They pedaled furiously through bumpy straightaways and navigated berm turns, tackling gnarly 180s, sharp 90s, and long sweeping curves.

Hundreds of BMX riders and their families, from parents to grandparents, wonder why Chula Vista BMX suddenly shut down just over a week ago. I reached out to the world-renowned BMX (bicycle motocross)  track via Instagram but have not received a response. Before the shut-down, a post appeared on their account, with 14,000 followers: "My heart hurts to type this. Join us Aug. 24th for our final race at Chula Vista BMX. This place has changed lives, and we accomplished so much. Join us as we hit the track and have our final race!"

That Saturday, at 3:30 p.m., groups of eight kids of all ages lined up at the gate. As the green light flashed, the metal gate dropped, and the riders descended a 24-foot slope. They pedaled furiously through bumpy straightaways and navigated berm turns, tackling gnarly 180s, sharp 90s, and long sweeping curves. The course featured short hills followed by taller ones and tabletop jumps, perfect for catching air and showing off for the spectators. Parents and friends cheered wildly, aware that this was their final hoorah. As the sun set in the west, the stadium-style lights at 2800 Olympic Parkway were switched off—for good.

The Chula Vista track, built with Olympic funding and designed for Olympians and semi-professional athletes, was too challenging for younger riders.

No one responded despite my efforts to contact others online for more information. Speculation abounds. Some suggesting  a Walmart supercenter, multi-dweller units, or pickleball courts might replace the track where riders once trained for the Olympics— including Beijing in 2008 to the most recent games in Paris.

"It all started in SoCal with a few boys on modified Schwinn StingRays."

The comment section to the post was filled: "So many great memories that I will look back on forever," shared Cameron Stow on Instagram. "It wasn’t just a track, but a family. Thank you for everything you and Kas put into that track and the community. The sport of BMX has forever changed because of you guys, Danny, the Abbes, and everyone who spent time on that track. Thank you for the memories: summer camp, nationals, Saturday night racing—all of it shaped my childhood in many ways, and I’m better because of it. I love that the legacy continues with San Diego BMX. Love you guys!" Many others echoed Stow's sentiments, sharing their fond memories and gratitude.

Since Chula Vista BMX is now closed, two official BMX tracks remain in the county: San Diego BMX at 3170 Armstrong Street in Kearny Mesa and Cactus Park BMX in Lakeside.

Vincent McCurdy, who has owned and run Cactus Park BMX since 1989, weighed in on the closure. "Chula Vista BMX closed because it was too big; rent cost too much, maintenance, everything cost too much," he explained. "That's what we're all running into. It's insane!" McCurdy added that his rent had increased from $200 to $2,000 a month.

He also pointed out another issue: the Chula Vista track was too advanced for younger children. "Our rider base is between 5-11 years old," he noted. The Chula Vista track, built with Olympic funding and designed for Olympians and semi-professional athletes, was too challenging for younger riders. "They built three Olympic-style race tracks, and they're all gone now. There was an amateur track and two professional tracks," McCurdy added.

Jerry Lynn: "There are simply not enough tracks."

Bicycle Moto Cross (BMX) emerged in the early 1970s when young riders in San Diego and Southern California in general  began racing their bicycles on dirt tracks, inspired by motocross racing by motorcycles. The sport quickly gained popularity among kids who sought the thrill of speed, the challenge of navigating jumps. During its heyday, San Diego County boasted more than five tracks, each buzzing on weekends.

Jerry Lynn, one of San Diego's original BMX riders and his buddies were featured in a 1975 San Diego County Bicycle Motocross booklet. "For most children, organized BMX racing isn't accessible," Lynn explained. "There are simply not enough tracks. As an avid skateboarder in the late '70s, I remember constantly hunting down dry swimming pools across San Diego. Back then, only a handful of us could even skate in swimming pools."

Uncle Jay, another skateboarder and BMX rider from the Critical Mass group—a collective known for its massive bike rides that often blocked traffic across San Diego County—shared his concerns. "Man, without accessible BMX tracks, kids are going to find places to ride and do crazy stuff they see on YouTube, with no supervision," he warned. "That's dangerous because some of these pro cyclists will jump hundreds of feet." Uncle Jay recounted how he and his BMX buddies would bunny hop onto Porsches and Corvettes during Critical Mass gatherings downtown. "We were crazy, just chasing that adrenaline. The thing is, when legit tracks are torn down, kids follow other kids who do dumb stuff. Ask anyone—we BMXers led the pack in Critical Mass."

Lynn, now 66, continues to ride his BMX bike solo. "I still enjoy riding my bicycles off-road two to three times a week, taking every opportunity to throw big-air off jumps with an occasional 80- to 100-mile road ride," he said. "It's been a lifelong journey racing BMX, road, cyclocross, and now gravel. And it all started in SoCal with a few boys on modified Schwinn Sting-Rays and a dirt lot."