Piper Graaten and Alex Booth, two top youth BMX riders from Nanaimo who had a stellar 2019 season. (submitted/Keir Graaten)

By Spencer Sterritt

pedal to the medal

Top Stories of 2019: Young Nanaimo BMX riders top the rankings

Dec 22, 2019 | 1:23 AM

NANAIMO — Two young Nanaimo riders made a name for themselves on the world stage in 2019.

Piper Graaten and Alex Booth, born only a few days apart in December, both conquered BMX riding and racing to reach the top of the leaderboards in their age bracket.

This year Graaten secured the number one ranking for her age group for the fifth year after a win at the BC Championship.

Booth is currently atop the boys standings in the number one position after a stellar year.

Both nine-year-olds have achieved new heights at major competitions throughout North America after putting the time in at Nanaimo’s pump track at the Stevie Smith Bike Park.

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They’re often at the park together and are good friends. Since they’re born so close together and have a similar look, they’re often mistaken for twins.

Graaten said the bike park has become almost like a second home.

“When I first came here, I didn’t know anyone. I was so shy,” she said. “As soon as I started hanging out there a lot, I made lots of friends and I started having lots of fun.”

Even at their young age, both have become mentors for younger riders and seem to recognize part of themselves in the three-year-olds taking their first runs along the track.

“I think it’s amazing they’re even riding and pretty fast for their age, getting better and better,” Booth said. “If they couldn’t get up a hill I’d push them up and help them out a lot.”

In the competitive BMX world, both are looking forward to their next major competitions on the world stage in 2020.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit