BMX racers Connor van der Pol, 12, and Mason Bollee, 11, competing at Tauranga AIMS Games. PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK
BMX has attracted 88 competitors from as far as Invercargill and Whangarei in its first year at the AIMS Games.
Intermediate age kids were stoked to have their beloved sport included in the games and the turnout reflected this.
AIMS Games BMX race director Tina Bourke said including BMX into the games had been three years in the making.
"Three years ago Sarah Walker was the guest speaker at the AIMS Games opening ceremony, fresh from winning silver at the Olympics. But BMX wasn't even a sport at the games at the time."
Ms Bourke's own kids were avid BMXers but had to compete in the cross country for the AIMS Games - until this year.
Walker, New Zealand's first BMX Olympian and silver medallist, said the AIMS Games was almost as big as the Olympics and was a great opportunity for kids.
"It's almost like Olympic experience at an intermediate age. The kids get to represent their schools - there's so many cools things about AIMS Games."
Jones, New Zealand's only BMX racer at the Rio Olympics, said that was how he started BMX, by representing his school so having BMX at the games was "pretty cool".
I came today to just get out there and ride and just get more into the sport
Eleven-year-old Mason Bollee has only been riding BMX for four months but was up against New Zealand's best intermediate age racers.
The Mount Maunganui Intermediate BMXer had been biking for five years and loved BMX - especially the speed.
He lent Mason a bike and together they practised three to four times a week for at least an hour in the 10-week lead up to the games.
The sore muscles were worth it and the boys had been loving the games - especially the opening ceremony where Kings performed.
Boys were not the only competitors, with a strong number of girls racing.
Ava Neilson, 11, almost did not make it to the competition, breaking her leg before registration.
"It was a buckle fracture in my knee, I slipped and fell and hit it on the bench. It was stupid and I was a bit worried I wouldn't be able to compete."