hard time. I would like to know why this happened, but for now I will accept my refund.

BMX Pros Trick Team at Corona Crossings – 2013

April 28, 2013 by Ole 1 Comment

After a morning of BMX racing yesterday, we stopped by the Crossings at Corona to watch the BMX Pros Trick Team show. This is the second year in a row that the BMX Pros Trick Team has performed at Corona Crossings. Hopefully they will be back next year too.

Here are some pictures of the action:

Dustin McCarty:

Rob Nolli:

Gabe Weed:

Phil Hajal:

Hesperia BMX Grand Opening

April 17, 2013 by Ole Leave a Comment

Congratulations to Hesperia BMX on its grand opening last Saturday. Despite high winds and some initial starting gate problems, racers young and old enjoyed a good day of racing.

This is a fun track to ride, and is probably a very fast track when the wind isn’t such a factor. Hesperia BMX also has a separate Strider track for the youngsters who aren’t quite ready to pedal around the big track.

We look forward to heading out to Hesperia again for a normal race day sometime soon.

For more information about the track, please visit hesperiabmx.com.

To find more tracks in and around the Inland Empire, check out our BMX Track Directory.

Interested in BMX Racing?

March 20, 2013 by Ole Leave a Comment

I raced BMX when I was a kid in the early 1980s. BMX, which stands for Bicycle Motocross, began right here in Southern California sometime around the early 1970s with a bunch of kids racing Schwinn Stingrays in dirt lots. BMX racing is now an Olympic sport.

When my sons told me that they wanted to try BMX racing, I did a little research and came up with a list of BMX tracks in and around the Inland Empire, which you can view here: BMX Tracks – Riverside and Beyond

BMX racing is an individual sport that rewards personal achievement and requires self-reliance. Once you are at the starting gate, it is just you against up to seven other riders. If you want to win or get a trophy, you have to work hard and earn it. In my opinion, this is good training for when my sons become adults and have to earn their way in the real world.

BMX is also a great family sport that promotes good sportsmanship. I like this passage from the USA BMX 2013 Official Rulebook:

Pro riders are an example for all future BMXers. As a Pro, you are in the spotlight, and a role model. Good sportsmanship, fair play, clean riding, and good conduct are very important. All Pro riders are expected to act accordingly.

If your child is interested in trying out BMX (or if you are), click here for a list of local tracks. Tracks sponsored by USA BMX offer a one-day trial membership, so you don’t have to commit to a full membership if you just want to try it out. Many tracks also have helmets that you can borrow, and the track operators are very helpful.

BMX has definitely changed since I stopped racing in the 1980s. The tracks have more jumps, knobby tires seem to be extinct, and there are quite a few people in their 30s, 40s and 50s out on the track riding 24” cruisers. I don’t remember seeing many adults out on the track when I was a kid.

Watching the other old guys race inspired me to get back out there too. After about 30 years off the bike, it has been a very humbling experience… and a lot of fun.

When my sons play baseball, soccer or other team sports, I have to watch from the sidelines. With BMX, I get to ride with my sons and race them around the track before the races begin.

BMX is fun.

BMX Pros Trick Team at Corona Crossings

April 28, 2012 by Ole 1 Comment

We went to the Crossings at Corona today to have lunch and ended up watching a freestyle BMX show put on by the BMX Pros Trick Team.

My sons and I enjoyed the great show these guys put on, and it made me want to dust off my vintage JMC BMX bike and go for a ride.

Here are some pictures of the BMX Pros Trick Team today at the Corona Crossings (I wish that I had brought a real camera):

Rob Nolli:

Dustin McCarty:

Gabe Weed:

Richie Lopez:

Riverside Magnum Range

December 12, 2011 by Ole 3 Comments

I like to visit the shooting range every now and then. The closest one to me is Riverside Magnum Range.

This is an indoor range located near the 91 freeway on Sampson near Buchanan Ave. I have only been to one other indoor range and that was many years ago, so I can’t really compare this place to other indoor ranges. The range has motorized target hanging systems in each lane and distance markings on the floor so you can tell how far you are sending your target down range. Although the markings end at 40 feet, I believe the maximum distance is about 50 feet.

I’ve seen law enforcement officers shoot here, which I assume is a good sign that this is a good place to go. The range has rules including no shotguns and no rapid fire, and I’ve seen the range officer walk through the shooting area many times to make sure that everyone is operating their firearms safely. The price to shoot here is pretty reasonable, especially if you are active military or law enforcement. The best deal is for women, who get to shoot for free on Thursdays. My wife has gone with me a few times to take advantage of this deal.

If you are a responsible handgun owner and want to get some practice, this place might be worth a try.

Riverside Magnum Range

12391 Sampson St # O

Riverside, CA
951-736-1236

Looking for a shooting range in the Inland Empire? Check out our directory of gun ranges in Riverside And Beyond.

Volleyball Open Gyms in Riverside?

February 25, 2010 by Ole 5 Comments

I am looking for places to play volleyball out here in Riverside.

I am mainly looking for open gyms, but I would also like to find out about leagues and grass tournaments. The only volleyball open gym that I have found out here is in Moreno Valley, so over the past few weeks I have gone back to some of the open gyms I played at years ago when I lived in Orange County.

If you know of any other places to play volleyball out here in Riverside, please let me know.

If you are looking for places to play, I have put together a list of volleyball open gyms that I know about in Orange County and the Inland Empire. I will add more as I find them.

AVP Riverside Open 2009 Finals – 3rd and Market – Riverside, CA

April 19, 2009 by Ole 1 Comment

Pro beach volleyball in Riverside? Yep.

Back in April 2009, the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) held the Riverside Open in downtown Riverside as part of the 2009 AVP Crocs Tour.

Since there is obviously no beach in downtown Riverside, I drove down to 3rd and Market a few times before the tournament started to see how asphalt could be transformed into a beach.

AVP Riverside Open Preparation – 04/10/2009:

AVP Riverside Open Preparation – 04/15/2009:

I took my daughter to watch the finals on Sunday.

In the women’s final, Elaine Youngs and Nicole Branagh beat Jennifer Kessy and April Ross in two games.

In the men’s final, Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers defeated Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal in three games.

Six of the eight players in the final matches played beach volleyball for the USA in 2008. The remaining two players became Olympians in 2012. It is pretty cool to look back and realize that we got to watch eight Olympic athletes play beach volleyball in downtown Riverside. Combined, these players account for 6 Olympic medals (2 gold: Dalhausser / Rogers in 2008, 2 silver: Kessy / Ross in 2012, and 2 bronze: Ross in 2016 and Youngs in 2004).

I have been very involved in volleyball as a player, coach and fan, but this was the first and only AVP event I have ever attended. The City of Riverside seemed to have done a very good job organizing this event with the AVP. We had absolutely no problems finding parking or getting into the venue.

Unfortunately for local volleyball fans, the AVP tour hasn’t returned to Riverside… yet. Maybe someday.

** Originally posted on 04/19/09; updated on 04/14/18 **