Riding Through Coteau-du-Lac
The BMX Club of Vaudreuil-Soulanges
In 1982, when Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial hit theaters, teenagers didn't just meet a long-necked alien from a distant world—they also discovered and fell in love with a new way of moving: BMX. Born in California in the late 1960s during the rise of motocross, BMX grew in popularity through the 1980s with the creation of the International BMX Federation in 1981 and its inclusion in the Union Cycliste Internationale by 1993. In 2008, BMX made its Olympic debut in Beijing, where Latvian Maris Strombergs and Frenchwoman Anne-Caroline Chausson became the first Olympic champions. The sport thrilled spectators with the speed and adrenaline of eight riders racing over a 350-meter track filled with jumps, curves, and obstacles.
While the world discovered BMX, a different kind of groundwork was being laid in Montérégie with the construction of Highway 30. The unlikely connection? The Club BMX Vaudreuil-Soulanges, now home to one of Quebec’s largest BMX tracks, located in Coteau-du-Lac.
From Dirt, an Idea Grows
Despite the age gap between them, Érick Charbonneau and Gérard Juneau share a lot: they live in the same duplex, stay active, and devote much of their time to the community. When they heard that leftover dirt from the Highway 30 project was available, the idea of building a BMX track emerged.
“There wasn’t much for kids in the area,” recalls Charbonneau, whose two children ride BMX.
Thus began the dream of a track—and eventually a club capable of sending athletes to the Quebec Games. Officially founded on September 22, 2010, the club's track was completed three years later at Centre de la Nature 4 Saisons in Coteau-du-Lac. Although the Highway 30 dirt wasn’t used, the town sourced materials from the nearby Meloche quarry.
From day one, the club stood out, hosting the Canadian Olympic team and the Canada Cup in 2013. Since then, it's been a fixture in provincial competitions, offering both recreational and competitive programs under the umbrella of the Fédération québécoise des sports cyclistes.
Volunteers with Shovels at the Ready
Each season from mid-May until back-to-school, up to 150 kids aged 5 to 12 from 17 of the region’s 23 municipalities ride the Coteau-du-Lac track. Although it’s a public park, the track is largely maintained by the club’s volunteers.
“BMX has its roots in volunteerism,” says club president Érick Charbonneau. “It started like that in the rural U.S.—by people who believed in it. That’s the spirit we want to keep. This isn’t just a babysitting spot.”
Some parents even join the fun, racing in the Masters or Seniors categories—just like Charbonneau and Juneau.
“In the 30+ category, three-quarters are dads!” says Juneau.
Building Athletes
One of the club’s biggest challenges? Maintaining the track.
“We need paved turns so volunteers don’t have to constantly reshape them,” says Juneau. Rain turns the corners into funnels of mud.
Still, the club takes competition seriously. In its second year, it sent three athletes to the Quebec Games. Today, four BMX riders are enrolled in the Chêne-Bleu sport-study program, and the club has partnered with the Centre Multisports to offer off-season training designed by a kinesiologist.
“We’ve got so much potential,” says Charbonneau. “Our pros are here at the Centre Multisports, and they’ll help shape future champions. The kids see these role models and it keeps them motivated. It’s a cycle.”
On the Road to Rio…
While BMX riders take the global stage at the Rio Olympics, young athletes in Coteau-du-Lac will be racing proudly in club colors. Some may dream of Olympic glory; others of the upcoming Quebec Championships, set for September 10–11, with 300 competitors and over 1,000 visitors expected. Last year, the club earned “Best Event of the Year” in BMX—a high bar they aim to surpass.
You can follow the Club BMX Vaudreuil-Soulanges on Facebook or catch the action live at the track on weeknights. Just a word of warning to parents—you might end up buying a bike for yourself.