GOLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

from Pull Magazine November/December 2022

NORTHWEST

Makenzie Palmer put a golden background to her plate in 1516x girls.

PHOTOS & WORDS BY GORK

Lincoln Park BMX in Port Angeles, WA is one of those hidden gems in BMX. It is the most northernly, westwardly BMX track in the USA - and right across the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Victoria, BC. Smack dab in between is the dotted line that separates the United States from Canada. But that’s beside the point.

Everybody at Lincoln Park BMX, especially TO Sean Coleman, who along with his dedicated volunteer staff, has made this facility so incredible. To get to the starting gates, you go up the hill and cross a bridge. Underneath that bridge is the exit after you cross the finish line. But that’s beside the point.

Being so far northwestardly, USA BMX wasn’t sure how large the Gold Cup Finals would be - but were pleasantly surprised to roll out nearly 130 motos with over 680 riders. But that’s beside the point.

The NW Finals brought out plenty of good comp - including Full Tilt Radio’s Lincoln Park local Wyatt “WyFi” Christensen. The Ponk rockers were out in full force, as was Dan Bushnell’s Bike Masters squad. But that’s beside the point.

What IS the point, is the fact that hundreds of Northwest. BMX fanatics got their shot at the fame and glory that goes with earning the coveted yellow background plate. Gold Cup No.1 Champs were presented the award, number one plate and a sweet USA BMX / DK Gold Cup jacket. And that is what it’s all about.

Nick Denton getting his style dialed for the golden weekend.

The #raceface is real when gold is on the line.

Chayse Mrazek preping for that turn two carve over Desoto’s step-table. The stands were packed to watch the action Under the Big Top, especially when 26-35inter battles into turn one.

PHOTOS & WORDS BY JUSTIN WAHL

SOUTH CENTRAL

It was finally time, the South Central region had been battling at qualifiers all year long, but for this DK Gold Cup weekend, the battles were Texas sized and Under the Big Top at Desoto BMX.

First timers, series regulars, and race fans from across the region packed into Desoto BMX to see the action going down and racers delivered with some awesome laps. In 10 & Under Girls Cruiser the 10 rider class ready to bang bars with Harper Vescuso and Payton Johnson battling it out for the top spot on the podium. While some racers traveled in from out of state for the weekend, others simply brought their local battles to the DK Gold Cup like 15-16x girl’s Grecia Cristodulo and Shelby Elder.

It wasn’t just the young guns battling it out, the 36-40x class was out for gold as well. Spider-Man Sean Maclaskey, Justin Dodson, Michael Gresham, and James Phillip went wheel to wheel down the first straight and showed their veteran maneuvers as they fought to the line to finish the weekend with Maclaskey, Dodson, and Gresham going 1-2-3 in Sunday’s mains.

“Tay Tay” Taya Boecker leads the charge around Rum River BMX in 13-14 Girls Cru.

NORTH CENTRAL

PHOTOS BY DOUG TESSMAN WORDS BY JUSTIN WAHL

The indoor speed ran rampant through the North Central DK Gold Cup Finals, with Minnesota’s Rum River BMX hosting the golden weekend for the region. Track changes to the facility gave locals a slight upper hand in fighting for the podium spots, but once the main event battles came, it was anyone’s race through Isanti, MN.

With a lot of power coming down the front straight away, 46-50 intermediate saw a shot out of the middle leading Brent Visser to the top of Saturday’s win. And then again, just two classes later, we witnessed the “Lightning Bug” Selena White, who must have been taking notes on how to lay down a fast lap through Rum River BMX.

Indoor, good food, and fast racing action. What else could you ask for from a DK Gold Cup Finals weekend? Oh, right. The Gold Cup titles. Standing proud on the podium with plates in hand and jackets waiting to the side in champs lane. For East Bethel, MN’s Sheila Kauppi, the laps were fast, and the weekend was Gold as she powered her way to both bikes district champ status.

When we return to Rum River BMX, something is added to improve the events. But after so many years in Isanti, we were curious what the volunteer crew had in the works for the next weekend.

Kayden Rusk charges to gold in 11x for the Sprocket Racing crew.

The Chipmunk brought out the speed to defend his title. Big battles went down with Gus Richard (7), Tyler Pollock (13), and Ryan Underhill (30).

SOUTHEAST

PHOTOS & WORDS BY GMO

Tucked into the back of High Springs Sports Complex is one of the most dialed tracks not only in Florida, but nationwide. High Springs BMX is home to BMX superstars Mackenzie “Skittles” Gayheart and Profile’s Profile’s team member and High Spring’s track operator extraordinaire, John Pringle. Word on the street is that John has been known to spend more time at the track working than he spends at his own home. All that hard work paid off with the facility being awarded the first ever Gold Cup Championship Finals ever hosted in the Sunshine State. Despite the threat of Hurricane Ian which was looming to the southwest out in the Gulf of Mexico, racers showed up from 14 states to do battle for the gold. With 449 riders, Florida showed up and showed out as they always do anytime that there’s a big race in the state.

With near perfect weather, the racing was intense as you’ll see in the following photos. Congratulations to everyone that met their goals and left the event with jackets and new rankings. We’re sure that the golden plates earned will be flowing throughout the Southeast and beyond. Until next time…

Looking FLY with the incognito kits in 46-50N. Flying high in High Springs with Aiden Guidry (17) and Wyatt Hicks (Nag10)

Warren Gordon charging around turn two for the Black Crown Georgia crew.

Katy Cyrus charges the DK Gold Cup podium in 13x girls.

PHOTOS & WORDS BY JUSTIN WAHL SOUTHWEST

It was finally RACE DAY at the ranch and the Vegas vibes joined us for a race weekend that compelimented the desert sun. With the Southwest region itching for the Gold Cup action, Whitney Mesa BMX was the perfect place to satisfy that itch.

With one of the region’s best first straights, racers were taking their speed to new levels into turn one. Defending DK Gold Cup Champ, Cj Cariaso took his big 20” and 24” speed to the 15 Cruiser class to battle with Factory LRC’s Ryder Gondini. With the speed and flow of the track, some style was beginning to rise and it came from a bright yellow jacket racer, Camel Joe (chain wallet and all).

Once Sunday’s mains rolled into staging the racers of the Southwest could see the podium in their sights. Battles like the 9x class with GQ Novak and The Patriot Walkingto, or the turn one blast of Shatty Shatswell and Easy-e Raymond in 13x were in close running for the #RaceoftheDay. But that crown went to 16x where Joaquin Estrada and Dominic Pedotto fended off the rest of the field as they had a battle of their own. That race started with a Estrada holeshot but ended with a Pedotto win and top spot on the DK Gold Cup podium.

A whole host of rippers prepare for gold in 11-13 Boys & Girls practice at Whitney Mesa BMX.

NORTHEAST

PHOTOS & WORDS BY JAMES PENNUCCI

The DK Bicycles Northeast Gold Cup Finals was held at Trilogy Park BMX in Pottstown, PA this year. It has been four years since the big red truck rolled into the parking lot here, and it was for the 2018 Stars and Stripes Nationals the last time. Trilogy Park BMX is an incredibly smooth, tight and technical track that everyone in the area loves.

Friday’s pre-race kicked off the weekend and it was nice out with some great racing. Saturday morning we woke up to the sound of rain on the roof, after a quick check of the weather you could see rain coming for some of the morning but it was supposed to clear by noon. Sunday was forecast with nonstop rain, this led to rumors of a two in one day event. Shortly after practice started the call was made to run both races on Saturday to try and get in the event in as dry as possible conditions, this happens from time to time.

The rain didn’t stop the racing though, I doubt it stopped many from racing either. You prepare all year for this weekend by trying to get the best scores and you cannot let some bad weather get in your way of the golden jackets or number plates. With the rain not ending any time soon, the call was made to run a single moto transfer for the second race, which is usually a good call. If you are racing in heavy rain, you might as well get it over as quick as possible.