Skip to content

New Nanaimo bike park opens, honours Canadian champion

Hundreds attend opening of Steve Smith Bike Park in Nanaimo.
8051723_web1_170815-NBU-SteveSmithBikePark---IMGP7521
A new bike park opened Wednesday in honour of Canadian world champion gravity racer Steve Smith. (CHRIS BUSH/The News Bulletin)

Novices to professionals, some from as far off as Australia, and their families made up the hundreds who attended the opening of Steve Smith Bike Park on Wednesday.

The new facility, created in Nanaimo’s Beban Park next to the Marie Davidson BMX Park, includes a dirt jump track with features and runs ranging from beginner to expert difficulty levels and two paved pump tracks, one for beginners and the other for advanced riders.

Steve Smith Bike Park was named for Steve Smith, the Canadian Chainsaw, 2013 world champion downhill mountain bike racer from Cassidy who died in a motorcycling accident in 2016.

The creation of the bike park in Nanaimo where cyclists, scooter riders and skateboarders of all skill levels could hone their skills on a world class track was a dream of Smith’s and of the late Marie Davidson, co-founder and longtime president of Nanaimo BMX Association.

“A lot of emotions today,” said Mike Davidson, Marie’s son, who emceed the opening ceremonies. “A lot of happy emotions, but emotions and just so happy to see it’s just finally resulted here for the kids in the community. It’s what Stevie wanted. It’s what my mother wanted years ago. It’s just great that it’s finally come to completion.”

Instead of a ribbon cutting, Smith’s mother Tiana used a chainsaw to buzz a log in half and also assisted in unveiling a sign featuring an image of her son and chainsaw bar with the words “long live chainsaw” cut out of the metal.

“It means everything,” Tiana Smith said of the sign and the facility. “Everything has been done and thought of as what Steve would like.”

Approximately 85 sponsors contributed to construction of the park and the opening ceremonies, including bike manufacturers Norco, GT, Devinci and Fox which gave away 25 bicycles and helmets to children of underprivileged families during the event.

Professional riders also turned out to ride in Smith’s honour and sign promotional materials for fans.

“I love it,” said professional downhill racer Magnus Manson, referring to the jump track. “It’s got every level on it, so you can work your way up … I’ve seen a few [tracks]. Not quite like this, so it’s good.”

Nanaimo RCMP were also on hand to register bikes with the Project 529 Garage bicycle anti-theft online app and local bike vendors contributed draw prizes and bike repair and adjustments.

Steve Smith Bike Park was completed through a partnership between the Gyro Club, Steve Smith Legacy Fund and in-kind donations from private sponsors. The city also contributed $200,000 toward the project in November.

photos@nanaimobulletin.com



Chris Bush

About the Author: Chris Bush

As a photographer/reporter with the Nanaimo News Bulletin since 1998.
Read more