The heat from the summer sun was quite fitting for this year's Canadian BMX Championships, held June 28-29, at Ridge Meadows, B.C., the first championships to ever host a Hawaiian theme! The weekend also doubled as the third BMX Canada Cup event of the season.

Ridge Meadows BMX Track hosted the event and guaranteed a weekend of festivities that would surround the championship races. The venue's schedule of events highlighted Saturday night's salmon BBQ and surf band entertainment, as well as the possibility of a dunk tank setup! Nevertheless, it was safe to say that fun was had by all!

The racing began and after two hot days in the sun the results were in. In the men's pro category Tyler Clarke edged out the competition to take the national title. Kurt Pascheit won the silver, with Tyson McGreg taking the bronze. Canada Cup series leader, Cory Banks, was fifth.

The talented Samantha Cools rode a gold medal race to secure her title in the Super Girls category. Cools will be competing this year at the BMX Worlds to defend her silver medal from 2002. Christine Miller, ranked second in the Canada Cup series, took the silver medal on the podium. Lori Smith was third.

Youth Patrick Lebel, Current Canada Cup leader in both the Pro Cruiser and Super Class, took the title in the men's Super Class. Damian Bissett took second followed by Curtis Jensen in third. Lebel went on to win himself another medal in the men's Pro Cruiser category, although this time it was bronze! In the end, it was Aaron Lepp who won the gold, leaving Adam Miys the silver.

After the weekend's events, riders had accumulated enough points to affect their Canada Cup overall standings. After three events, Cory Banks is leading the Pro Men's category, Samantha Cools is leading the Supergirls, and Patrick Lebel is leading the race for points in both the Pro Cruiser and Super Class ranks.

Look for these 2003 Champions to be Canada's Olympic hopefuls as well! At the end of the championship weekend, halfway across the world, the International Olympic Committee Executive decided to include BMX in the XXIX Summer Olympics in Beijing in August 2008.