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*** Roseburg Oregon - BMXers Excel ***

Roseburg, Oregon -- 03/16/2010


Photo - Stephani and Dave Bastian show their
hardware recently at the Dillard BMX track.

Roseburg sure made a name for itself this past November: “Fast.”

The American Bicycle Association for Bicycle Motocross, commonly
known as BMX, not only crowned Roseburg native Stephani Bastian
as No. 1 in the U.S. at the 2009 Grand Nationals, but also gave a first
place trophy to Winston 13-year-old Dakota Senger, and awarded two
other nationally ranked Roseburg riders, Dave Bastian and Nicole
Woodrow. It must be in the water.

“If anyone would have told me that I would be a BMX champion,
I would have said ‘suuurrree,'” says Stephani Bastian, who was
the BMX 2009 Oregon State Champion for 46-years-old and over
Women's Cruiser category and now has a seven-and-a-half-foot-
high trophy for U.S. champion of the 46-and-over Women's Cruiser
category.

Her husband, Dave, also competed and placed ninth in nationals.
Dave won first in nationals in 1997, and now Stephani says it was
her turn.

“We have a little family competition,” says Stephani.

In addition to owning S.M. Bastian Sign in Roseburg, the mother of
three wanted to get some exercise and get out of the house. Many
mothers would take up yoga, Pilates or power walking, but not Stephani.

“I'm not an average, ordinary girl,” she said.

Taking on BMX wasn't just on a whim. Stephani and her husband,
Dave, are track operators of the BMX track in Dillard. The track had
her husband and kids pedaling away, so Stephani decided to strap
on a helmet and get dusty.

In 1996, Stephani made the goal to “kick butt” in the local tracks
Mother's Day race. After training for six months, she indeed kicked
butt and also lost a whopping 23 pounds. Stephani went to nationals
for the first time in 1996 and didn't make a main her first two years.

“As you go, you learn more,” said Stephani. “When I look at pictures
I was like fourth out of the gate then, and now I look and I am first
out of the gate."

In 1999, Stephani competed in Grand Nationals and placed second.
After the close win, Stephani couldn't wait to go back and get first.

“Winning first last year was a little check mark on my bucket list,” she
said. The mom and pop riders tacked on the nicknames “Rad Dad” and
“Rad Mom” years ago and even though the Bastians are parents to kids
ages 18, 20 and 27, announcers, friends and family still consider them
“rad.”

As for what's next, Stephani and Dave say they are “going to take
it easy.” However, taking it easy means still a lot of work. The two
opened the non-profit track for the season on March 7 and are trying
to get electricity in order to serve good food for the kids.

While the couple will try to stay involved with local competitions,
they've got other things on the bucket list.

“We are trying to build a home, run a track, be mom and dad, and
husband and wife,” Stephani said. She says they're not quitting, just
taking a little break.

Also making her mark was Roseburg's Nicole Woodrow. Woodrow
placed fourth in nationals for the 17-20 Girls Cruiser category. She's
currently training for the 2012 Olympics.

Joining her in the race for the gold medal is young Dakota Senger
who placed first in nationals for the 13 Boys Cruiser category.

At 6, Senger received his first bike, went to the track and fell in love.

“At such a young age, I had no idea that this would
become his passion,” said Rob Senger, Dakota's father.

Senger started competing at age 6 and is a part of the Factory Redline
team which competes nationally, and a part of Team USA, which is a
junior development team for the Olympics and competes worldwide.

The Grand Nationals have handed Senger a first place trophy the last
two years for best overall. This year, while Senger did place first in his
category, he surprised many when his expected win for overall turned
into fifth place due to a serious rotator cuff injury before the race.

However, Senger was still smiling.

“My goal was to come out with a No. 1 title,
and I came out with one,” he said.

Depending on the speed of his recovery, Senger plans on traveling
to South Africa in July for the World Championships. Senger has
competed in Canada and Australia, as well as all over the nation.

“I get to go a lot more places than a normal kid,” he said, chuckling.

A pair of young riders, Schylar Thompson (age 12) and Carson
Thompson (7), both won their age group and division at the Redline
Cup West in Atwater, Calif., last October. Cameron McGowan (11)
also competed, but didn't place.

Schylar and Carson Thompson started BMX last spring.

The Bastians and Senger will compete at the
Great Northwest Nationals this month in Redmond.
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