It was a ‘storeybook’ finish for an Okotoks racer at the BMX nationals. Okotoks teenager Tristan Storey picked up a pair of national titles in the 24-inch cruiser and 20-inch divisions at the Canadian BMX Championships, July 7-8 in Drummondville, Quebec. “It feels pretty awesome knowing you hold the title,” said Storey. “From here there is still lots to improve on, but it does feel good to know you were the fastest and you know where you stand. It’s neat.” Storey cruised through qualification in the cruiser division, earning the plate in first in all three races. The lowest point totals in each race advance through. He still had a job to do in the eight-person final. “It all comes down to that one race,” he said. “The pressure kind of got to me at the end. It was nerve-racking in the way that you wanted to do well and I had a lot on my mind. “I just put my head down and envisioned myself winning and how I could do it and what I needed to do.” Storey got off to a torrent start and didn’t look back, leading pole to pole in the final. “I had a really good start and just managed to keep the lead,” he said. The non-cruiser event, for 20-inch sized wheels, played out very similarly for the Okotokian. As a top qualifier, he had the choice of gates to start from, choosing to be in the middle in number three. “I was nervous about what gate to pick because my competition, how I did would have been on what gate I had, whether I was inside our outside,” he said. “I guess I chose the right gate.” At just 13, Storey – a former member of Okotoks BMX now training with the Calgary BMX Club — is already a veteran of the national competition. He made his debut at the championships at nine in St. Albert and this year in Drummondville marked his sixth appearance at the event. You can’t buy that kind of experience. “It helps with pressure and being nervous,” he said. “You know what to expect, every lap has to be at one hundred per cent. If it’s not, you won’t win.” The Okotoks BMX Club was well represented in La Belle Province. Giuliana Bregliano, 11, was the top club finisher with a second place showing. In the 14-year-old girls category, Okotoks finished in the third and fourth spot through Isabella Bregliano and Sophie Gibbs, respectively. Fifteen-year-old Rylan Slapman cruised into a fifth place finish while Matteo Bregliano was 10th in the 15-17 category. The parents got in on the act as well. In the 45-49 male age group, Marco Bregliano earned a fifth place finish in the cruiser. The Okotoks racers will get a chance for more medals in their own backyard when Okotoks BMX plays host to the 2018 Alberta BMX Grands and Provincial Championships on Sept. 8-9. For more information go to okotoksbmx.com
