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The Garden Trail Kicks Up Dust for Dirt Bike Event

By Jackie Kostek | August 16, 2013 9:48am
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DNAinfo/Jackie Kostek

NORTH CENTER— Chicago may have lost out on hosting the X Games, but dirt bikers have a chance to show off their gnarliest tricks Saturday at "The Garden Jumps Trail Jam in Bloom" at Clark Park in North Center.

"'In bloom' means we're actually fully here, we're right here, we're established, the jumps are the way we want them," said trail boss Dominic Vasquez, who has been working with The Garden since 2008, before it was actually sanctioned by the Chicago Park District. "We're just saying we're here."

During the daylong event, there will be two main bike competitions — a pump track time trial and a “most creative line” contest — more than $3,000 in raffle prizes, “secret prizes,” demos, and an open ride time at the end of the event.

Vasquez said there will be a slew of vendors including Kozy’s, Roscoe Village Bikes, Chrome, The Bike Lane and KHS.

The jump trails — which are a hefty stone’s throw from Lane Tech College Prep and across the street from DeVry University — have been a sanctioned part of Clark Park since 2009, and have since grown to include a pump track and three main jump lines of varied difficulty.

“It’s more for the beginner and novice riders, but some of the advanced riders can really use this course to get warm and train, exert a little energy,” said Vasquez.

“Most of the guys here, I have to say, really prefer jumping,” said Vasquez, with a laugh.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at The Garden bike trails in Clark Park at 3400 N. Rockwell Avenue in North Center.

No idea what “pump track” means? Watch the video.