BMX tracks in Galicia

Galicia has filled its coast with pump tracks: 12 of bmx.es’s 16 verified venues in the region are pump tracks, concentrated in Pontevedra (8) and A Coruña (6), with 2 more in Lugo. Racing has two tracks — Santiago de Compostela and Meis — and the directory adds 2 skateparks. Here they all are, each linked to its own page.

Pump track, racing or skatepark: what each one is and who it suits

• Pump track: a closed loop of rollers and berms ridden without pedalling, by “pumping” with your body. Any bike works (freestyle BMX, MTB, even a scooter), it is free and no licence is needed. It is the dominant discipline in Galicia and the ideal way in: kids starting out, adults coming back, and anyone after pumping technique.
• BMX racing (track): a dirt track with a start gate and banked berms, the competition discipline. Galicia has two verified tracks: the Cidade da Cultura track in Santiago de Compostela and the Meis track (Pontevedra). If your child wants to race, the route runs through one of them and its club.
• Skatepark: ramps and features for tricks and jumps, for riders who already have the basics: in the directory, the O Grove skatepark and the Baltar one, in Sanxenxo.

The natural Galician progression: your local pump track to start, and if racing hooks you, one of the two racing tracks.

Starting from zero

Start at your local pump track: no licence, no special bike, no sign-up. Around A Coruña and Ferrol there are Narón, Bertamiráns (Ames) and Mugardos; in the Rías Baixas, Vilanova de Arousa, Moaña and Mondariz. Wear a helmet from day one — see the BMX helmets guide — and read the skatepark and track etiquette before you go. If you do not have a bike yet, the first BMX guide explains what to buy without overspending.

Going with kids

With 12 pump tracks spread along the coast, almost every coastal town has one nearby for first sessions at quiet times. Before buying the bike, read the BMX for kids guide: size goes by height, not age, and a certified helmet is mandatory from day one.

Racing competitively

If the goal is racing, there are two verified tracks: the Cidade da Cultura track in Santiago de Compostela and the Meis track (Pontevedra), which combines racing and dirt jumps. The route runs through the club, with a race bike in your category size and a federation licence to compete. Calendar, licences and categories are on the racing hub.