SPRINGDALE — The cycling boom that is exploding across Northwest Arkansas is about to get even bigger.
The Jones Center announced on Tuesday two big events that will simultaneously take regional cycling to an even higher level with the construction of the new world-class Runway Bike Park pump track, which will then allow the Center to host the Red Bull Pump Track Championships in October.
The announcement came during a ground-breaking ceremony Tuesday morning at The Jones Center, where it was revealed that Velosolutions, a European company that designs and builds pump tracks, would build the largest facility of its kind in the country at The Jones Center. The construction is expected to be completed in early September, said Mike Gilbert, the Chief Operating Officer for The Jones Center.
"Velosolutions and Red Bull got together this year and launched their inaugural Pump Track World Championships," Gilbert said. "The final race was to be held in Sweden, but for one reason or another, that race began to become iffy. At the same time, we were in lengthy discussions with Velosolutions to build a track here, which would be the largest track in North America."
Red Bull approached The Jones Center when it looked like Sweden would not be able to host the world championships, Gilbert said.
The sides met and worked through several issues once the track construction was cleared by the FAA, a step made necessary because of the track's close proximity to the Springdale Airport runway.
Once The Jones Center got the clearance from the FAA, Red Bull and Velosolutions met with Gilbert and other Jones Center leaders and struck a deal for the world championships to be held here this fall on Oct. 12-13.
The construction of the pump track, which will feature amenities like a timing mechanism built into the track for riders to link into to check their times, is expected to be completed by Labor Day, Gilbert said.
"This is a validation of all the investments that the Walton Family Foundation has made for biking infrastructure in Northwest Arkansas," Gilbert said. "This validates that Northwest Arkansas is a premier biking destination in America."
Qualifying for the world championships began in March in The Netherlands and other races have been held in The Philippines, New Zealand, The Netherlands, India, Japan and Germany just to name a few. There were also events held in Oklahoma City and Leavenworth, Wash.
A pump track combines rolling jumps with high-banked turns on an asphalt surface. The track is ideal for both mountain bikers and BMX riders, Gilbert said.
Once the track is completed, Gilbert said he is hopeful that other groups will be able to utilize the facility, including high school racing leagues. They will also be working closely with schools to bring students to the track with a bike rental program, a bike safety program and other events geared to feed the ever-growing biking population in Northwest Arkansas.
"We've been planning on this track for over a year," Gilbert said. "All the nuts and bolts are in place where the FAA approval was really the catalyst that pushed us from planning to action."
The pump track is one of three that will be built on The Jones Center grounds. There will also be a single-track flow track and a strider track for the youngest of riders who use balance bikes, Gilbert said.
"The intent of our skills park is that everybody from a toddler to senior adult who wants to develop skills here can do that here, then go out on the trails," Gilbert said.
